🕰️ Timeline of Events
June 12, 2025
- Israel initiates Operation Rising Lion, launching coordinated air-and-drone strikes on at least 100 nuclear, military, and leadership targets across Iran—including the Natanz enrichment facility and key sites in Tehran like Lavizan and Amir Abad neighborhoods. Top Iranian figures General Hossein Salami, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, senior scientist Fereydoon Abbasi, and others are reportedly killed (en.wikipedia.org).
June 13, 2025 (Morning)
- Iran returns fire with over 150 ballistic missiles and 100+ Shahed drones—Operation True Promise III—aimed at Israel. Missile defense systems intercept most, but blasts are reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, injuring dozens (en.wikipedia.org).
- Israel places the West Bank on alert, declaring “this will continue for as many days as it takes” (en.wikipedia.org).
June 13, 2025 (Afternoon and Evening)
- Iran launches additional missile waves; U.S. reposition military assets and assists in defense systems (apnews.com).
- Israeli authorities confirm civilian injuries in Tel Aviv; Iran’s UN envoy reports at least 78 Iranians dead and over 320 wounded (apnews.com).
- Tehran’s Supreme Leader warns Israel of “bitter and painful” retribution (aljazeera.com).
📹 Highlight Video
President Trump reacts to Israel’s strikes on Iran (Reuters)
🗣️ What Trump Said
- “Excellent” strikes: “I think it’s been excellent… They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come” — ABC News (abcnews.go.com).
- Full awareness: In a Reuters interview, Trump emphasized, “We knew everything… I tried to save Iran humiliation and death… they can still work out a deal” (reuters.com).
- Ultimatum stance: On Truth Social, he declared, “Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left… the next already planned attacks… will be even more brutal” (aljazeera.com).
- Diplomatic opportunity? A Fox News/Axios report quotes him: “Maybe the opposite [of jeopardizing the deal]… now they will negotiate seriously” (foxnews.com).
📌 Key Sources
- Politico, AP News, Time, Washington Post, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Wikipedia: comprehensive coverage and quotes .
⚖️ Analysis & Outlook
- Decapitation strategy: Israel’s focused targeting of Iran’s nuclear scientists and military leaders signals a dual-pronged strategy—crippling both technical capabilities and command structures (understandingwar.org).
- Iran’s retaliation: While largely thwarted, Iran’s massive retaliatory strikes demonstrate willingness to escalate (en.wikipedia.org).
- U.S. role: Trump’s posture—supportive but careful of attribution—underscores a fine line between backing Israel militarily (intel and missile defense support) and avoiding entanglement .
- Diplomatic crossroads: Instead of derailing talks, Trump suggests the strikes may catalyze them—a gamble that transforms geopolitics into high-stakes diplomacy amid war .
What Lies Ahead
With both capitals in combat mode and leaders issuing stark warnings, the crisis teeters on a knife-edge. The U.S. push to revive nuclear diplomacy now competes with military escalation. The region—and the world—watches as the next shot could tip balance toward full-blown war, or force a reluctant peace.
