Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre, Iran saw Israel as increasingly vulnerable. Tehran accelerated its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, confident that the moment to eliminate Israel was near. By mid-2025, it had amassed 2,500 long-range missiles and was close to nuclear breakout.
But Israel struck first.
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise strike that would change the course of Middle East history. Major nuclear facilities were hit, top scientists eliminated, and Iran’s command and control network crippled. The IDF fired over 4,000 precision munitions in 12 days. The regime’s missile production, air defense, and launch capability were severely degraded. The U.S. aided the mission with its own strikes, particularly on the Fordo enrichment facility.
Despite the damage, Iran did retaliate. Hundreds of missiles and drones were launched—many intercepted, but not all. Beersheba’s hospital, Rehovot’s Weizmann Institute, and a daycare in Bnei Brak were among the sites hit. Twenty-eight were killed and thousands displaced. But the devastation in Iran was far greater, including the loss of key nuclear and military figures and facilities.
The Israeli public breathed a sigh of relief. Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a “narrow escape.” Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed Iran was no longer a nuclear threshold state. But there was no victory parade—only somber realism.
Iran remains dangerous. Its leaders are already rebuilding. Its propaganda has shifted from dreams of conquering Jerusalem to rallying domestic unity, with slogans like “We are all soldiers of Iran” and images focused on Tehran, not Al-Aqsa.
This war bought Israel precious time. But as Prime Minister Netanyahu warned, “If we hadn’t acted now,” the outcome could have been catastrophic. The challenge ahead: preventing Iran from ever regaining its nuclear momentum—and being ready to strike again, if needed.
