Operation Rising Lion: Israel vs Iran War 2025 Update 16th June

1. Israeli Strikes continue, deep Inside Iran

• Israel intensified its campaign with large-scale airstrikes targeting nuclear and military infrastructure across Iran. This includes energy sites (South Pars gas field), the Defense Ministry in Tehran, and the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities (washingtonpost.com).

• These strikes eliminated key IRGC leaders, including Hossein Salami (IRGC commander-in-chief), the IRGC Aerospace Force chief, the intelligence chief, and several nuclear scientists. Replacement appointments were announced quickly (thenationalnews.com).

2. Iranian Retaliation: “True Promise III” Continues

• Iran launched at least two waves of attacks using some 100–150 ballistic missiles and over
100 drones targeting Israeli population centres like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem

• Estimated Israeli casualties include 5–8 killed and up to nearly 300 wounded, with trauma
across central districts (apnews.com).

3. Israel Claims Air Superiority over Tehran

• Israeli officials stated that air superiority was achieved swiftly, enabling precision daytime
strikes over Tehran—a development expected to shorten the conflict window (jpost.com).

• Israeli expansion of targets to include energy and economic infrastructure suggests a
strategic shift toward crippling Iran’s war-making capacity (washingtonpost.com).

4. Civilian and Regional Fallout

• Iran estimates at least 224–406 killed (including many civilians) and 320–654 injured from
the initial Israeli strikes (apnews.com).

• Israel reports closure of public spaces, continued closure of all airspace, and increased civil
defence measures, with siren alerts and shelter orders being intensified.

• Neighbouring countries and Western states (Germany, UK, EU) are calling for calm, while
diplomatic channels are quietly engaged, whilst other global players have publicly
supported Iran such as China.

5. Diplomatic Moves

• Iran has sought mediating assistance from Oman and Qatar to de-escalate the situation. The
U.S., under Trump’s urging, is advocating for a cease-fire agreement (euronews.com). Given
the state actors involved (Israel and Iran) there are no mutual partners who may be the
natural peace brokers, unlike in Israeli/Palestinian conflicts.

• President Trump stated, “we will have peace, soon, between Israel and Iran” and is
spearheading diplomatic outreach (euronews.com). There is superficial evidence that
Trump’s statements on these lines previously have been accurate, although the notable
exception is in relation to Israel/Palestine, where his influence, confidence and public
statements do not pan out into reality in the short term.

6. Security Reinforcement in Israel

• The IDF bolstered internal security—mobilizing reserve units and forming a new West Bank division (Gilad Division)—to thwart possible Iranian-backed infiltration or proxy action (ynetnews.com).

• Reports of the U.S.A, UK and other air force support in defensive measures against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones imply a tacit support of Israel’s actions against the regime.

7. Summary of the last 48 hours: 

8. Additional sources of information:

• ft.com

• timesofindia.indiatimes.com

• thenationalnews.com

• euronews.com

• theguardian.com

9. Summary since the start of Rising Lion:

Arieh Miller