Israel and U.S. Launch Coordinated Strikes on Iran as Regional Conflict Escalates

June 23, 2025 – Israel and the United States have executed a series of coordinated military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

On June 21, U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and submarines struck three of Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation, code-named "Operation Midnight Hammer," marked the first direct U.S. military engagement against Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump declared the strikes "totally obliterated" the facilities, though independent assessments of the damage remain pending. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that all three sites were hit.

The U.S. strikes followed a large-scale Israeli offensive that began on June 13, targeting Iranian missile, satellite, and radar installations, as well as key regime-linked sites. Israel’s Defense Ministry stated that its forces attacked "with unprecedented force" against regime targets, including Evin Prison, the Basij paramilitary headquarters, and symbolic sites in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the U.S. intervention, emphasizing that the operation was closely coordinated and that Israeli jets cleared Iranian air defenses for U.S. bombers.

Iran responded with a series of missile barrages aimed at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israeli emergency services reported that Iranian rockets and falling shrapnel struck at least ten locations, injuring 23 people and causing significant property damage. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that advanced Kheibar Shekan missiles targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport and other strategic sites. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed continued retaliation, and Iranian officials declared U.S. forces in the region "legitimate targets".

The conflict has drawn international alarm. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have issued urgent calls for de-escalation, while the UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The U.S. government has issued worldwide caution alerts for its citizens, citing heightened risks of reprisals abroad. Diplomatic efforts led by Oman and Qatar have stalled, with Iran demanding an end to Israeli strikes as a precondition for resuming nuclear negotiations.

As the conflict enters its second week, casualties are mounting and critical infrastructure in both Iran and Israel has suffered extensive damage. The situation remains volatile, with NATO and Gulf states closely monitoring developments and the international community bracing for further escalation.