Israel began planning a potential military strike on Iran in December, following the collapse of the Syrian government and the weakening of Hezbollah’s presence in the region, according to a report by The New York Times.

The report states that the changing geopolitical landscape effectively opened the skies for Israeli operations. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a detailed dossier on Iran's nuclear program to then-U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Trump reportedly took a more moderate stance but agreed to provide undisclosed intelligence support for a possible strike.

The report further reveals that Trump claimed credit for the operation and hinted at direct U.S. involvement—making a diplomatic resolution increasingly unlikely.

Iran’s Chief of Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, announced that Iran is preparing to launch a “punitive operation” against what he described as the “occupying Zionist regime.”
He stated that prior Iranian responses were mainly warnings or defensive actions.
“This time, it will be different,” Mousavi warned.
He urged residents of Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa to evacuate to save their lives, adding, “Don’t become casualties of Netanyahu’s brutal ambitions.”
Mousavi emphasized that Iran has never bowed to aggression and does not intend to do so now.

The Iranian government has issued a warning to its citizens against using WhatsApp, Telegram, and other location-based apps, claiming they are being used by Israel to track and attack individuals.
State media IRIB reported the announcement on Tuesday.
In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson stated:

“We are deeply concerned that such false accusations might be used as a pretext to block our services. We do not track users’ precise locations, nor do we retain message logs or share user data with governments at scale.”

A Washington D.C.-based human rights organization reports that Israeli airstrikes across Iran have killed at least 585 people and injured 1,326 others. Among the dead are 239 civilians and 126 security personnel. Iran has not consistently released casualty figures but, according to its last official update on Monday, the death toll stood at 224 with 1,277 injured.

Global oil prices have surged following intensified military exchanges between Israel and Iran. On Tuesday, Brent crude jumped by $3.22 (4.4%), reaching $76.45 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by $3.07 (4.28%), settling at $74.84 per barrel. Reports indicate Iran has slightly reduced gas production after Israeli strikes targeted key gas fields.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed complete control over Israeli airspace following Tuesday night’s missile strikes. In an official statement, Colonel Tajik asserted that the successful deployment of the Fattah missile system had broken through Israel's air defenses. “This strike proves we now dominate the skies over occupied territory, leaving Israeli civilians completely exposed to our missile attacks,” he said.

According to BBC reports, Iran launched a ‘Fattah-1’ hypersonic missile at Tel Aviv on Tuesday. This marks the first time the Fattah missile has been used in the current conflict, although Iran had previously deployed several during its October 1, 2024, attack on Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) referred to the weapon as the "Israel-Striker." At the time of its unveiling, a massive banner in Tehran read in Hebrew: “400 seconds to Tel Aviv.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reiterated that Iran will never compromise with Zionists. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he declared, “We will show no mercy to the Zionists.” In another post, he ominously stated, “The war has begun.” This came in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment on Truth Social, saying, “We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader is hiding. He’s an easy target, but he’s safe for now—we won’t take him out, at least not yet.”

Iran has continued launching missile strikes on Israel even after losing top military commanders, surprising Israeli defense officials. According to U.S. analyst Trita Parsi, Israel underestimated Iran’s ability to recover and maintain operational control. Iranian missiles have reportedly breached multiple layers of Israel’s air defense. Early Monday, fresh attacks on Tel Aviv and Haifa killed at least five people and injured many more. The Middle East remains tense as both nations engage in ongoing, deadly exchanges of fire.

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are known to the United States. In a social media post, Trump said, "We know where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ Khamenei is hiding. He’s an easy target, and he’s currently safe there—we won’t kill him, at least not yet." Trump also added that the US does not want missiles fired at civilians or military personnel, warning that America’s patience is wearing thin. "Thank you for paying attention," he concluded. In an earlier post, Trump asserted that the United States has achieved "full control" over Iran's airspace.

Iran has announced it intercepted 28 Israeli aircraft over the past 24 hours, including a spy drone allegedly gathering intelligence on sensitive locations. The Iranian military claimed the drone was conducting reconnaissance missions but was successfully neutralized. This follows a series of similar claims by Tehran in recent weeks. However, Israel has consistently denied such reports, stating that no aircraft or crew have been lost during operations. The latest claim was reported by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera on Tuesday night, June 17.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern over Israel's recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning of severe long-term health and environmental consequences. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the risk to civilians, especially children, due to rising violence. The IAEA also confirmed damage at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, though no changes were observed at Isfahan and Fordow facilities. The international agencies are urging restraint to avoid further escalation and to protect public health and environmental safety across the region.

A missile attack by Iran on June 14 severely damaged the Haifa oil refinery, one of Israel's largest fuel processing centers, leading to a looming fuel crisis. Fuel distributor Sonol announced it must significantly reduce or even halt fuel supply due to the situation. The economic impact is already being felt, as vital infrastructure suffers. The Israeli business outlet Calcalist reported that the attack forced Sonol to make this decision, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.

Iran has fired a new round of ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting sirens to alert civilians across central Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted most of the missiles, with fewer than 10 launched. Civilians in affected areas have been instructed to seek shelter and remain there until further notice. This escalation follows Israel’s recent airstrikes in Iran’s military and nuclear sites. Despite casualties on both sides, no formal peace efforts have been initiated to end the ongoing conflict.

Israel has launched multiple airstrikes on Iran’s Isfahan, with smoke seen rising from various parts of the city, according to Al Jazeera. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed deep concern and accused U.S. President Trump of escalating tensions. Trump responded with a call for immediate evacuation from Tehran and urged Iran to return to negotiations. Israel claims its actions aim to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, though Iran insists its program is peaceful. China criticized Trump’s remarks as dangerously provocative.