WEEKLY UPDATE - 06.13.2025

Israel Carries out Airstrikes against Iran Targeting Officials and Nuclear Sites

The Israeli Air Force carried several waves of airstrikes targeting various sites in Iran early Friday morning. The airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, air defense systems, several high ranking military officials and nuclear scientists. Local news outlets reported explosions north of Tehran and Israel confirmed that it had targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Khamenei said in statement that the “Zionist regime should anticipate a severe punishment.” Iran’s Foreign Minister said that it is “our right to respond to Israel.”

Several Israeli strikes targeted high level Iranian officials and military leaders. Iranian officials confirmed that Brigadier General Mohammed Bagheri, the second highest leader in the Iranian military, was killed in a strike Friday morning. Others killed in targeted strikes included IRGC Chief Hossein Salami and Ali Shamkhani, one of the chief negotiators in nuclear talks with the US. Additionally there were several reports or civilians killed in the strikes as well. As of Friday, Iran’s Fars news agency reported 78 people killed and another 329 injured in the strikes.

The US said that it did not take part in the strikes and Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Israel’s actions as “unilateral.” On Friday, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the next wave of Israeli strikes could be even more brutal and urged Iran to make a deal with the US. Earlier in the week, The US Department of State ordered the evacuation of all non-essential staff from the US Embassy in Baghdad due to security issues. CBS News reported that the move was possibly in reaction to a potential Israeli strike on Iran. China’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” while Britain said that it was taking efforts to de-escalate the situation. Saudi Arabia expressed its “strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions” against Iran.

Situation in Gaza Continues to Deteriorate as Internet Services Cut

Israel cut internet services in Gaza plunging the enclave into a blackout. The Palestinian Authority said that “All internet and fixed-line communication services in the Gaza Strip have been cut off following the targeting of the last remaining main fibre optic line in Gaza.” Critics accused Israel of trying to silence Gaza and others have posited the move was meant to blunt the spread of information about Israel’s military activities on social media. Israel continues to bar foreign journalists from Gaza.

Israeli continued its military operations in Gaza as problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid persisted. According to reporting from Al Jazeera, Israeli forces killed more than 50 Palestinians in Gaza while they were attempting access humanitarian aid on Wednesday at sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. On Thursday, Israeli drone attacks killed another 26 Palestinians. The UN reiterated its calls for a ceasefire.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Hamas of killing eight Palestinian aid workers and injuring another 21 in attacks on Wednesday. The GHF had previously accused Hamas of threatening its aid workers. Hamas denied the accusations while accusing the GHF of lacking neutrality.

In Other News

• The Syrian government confirmed the closure of the Rukban IDP (internally displaced peoples) camp near the Jordan border. At its height, Rukban was home to approximately 75,000 IDPs who fled from ISIS and government controlled areas of Syria in hopes of entering Jordan.

• The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) seized control of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a ship manned by activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. The organizers of the ship’s voyage slammed the IDF’s operation. Egypt deported dozens of activists who had arrived in Cairo to begin a march to Gaza. Thousands of activists had been planning on traveling to the Rafah border crossing on Friday with the intention of breaking the blockade.

• In Syria, a contractor working to clear rubble discovered a 1,500 year-old Byzantine tomb complex.

• The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway announced sanctions against two far-right Israeli ministers. The sanctions froze the assets of Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Nation Defense Itamar Ben Gvir for inciting violence against Palestinians.

• The Syrian government issued a decree mandating that women should wear swimwear that covers the whole body at public beaches. According to the decree, women are free to wear swimwear of their choice at private clubs and hotels.

• Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that Hamas must hand over its weapons, free all the hostages, and cede its control of Gaza. Abbas’ demands came in a letter to the French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Recommended:

• “The Politics of the Dead” Newlines Magazine

• “The Israeli Hostage Who Refused to Embrace Revenge” New York Times

• “Stories from a forgotten country: Why Yemen matters now” Collapse Life (YouTube)

• “Ehud Olmert on Israel’s Catastrophic War on Gaza” Ezra Klein Show

• “Israel’s Bold, Risky Attach” The Atlantic