The lethal conflict between Iran and Israel dramatically escalated after U.S. B-2 bombers delivered devastating blows—14 bunker busters at 30,000 pounds each—to underground Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. Navy launched 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles from a submarine; a total of 125 U.S. aircraft were involved in the campaign from land, air and sea.
Iran responded by launching missiles at an evacuated U.S. air base in Qatar, despite the “deep ties” between Doha and Tehran. The Iranian military issued a warning prior to the attack. Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Before it officially began, an Iranian ballistic missile directly hit an Israeli apartment building in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva, killing three members of one family and a neighbor.
This edition provides additional context behind key headlines on the U.S. airstrikes, homeland security, international reactions and information on the start of the ceasefire. This American intervention, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” represented a critical shift in the confrontation with Iran’s Islamic regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
The strategic intent behind these precision airstrikes was to neutralize threats posed by Iran’s illicit nuclear program that threatened an ally, Israel, and America itself. The operation aimed to degrade Tehran’s capabilities and send an unmistakable message regarding the severe consequences of the Iranian regime’s actions.
Israel’s offensive on Iran’s nuclear and military installations, “Operation Rising Lion,” destroyed key infrastructure, as well as eliminated military leaders and nuclear scientists. Israel’s initial strikes were highly effective but could not penetrate nuclear facilities deeply buried underground. Israeli airstrikes cleared a path for the B-2 bombers following requests by the U.S. Iran continued its relentless ballistic-missile barrages against Israel, striking a hospital, several apartment buildings and even a mosque, and killing a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor. Israel reported 28 fatalities and 3,238 injured evacuated to hospitals.
What happened when the ceasefire took effect?
In the minutes leading up to the agreed-upon time, Iran continued to fire missile barrages at Israeli homes. A missile directly struck a protective room in an Israeli apartment, killing a family of four. The reinforced rooms cannot withstand a direct hit. Iran celebrated the attack, while Israelis mourned more needless victims. Only days earlier, a 7-year-old Ukrainian girl receiving life-saving cancer treatment in Israel was killed in another missile strike. Two of her young cousins, in addition to her mother and grandmother, also died in the attack.
Six minutes after the ceasefire began, Iran fired another missile at Israel. A few hours later, two more were fired, but they did not cause casualties or damage. Following a phone call between the American and Israeli leaders, Israel agreed not to respond to Iran’s ceasefire violations.
Will the ceasefire hold?
Israel’s enemies often violate agreements, using them as an opportunity to rebuild. Iran’s atomic chief vowed to rebuild its nuclear program. A senior adviser to a former Iranian president stated: “The war has not ended. The ceasefire is neither permanent nor final, but conditional on our ability to restore our offensive, defensive, economic and social capabilities in the shortest possible time.” Only time will tell how long the ceasefire will remain in effect, let alone lead to peace.
Why did America strike Iran?
The United States launched decisive military action against Iranian nuclear facilities because Trump stated that Iran was alarmingly close to developing nuclear warheads. This critical assessment revealed that Tehran’s nuclear program had progressed to a point where continued inaction posed an unacceptable risk and immediate threat to U.S. interests and the entire Middle East. The airstrikes were a direct response to prevent Iran from crossing the threshold into nuclear-weapon capability—a development with catastrophic implications.
“Operation Midnight Hammer” reportedly set back Iran’s program by “many, many years.” The U.S. president explained that “our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror.” U.S. Vice President JD Vance reiterated that “Iran is now incapable of building a nuclear weapon.”
Is Iran a threat to America?
Absolutely. Iran has posed a direct, persistent and deadly threat to the United States for nearly 50 years. The Islamic Republic’s hostile actions prominently began with the 1979 seizure of 52 American citizens at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, who were held captive for 444 agonizing days. This was followed by Iran’s direct role in the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, a devastating terrorist attack that killed 241 U.S. service members. The regime’s animosity extends to openly calling for America’s destruction—a nation Iran calls “The Big Satan.”
More recently, Iran armed, funded and directed proxy militias responsible for maiming and killing more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, and its agents continue to plot attacks on American soil. Iran also has engaged in aggressive cyber warfare, including the attempted 2021 cyberattack against Boston Children’s Hospital, designed to “interrupt ongoing patient care and emergency surgeries.” This extensive history unequivocally demonstrates Tehran’s consistent intent and capability to directly harm Americans, particularly the about 45,000 U.S. military personnel serving in the Middle East.
What is the current threat within the United States?
America is currently operating under a “heightened threat environment” domestically, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin issued on June 22.
The three-month alert issued by its director, Kristi Noem, indicated the “possibility of increased cyberattacks, acts of violence and antisemitic [anti-Jewish] hate crimes.” The bulletin noted that “U.S. law enforcement has disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots in the U.S. since 2020. The Iranian government has also unsuccessfully targeted critics of its regime who are based in America for a lethal attack.”
While specific, credible plots are not yet identified at this moment, American Jews face heightened threats after the recent attacks in Washington, D.C.; and Boulder, Colo.
Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other terror groups have called for violence against America. Federal and local law-enforcement agencies are closely monitoring threats, and local police are increasing their presence at synagogues and Jewish community centers in certain cities. Authorities are also concerned about the potential for terrorist “sleeper cells” to carry out attacks across the United States.
Was Iran’s nuclear ambition solely to build power plants?
The Iranian regime’s repeated claims that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful energy generation have been proven false and been contradicted by its actions. A key indicator of its deceptive intent is the construction of deeply buried fortified facilities like those at Fordow, built within mountains. Such sites offer immense protection against conventional airstrikes, which is entirely unnecessary for civilian power but critically important for a covert weapons program. Peaceful nuclear programs operate with transparency and in accessible locations.
If Iran’s intentions were genuinely peaceful, it would have accepted long-standing Western offers to supply already enriched uranium fuel, eliminating any need to enrich its own, a process central to both peaceful energy and weapons development. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “if they want nuclear reactors for electricity like many other countries do, that offer is still there and we are prepared to talk to them tomorrow.” Iran’s consistent refusal, combined with its aggressive pursuit of advanced centrifuges and high-level enrichment, reveals a clear ambition beyond peaceful energy and points directly towards military use.
Why didn’t America continue to negotiate?
The United States thought Iran was not serious about reaching a new agreement. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) proved fundamentally flawed, structured with “sunset clauses” that would have allowed Iran to dramatically expand its enrichment capabilities and become a nuclear power by 2030. Crucially, the agreement failed to restrict Iran’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles—a direct threat to America—or address its sponsorship of terrorist organizations.
Even under the JCPOA, Iran maintained hidden nuclear sites and continued illicit activities, demonstrating a lack of transparency and commitment to its obligations. As Vance stated, “The Iranians stopped negotiating in good faith.” This systematic erosion of trust and repeated lies mirrored the historical behavior of regimes like North Korea. The rogue state, an Iranian ally, also reached a multilateral agreement and deceived the international community, and now possesses nuclear weapons and is continuing to develop advanced missiles.
How have anti-Israel groups and individuals responded?
The American group Unity of Fields (formerly, Palestine Action U.S.) not only supports the destruction of America and defends Iran but has also called for the deaths of American soldiers. The U.K. government recently banned Britain’s Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws following an assault against a police officer with a sledgehammer and an attack on a British military base. London’s police commissioner: “Its actions go beyond legitimate protests.” Amnesty UK and the U.N. Palestinian special rapporteur condemned this decision.
Anti-Israel rallies in major cities, including New York, London and Melbourne, praised Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This directly aligns them with the Iranian regime’s position against Western civilization and what it stands for: freedom, democracy and human rights. Calls to “Globalize the intifada” continue, despite recent deadly and dangerous attacks against American Jews. This rhetoric, often amplified by university student groups and professors, directly incites hatred and validates violence. Demonstrations, violent rhetoric and online campaigns contribute to a dangerous climate of hate.
What was the international response to airstrikes against Iran?
Many international organizations criticized both nations, urged de-escalation and called for a return to negotiations as the only viable path to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said that “there is no military solution” to stopping Iran’s nukes. The U.N.’s Human Rights Council blamed Israel for the lack of peace. Many European nations voiced support for setting back Iran’s nuclear program, urging Iran and Israel to end hostilities, and hopefully, reach a diplomatic solution.
The charter of the United Nations explicitly prohibits Iran from calling for the destruction of the Jewish state or any nation. Despite this direct breach of a fundamental U.N. principle, the international organization has consistently failed to condemn Iran.
Compounding this, Iranian ally Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the “absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran is unjustified.” He offered to act as a mediator, despite leading an unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, including the intentional targeting of civilian homes, much like Iranian missile attacks against Israel.
Points to consider:
- The United States acted decisively to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
“Operation Midnight Hammer” was a precision strike that neutralized an increasing threat, significantly setting back Iran’s dangerous ambitions. It was a strategic move to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and launching them at the United States. This pre-emptive action decisively delivered an unmistakable American message that rogue nuclear ambitions will not be tolerated. Iran could have spent the hundreds of millions of dollars improving the lives of its citizens instead of building an extensive nuclear program. America’s actions protected the region and prevented catastrophic nuclear proliferation.
- Certain anti-American and anti-Israel groups promote war.
Extremist groups operating in America and abroad are actively fanning the flames of conflict, openly advocating for violence against Americans, Israelis and Jews. Their rhetoric goes beyond protest. They are aligned with terror organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and hostile regimes like Iran, China and Russia. These groups are united in a fight against Western civilization and aim to destabilize democratic societies. By inciting hatred and glorifying attacks, these groups pose a grave threat and actively undermine efforts towards peace in the Middle East and coexistence among different religious and ethnic groups.
- Iranian threats elevate security risks in America.
The recent conflict has brought new and evolving security challenges directly to America’s doorstep. There are heightened cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure and increased calls for violence that could inspire individuals and radicalized groups within the United States to attack Americans. A ceasefire is no guarantee that the threat will decrease. Iran has carried out attacks against Americans for nearly 50 years, including recent attempts at political assassinations on American soil.
- The U.S. airstrikes were limited and achieved their main objective.
America’s recent airstrikes were a targeted intervention with a clearly defined goal: to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Trump and other administration officials have consistently stated that this objective has been achieved. The United States has no intention of getting drawn into a prolonged, multi-year conflict in the Middle East. The mission was narrowly focused on eliminating the nuclear threat, and now that this critical goal has been met, Washington seems to have no further plans for military action.
- The release of hostages remains a priority as Iran is weakened.
While America’s decisive action against Iran damaged its nuclear threat, it sadly did not resolve the release of the Israeli hostages held by Iran’s proxy group, Hamas. It is important to continue to remember the 50 hostages—20 of them deemed alive—have been held in captivity in Gaza for nearly two years. Given Iran’s role of primary responsibility for funding, arming and training Hamas terrorists, the significant weakening of the Iranian regime’s capabilities offers a crucial new opportunity for a long overdue hostage deal and the end of the war in the Gaza Strip.