A deadly war is now being waged over the skies of Iran. Israel is killing dozens of leaders and destroying infrastructure that threatens not only Israel’s existence, but also the global economy and even world peace.
This edition of “The Focus Project” aims to provide answers to pressing questions about this rapidly unfolding crisis. It delves into Israel’s ongoing military action, “Operation Rising Lion”—airstrikes against Iranian nuclear, military and infrastructure targets, and Iran’s lethal retaliation of missiles and drones. Scenes of destruction throughout Israel and Iran and alarming casualty reports on both sides have captured the world’s attention.
The operation’s name may be drawn from biblical strength (“Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion,” Numbers 23:24) and a powerful play on ancient Iranian symbolism of a lion and sun that were on the national flag until the Islamic Revolution. This highlights Israel’s resolute determination to act decisively in self-defense against existential threats to prevent a nuclear catastrophe and possibly allow Iranians to topple their government. Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi recently made repeated calls for Iranians to “overthrow and liberate Iran.”
Since June 13, the “shadow war,” marked by years of Israeli and American sabotage operations, has erupted into open conflict. The Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive strikes deep within Iran, with reports of significant damage and casualties among top commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran has launched deadly barrages intentionally targeting densely populated Israeli residential areas, totaling more than 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of lethal drones.
Why did Israel act now?
Israel acted decisively in the face of Iranian nuclear threats as they became increasingly imminent. Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction for decades, with the regime accelerating its nuclear program following the Iranian-backed, Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. After years of warnings and failed diplomacy, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog recently voiced “serious concern” and confirmed Israel’s assessment that Iran was rapidly advancing its nuclear program, enriching uranium to dangerous levels that could only be used in nukes.
U.S. President Donald Trump gave Iranian leaders 60 days to make a deal by June 12, a deadline that passed. Israel launched its airstrikes the next day, on day 61. Iran was rebuilding its air-defense system, radars and other military capabilities after Israel crippled them last year in targeted strikes. It wasn’t Israel’s first preemptive strike against an existential nuclear threat: The Israeli Air Force destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor in 1981 and Syria’s in 2007. Neither restarted its program.
How can Iran be the aggressor when Israel attacked first?
Israel’s pre-emptive strike on June 13 sought to prevent a catastrophe of unimaginable scale. Imagine if just one of the Iranian missiles hitting Israel was armed with a nuclear warhead? Iran has historically and repeatedly declared its intent to destroy the Jewish state, which is about the size of New Jersey.
There is also a major difference in military tactics. Iran intentionally fires missiles at Israeli homes, while the Israeli Defense Forces focus on Iranian military and political sites. Iranian missiles have destroyed houses, apartment buildings and a science lab dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Israel used precision weapons to target Iran’s nuclear-weapons program and scientists. Israel warns Iranian civilians living near certain facilities to leave before military strikes. Iran does not separate civilian from military deaths in its reports.
Why does Israel believe it cannot negotiate with Tehran?
How can Israelis “meet in the middle” with a government whose stated goal is the total annihilation of the Jewish state? Negotiations are impossible. Any expectation of successful negotiation eroded over decades of Iran’s genocidal rhetoric and proxy wars, coupled with its decades-long nuclear program. There is no diplomatic answer to an existential threat that also promotes the hatred of Jews (antisemitism) around the world.
Is Iran a threat to the United States?
Iran has directly attacked Americans for nearly 50 years. This includes seizing 52 American citizens for 444 days at the U.S. Embassy at the start of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and its attempted cyberattack against Boston Children’s Hospital in 2021, trying to “interrupt ongoing patient care and emergency surgeries.” The Islamic Republic also had a direct role in the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. service members. Iran continues to call for America’s destruction. The terror regime armed and directed militias responsible for maiming and killing hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Iranian agents continue to plot attacks on American soil.
Is Israel dragging America into a wider conflict?
This dangerous narrative is echoed by prominent anti-Israel voices from the far left and far right. They claim that Israel wants America to fight on its behalf, which is a classic stereotype of Jews. Despite their very different ideologies, figures like far-right political commentators Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) unite in their antagonism against the Jewish state and, often, American Jews.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) compared them to “the heirs of Neville Chamberlain,” the British prime minister in the 1930s who believed that Hitler could be appeased through negotiations. Israel is acting in full coordination with America, but without the United States participating in any military attacks. A strong U.S.-Israel alliance is vital against shared threats like Iran, and the U.S. military is providing defensive support to Israel.
Is a wider regional war inevitable?
The risk of escalation in the past would have been high, but Israel has severely damaged the ability of Iran’s proxies to simultaneously attack Israel, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen. The strength of the Abraham Accords and the unspoken support of Iran’s enemies—the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia—also makes a larger conflict less likely. Israel’s targeted strikes aim to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and stop its aggression.
How are Western countries reacting to Israel’s moves?
Israel is fighting for the Western values of democracy and freedom. Many countries, including some in Europe, have supported Israel’s right to self-defense. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world.”
Crucially, the United States is pursuing intense diplomatic efforts. It supports Israel’s right to defend itself, while urgently working to de-escalate the broader conflict and pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Israel fights what it sees as a war for the entire free world, essentially doing the work of many nations, and makes painful choices now to prevent a much larger and more devastating war.
How is Israeli society enduring multiple conflicts?
Israelis have been resilient in their multifront war, facing rockets from Hamas and Yemen, and drones and missiles from Iran. While local political debates continue, the direct Iranian threat has unified Israelis: A majority thinks that the campaign will unite society, and only 16% oppose Israel’s operation.
Faced with an enemy openly committed to their destruction, they all share the desire to live in peace. Israeli opposition leader Lapid said that “when it comes to the security of the people of Israel in the face of our enemies, we are one people, with one mission. Our children will not live in fear of an Iranian nuclear bomb. Not today, not ever.”
In times of crisis, Israelis of all backgrounds show a deep commitment to everyone in Israeli society.
Muslim Arab volunteer medic Jamal Waraki was a first responder on Oct. 7 and recently rescued an 80-year-old Israeli buried under rubble. He described the Iranian regime this way: “These are not humans. They are monsters who deliberately target civilians.”
Nine Israelis stranded in Cyprus traveled on a tugboat to enter Israel during the war, including former Jerusalem Post editor Ya’akov Katz: “We are a people who run toward home, not away from it. Toward our families, our communities, our nation. Even in war.”
Does the Iranian regime truly represent the will of its people?
Many Iranians, especially those living outside the country, do not share their government’s hatred of Jews and Israelis. They want a future of freedom and peace, like they had before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranians who break strict moral codes, including women who refuse to wear the hijab, and individuals identifying as gay are often imprisoned, beaten and even killed.
Videos and voice messages from Iranians include chanting “Death to the Dictator, death to the Islamic Republic,” “I wanted to thank Israel and Uncle Netanyahu for what they did” and “We need to be united to topple this blood-thirsty government.”
Pahlavi is encouraging Iranians to overthrow the regime and “reclaim their nation.”
Points to consider:
- Israel acted decisively to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.
An imminent existential threat demanded swift, resolute action. Failing to act would have unleashed unimaginable devastation, not just on Israel but globally. Israel’s decisive move is intended to prevent another Holocaust against the Jewish people; there are more than 7 million Jews in Israel today. Such a bold defense is a shield against a worldwide campaign of terror, highlighting the stakes of unchecked aggression.
- Iran fuels global terror and threatens world stability.
Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, demonstrate the regime’s influence in destabilizing the world. The Iranian regime is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, funding, arming and training its proxy groups to attack Americans and Israelis. This support empowers terrorists to inflict devastating attacks—spreading fear, chaos and death—and leaving a trail of innocent victims in their wake. This relentless campaign of terror demands a unified response to hold Iran accountable and dismantle its network of destruction.
- Iran is intentionally targeting Israeli civilians.
The Islamic regime’s brutal strategy deliberately inflicts terror on innocent families and civilian life. All non-essential businesses throughout Israel are closed and Israelis only are allowed to use public transportation to travel to hospitals or military bases. They must stay close to bomb shelters at all times. The barbaric targeting of civilians exposes a chilling disregard for human life and every moral code. Iran’s actions highlight a terror-first agenda in stark contrast to nations upholding humanitarian standards. Iran’s actions must be condemned.
- Iranians are being held hostage by a hostile regime.
Millions of Iranians endure a daily nightmare under a tyrannical regime that denies their basic freedoms and human dignity. The ayatollah rules Iran with an iron fist, despite his citizens’ desire for peace and a return to a modern lifestyle similar to America and Israel. Their largely hidden struggle against their government’s hatred and brutality is fueled by an unbreakable spirit.