Israel conducted targeted strikes inside Iran on June 13, 2025, escalating their shadow war, international reports confirm. The strikes, following Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel last weekend, targeted areas near Isfahan, home to Iran’s nuclear and military facilities. Iranian media minimized the incident as a failed drone attack causing no major damage, but U.S. officials verified Israel’s role, indicating a calculated move for deterrence, not all-out war.
The White House offered no comment but reaffirmed Israel’s security. European leaders, including Germany’s Chancellor, urged de-escalation to prevent a regional conflict. Oil prices spiked 3% amid fears of Middle East supply disruptions. The strike, Israel’s first acknowledged direct attack on Iranian soil, may signal its capacity to target Iran’s nuclear program, a long-standing concern.
The U.S. is bolstering its Middle East presence, with the USS Thomas Hudner, a ballistic missile defense destroyer, redeploying to the eastern Mediterranean. A second destroyer is on standby, pending White House orders. President Trump is meeting his National Security Council to strategize, with U.S. officials speaking anonymously due to sensitive developments. Around 40,000 U.S. troops are now in the region, up from 30,000, with numbers peaking at 43,000 last October amid tensions with Iran and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Military dependents are evacuating regional bases as a precaution against Iranian retaliation. Iran’s muted response suggests a desire to avoid escalation, but underlying issues—nuclear ambitions, proxy wars in Syria and Yemen, and regional influence—keep tensions high. The international community, including the UN, calls for dialogue to prevent further violence. All eyes are on Tehran’s next steps, with hopes the retaliation cycle may pause.