By Our Reporter
Jerusalem/Tehran – June 13, 2025
Tensions in the Middle East reached a new and dangerous peak Friday night after Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles toward Israel in retaliation for a surprise Israeli airstrike on its nuclear and military facilities earlier in the day.
Israeli officials confirmed that the pre-dawn strike targeted key Iranian nuclear infrastructure and military command centers, reportedly killing several senior nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officers. The operation, which Israeli defense sources say was meticulously planned, dealt a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
In response, Iran unleashed a barrage of missiles aimed at multiple Israeli cities, triggering air raid sirens and widespread panic across central and northern Israel. Initial reports indicate that Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems intercepted many of the incoming missiles, although damage and casualty assessments are still underway.
The United States has distanced itself from the Israeli operation, with a senior U.S. official telling reporters in Washington that America had no involvement in the strike and did not provide military support.
At an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended his country’s actions, describing the strike as a necessary measure to prevent a looming nuclear threat.
“This operation was carried out because the alternative was unthinkable,” Danon stated. “How long did the world expect us to wait? Until Iran assembled the bomb? Until it was mounted on a Shahab missile en route to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, like the more than 100 missiles that descended an hour ago?”
He added firmly: “Empty words will not stop Iran. Israel will. We will not wait for the bomb to fall.”
Iranian officials have yet to issue a full statement but sources in Tehran have called Israel’s actions an act of aggression and vowed continued retaliation.
The UN has called for restraint on both sides, warning that continued escalation could ignite a broader regional conflict with catastrophic consequences.
This is a developing story
With additional reports from ABC News