Iran-Israel Situation Report: Day Seven

Continuing Escalation and the Possibility of American Intervention

An explosion in Tehran. Source: NPR

On the morning of Friday, June 13, the Israeli military launched Operation: Strength of Lion. Teams of Israeli commandos, already embedded deep within Iranian territory, opened fire on Iranian anti-air missile sites with ATGMs as subsequent airstrikes neutralized Iran’s air defense network. A subsequent salvo of Israeli missiles struck military targets across Iran, including several linked to the country’s covert nuclear weapons program. Additional strikes eliminated senior members of Iran’s military leadership and the remnants of its air defense systems. Within 48 hours, Israel had established effective control over Iranian airspace. The Israeli government has declared this campaign will last “as many days as it takes,” with the stated goal of fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Secondary targets appear to include the destruction of the IRGC’s senior command.

Following the initial shock, Iran launched a counteroffensive. Waves of loiteri…