On June 13, after months of relative calm between the two countries, Israel bombed apartment buildings in Tehran, Iran’s capital city. Children and adults were killed, including top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists. Israel also targeted uranium enrichment sites and other infrastructure.
Iran struck back the next day, bombing several buildings in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, hitting military infrastructure and residential areas.
Israel says the U.S. was informed in advance of Israel’s original attack.
As of June 16, 224 people had been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel.
Israel’s attack on Iran came as the U.S. and Iran were in talks for a deal to set the parameters of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 and there is no evidence they have nuclear weapons.
Israel is not a signatory and is estimated to have 90 nuclear warheads, according to the U.S.-based Arms Control Association.
This article appeared in the 2025 Summer issue.
