WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, June 18 – Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply as Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes on Iranian missile production sites, prompting mass evacuations across Iranian cities. The Israeli military confirmed that dozens of its fighter jets struck multiple locations in Tehran, targeting facilities linked to ballistic missile development and deployment. The strikes came in response to two separate Iranian missile attacks directed at Israel in the early hours of Wednesday, with loud explosions heard over Tel Aviv.
In a rare directive, Israel urged residents in southwestern Tehran to leave the area prior to planned military strikes. Iranian media showed chaotic scenes as thousands of people fled Tehran and other major cities, with traffic clogging highways and some routes shut down due to security concerns.
Clashes were also reported in the city of Rey, just south of Tehran, between Iranian security forces and unidentified armed individuals. Iranian outlets suggested the attackers may have ties to Israeli intelligence and were planning operations in densely populated zones of the capital. Meanwhile, Israeli forces reportedly targeted the Khojir ballistic missile site near Tehran and a university linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in eastern Iran—both considered vital components of Iran’s missile infrastructure.
An Israeli military spokesperson revealed that 50 fighter jets hit roughly 20 key locations overnight, including factories involved in raw materials and component manufacturing for missile systems. The strikes signal a dramatic step-up in military confrontation, with both sides appearing to abandon prior restraint.
Trump’s Ultimatum to Tehran
U.S. President Donald Trump entered the spotlight once again with a forceful message aimed at Iran’s leadership. In a social media post, he stated unequivocally that the United States knows the location of Iran’s so-called Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but added, “We are not going to take him out—at least not for now.” Minutes later, Trump posted a blunt demand: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Trump’s tone, veering between aggressive threats and veiled diplomacy, added a new layer of uncertainty to an already volatile situation. Despite currently being out of office, Trump’s influence on foreign policy discourse remains significant. Sources close to his inner circle suggest he and his advisors are weighing various options, including potential support for Israeli operations against Iranian nuclear sites.
The president also held a 90-minute meeting with his National Security Council and discussed the situation directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A top White House official stated that additional U.S. aircraft are being deployed to the region and that current deployments are being extended in response to the escalating conflict.
Although the U.S. has not yet conducted direct strikes on Iran, American forces have played a supporting role by intercepting missiles aimed at Israel. Intelligence reports also indicate Iran has been repositioning ballistic missile launchers, though analysts say it remains unclear whether the targets are Israeli or American.
In contrast to Trump’s fiery rhetoric, leaders of other major powers, including Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have downplayed any immediate risk of U.S. involvement in direct combat, despite growing concern over regional instability.
Iran’s Influence Under Pressure
The airstrikes have reportedly caused severe damage to Iran’s military leadership structure. Multiple top advisors to Ayatollah Khamenei are believed to have been killed, raising concerns over command disarray and the potential for miscalculated responses. Iran’s cybersecurity command has reportedly banned government officials from using mobile phones and other communications devices to prevent further intelligence leaks.
Since the October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, Tehran’s regional grip has loosened. Israeli military efforts have systematically weakened Iran’s network of regional proxies—from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and further out to the Houthis in Yemen and various Iraqi militias. Iran’s longtime ally in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad, has also been reportedly removed from power amid growing unrest and foreign pressure.
Friday marked the beginning of Israel’s most extensive aerial campaign on Iranian soil to date, following Israeli intelligence assessments that Iran was nearing the threshold of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran continues to deny any pursuit of nuclear arms, insisting that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Meanwhile, global concern over the situation continues to intensify.
Despite being outside the NPT framework, Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons and has expressed its determination to halt Iran’s nuclear advancement by any means necessary. Netanyahu has stated repeatedly that Israel will continue its offensive until Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is irreversibly crippled. Trump echoed a similar stance, stating that if Tehran agrees to strict controls on uranium enrichment, hostilities could cease.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reported that Israel struck the underground enrichment halls at Iran’s Natanz facility—a site central to the country’s nuclear program. Israeli defense authorities assert that they have secured significant access to Iranian airspace and intend to ramp up their military campaign in the days ahead.
However, Israeli military experts acknowledge that eliminating fortified nuclear installations like the Fordow facility—built deep beneath a mountain—would be extremely difficult without active U.S. military participation.
Casualty reports from both sides continue to rise. Iranian officials say 224 people, mostly civilians, have died due to the recent strikes, while Israel has confirmed 24 civilian deaths. As both governments move populations away from targeted zones, the humanitarian toll deepens.
Meanwhile, global markets remain on edge, particularly energy sectors. Strikes near the South Pars gas field—the world’s largest, jointly operated by Iran and Qatar—have raised fears of potential disruptions to international gas supplies.