Explained: Why The Israel-Iran Conflict Just Escalated And What Role The US Is Playing

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 08:06 IST

With missiles flying, nuclear talks hanging by a thread, and top commanders possibly dead, this is the moment the Israel-Iran conflict stopped being shadow war, and turned real

Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated into open threats and missile strikes, bringing the Middle East to the brink of war. (Image: Shutterstock)

Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian soil have sharply escalated the long-running confrontation between the two arch-rivals. Codenamed Operation Rising Lion, the operation involved dozens of Israeli fighter jets targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile factories, and top military personnel. Explosions were reported in Tehran and at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, announced a ‘special situation’ as some military officials there confirmed attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and several senior nuclear scientists may have been killed, though Iran has not officially confirmed the casualties.

Why Now? What Triggered The Strike

The strike followed months of rising tensions. Israeli officials cited intelligence that Iran had amassed enough enriched uranium to produce multiple nuclear weapons. A senior Israeli military official told Reuters that Iran could make up to 15 bombs within days. Israeli leadership framed the operation as a necessary step to counter an existential threat amid stalled diplomacy.

Iran, for its part, has denied pursuing nuclear weapons and accused Israel of aggression and sabotage. It has built deep regional networks through proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas—groups Israel considers direct threats to its security.

The immediate context includes not just military build-up but also failed diplomacy: US-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for June 15 in Oman, were hanging by a thread before the airstrikes. It is now unclear whether they will go forward.

What Role Has The US Played?

Although a staunch Israeli ally, the United States has officially distanced itself from Operation Rising Lion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel acted unilaterally, saying: “We are not involved in the strikes, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region."

President Donald Trump convened his national security team but reiterated that the US does not seek direct involvement in the conflict. Just a day before the Israeli strike, the US withdrew non-essential personnel from its missions in Iraq, Jordan, and several Gulf countries. The State Department issued updated travel advisories, and military assets were repositioned across the region in anticipation of possible fallout.

However, Washington’s role goes beyond military posture. While publicly disavowing military involvement, the US remains deeply invested in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and in managing the broader fallout from Israeli actions. Its long-standing diplomatic support for Israel, layered sanctions on Iran, and simultaneous pursuit of backchannel diplomacy highlight Washington’s complex and often contradictory position in the conflict.

In short, the US is not a neutral bystander, it is a strategic actor balancing alliance, deterrence, and diplomacy.

What Is the Israel-Iran Conflict Really About?

At its heart, this is a clash over power, ideology, and regional dominance. Israel views a nuclear Iran as an existential threat. Iran sees Israel as a hostile power backed by the West, and it supports anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

While both sides have long engaged in proxy warfare, cyberattacks, and covert sabotage, the latest developments represent a shift to open, state-on-state warfare.

How Did We Get Here? A Timeline Of Escalation

October 7, 2023: Hamas, backed by Iran, launched a deadly attack in southern Israel, killing over 1,100 people. Israel began a major military campaign in Gaza.

October 17, 2023: Iran’s Supreme Leader warned of broader regional conflict if Israel continued its campaign. Hezbollah opened a second front in northern Israel.

Dec 2023 – Mar 2024: Israel escalated strikes on IRGC operatives in Syria, killing several senior commanders.

April 1, 2024: Israel bombed Iran’s consulate annex in Damascus, killing Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran vowed revenge.

April 13–14, 2024: Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel, firing 300+ drones and missiles. Nearly all were intercepted.

April 19, 2024: Israel responded by bombing a radar site near Isfahan.

July 31, 2024: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.

Sept 2024: Israel killed senior Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC deputy commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut.

Oct 1, 2024: Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.

Oct 26, 2024: Israel launched ‘Days of Repentance,’ striking 20+ Iranian-linked sites.

Jan–Mar 2025: Fighting intensified across multiple proxy fronts—Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and militias in Syria/Iraq.

Apr–Jun 2025: Israel accused Iran of crossing the nuclear threshold. The IAEA reported declining transparency.

June 13, 2025: Israel launched Operation Rising Lion. Key nuclear and military targets hit. Iran may have lost top officials. The world watches to see what comes next.

What Happens Now?

All eyes are on Iran. Retaliation is expected—whether through direct missile strikes, proxy attacks, or cyber retaliation. The risk of wider regional war is at its highest in decades.

This is no longer a shadow conflict. With both nations striking at each other’s core assets and threatening escalation, the Middle East stands on the edge of a multi-front war. Whether diplomacy can still avert catastrophe remains to be seen.

News explainers Explained: Why The Israel-Iran Conflict Just Escalated And What Role The US Is Playing