For the first time in the war, the Israeli military acknowledged that Hamas attempted to abduct an Israeli soldier. The incident follows Hamas speculating that “additional prisoners will fall into our hands” in a statement two days before the attack.
Five IDF soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded in an ambush in Gaza on July 7. The soldiers were part of two units operating in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, attempting to clear this area near the Israeli border. An IDF spokesperson said that the town is “a fortified target that currently contains dozens more terrorists and numerous underground tunnels that must be dismantled.” The battle took place as Israel and Hamas continue ceasefire talks.
Turkey’s attempt to join BRICS, a bloc that seeks to undermine the foundations of the Western world order, is only one of many transgressions against the interests of its ostensible allies in NATO, the US, and Europe.
Israel continued its operations in Lebanon between June 30 and July 6, 2025. These operations included targeted killings of Hezbollah operatives, including a smuggler for the IRGC, and a wide-scale attack on Hezbollah assets.
The Houthis resumed targeting Red Sea shipping with two attacks on commercial vessels that killed three crew members and injured two more. The Yemeni terrorist group had not targeted commercial shipping in over half a year.
Two terrorists attacked a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid site in Khan Younis on July 5, wounding two American veterans who work for the non-profit. The attack follows threats by Hamas and its affiliates against the GHF due to its links to Israel and the United States.
Hamas’s Revolutionary Court issued an order for the leader of the Popular Forces militia, Yasser Abu Shabab, to turn himself in. Shabab leads a Gaza militia that opposes Hamas’s rule and has received support from Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) apprehended suspects in Syria who are part of “a terrorist cell operated by Iran,” the Israeli military said on July 2, one of several recent raids it has conducted along the border to detain suspects. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the Golan on July 1 and met with Israeli officers. “We must maintain a high level of alertness and keep our eyes open at all times,” he said.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stated that Hamas placed a bounty on its personnel, offering rewards to those who kill or injure members of the nonprofit organization. This development adds to the growing list of threats and acts of violence committed by Hamas and its affiliates against the GHF.
Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza on June 24 when an explosive device detonated on their armored personnel carrier. The deaths come as Israel is shifting its focus from the 12-day battle with Iran back to fighting in Gaza. The IDF continued to find tunnels in the northern part of the territory and eliminate terrorists in clashes. Over 43 million meals have been distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since May 26.
In the final hours before the ceasefire on June 24, Iran launched eight attacks on Israel, including a missile strike in Beersheva that killed four people. Since the war began, Iran has fired an estimated 591 missiles at Israel that killed 28 people and wounded 3,431.
Israel and Iran traded strikes hours before and after a ceasefire brokered by the US went into effect. President Donald Trump castigated both sides for violating the agreement, and a tentative truce has held since the rebuke.
Iran launched four attacks against Israel on June 23, 2025: one drone attack and three ballistic missile attacks, one of which occurred in three waves and consisted of 10–15 missiles. In total, Iran fired 11–16 ballistic missiles at Israel.
After nearly two weeks of high-intensity conflict, US President Donald Trump announced on June 23 that Israel and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement. The announcement followed a flurry of kinetic activity: Iran launched missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to American strikes on its nuclear infrastructure, while Israel escalated its air campaign against Iran, targeting missile systems and the regime’s core repression institutions.
Iran has launched over 1,000 drones at Israel, but Israel has succeeded in blunting most of the drone threat in 10 days of conflict. In addition, Iran has launched more than 450 ballistic missiles at Israel. More than 50 have landed, leading to at least 24 deaths and more than 2,800 injuries. Israel has begun reopening its airspace to flights that are repatriating tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad due to the conflict.
Israel continued its operations in Lebanon between June 16 and June 22, 2025. The activities included several targeted assassinations of Hezbollah operatives and commanders, several airstrikes on Hezbollah assets, and one Israeli naval operation against one of the group’s outposts in south Lebanon.
Following US strikes on three nuclear sites, Tehran has threatened to target American bases in the Middle East, continue missile attacks on Israel, and close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims the strikes were anticipated, uranium was moved from Fordow in advance, and Iran is preparing for a potential six-month war.
The Houthis threatened to attack US forces after American strikes against Iran. A ceasefire has been in place between the US and the Houthis since May 6, following a seven-week campaign by US Central Command (CENTCOM) against the Yemeni terrorist group.
Iran conducted four attacks against Israel on June 22, including a mid-size missile barrage launched shortly after the United States targeted several Iranian nuclear installations. The attacks caused significant damage in Tel Aviv and Central Israel but no deaths.
Over the past 72 hours, Israel has intensified its air campaign across Iran, striking missile and drone infrastructure in Esfahan, Bushehr, Ahvaz, Yazd, and Qom. Targets included the Imam Hossein missile base in Yazd, IRGC drone and air defense facilities, and the Shahid Mostafa Khomeini military base. Senior IRGC and IRGC-Qods Force commanders tied to weapons transfers, regional proxy coordination, and nuclear development were killed. Despite Tehran’s calls for retaliation, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other allied militias have mostly stayed out of the fight so far.
Operation Midnight Hammer, planned and practiced in near secrecy for several weeks, was “designed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine stated. The US Air Force hit the Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz with 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators launched from B-2 bombers. Separately, a US Navy submarine struck the Esfahan site with “dozens” of cruise missiles.
Israel expanded its campaign against Iran with strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites, missile infrastructure, and nuclear-linked facilities, reportedly killing a nuclear scientist in Tehran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) framed the attacks as targeting the Iranian regime’s repression and appealing to public discontent. Talks between Iran and EU officials on June 20 brought no breakthrough, as Tehran ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment.
Tensions in Iraq have grown in the wake of the Israeli attack on Iran on June 12. Pro-Iranian Iraqi militias have increased their threats against US forces and held rallies against the US presence in Iraq. The Iraqi government has sent security forces to Nineveh Governorate to prevent the area from being used by militias to launch rockets. In addition, several drones launched by Iran have crashed in Iraq.
Israel has expanded its military campaign against Iran with targeted strikes on nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and security institutions. Leadership changes within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) point to a tightening of internal control, while cyberattacks have disrupted Iran’s banking system and fueled public anxiety. Tehran’s threats toward US regional bases continue as Washington weighs possible military involvement.
Iran’s drone and missile attacks against Israel continued on June 18, 2025, targeting several parts of Israeli territory. Missile barrages remained frequent but smaller in size. No fatalities were reported on June 18, though light injuries and property damage occurred.
Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel continued on June 17, 2025, targeting several parts of Israeli territory. Missile barrages became more frequent but smaller in size. No fatalities were reported for the first 24-hour period of the war, though light injuries and property damage occurred.
Israel struck key Iranian military sites across Tehran, Karaj, and Kermanshah, destroyed air defenses, and hacked state TV, urging protests. Iran responded with internet shutdowns and claims of foiling Israeli plots. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent emergency video reflects rising tensions after Trump’s demands for Iran’s surrender.
Israel continued operations in Lebanon between June 9 and June 15, 2025. These activities were concentrated in south Lebanon, north and south of the Litani River, and included several targeted killings.
Yemen’s Houthis have continued their campaign against Israel, but now in coordination with and support of Iran. Other Iranian proxies within the Tehran-led Axis of Resistance have chosen not to involve themselves in the conflict openly and directly, so far. Israel carried out a targeted strike in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks.
As new operations unfold, Tehran appears cornered—its highest military leadership decimated, banking networks disrupted, and supreme leader underground. With Western powers weighing escalation, the coming days could determine whether this conflict ends in negotiation or spreads further across the region.