Unleashing the Conflagration: A maps-based exploration of Israel and Iran's violent escalation
Hostilities and Countermeasures: Strategies for Israel-Iran Conflict Escalation - Escalating Conflicts: Geographical Depiction of the Israel-Iran War Exchanges
By Patrik Rösing** ⏱️ - 3 Mins
Warning: Frequent updates to the ongoing Middle East conflict can be found in our comprehensive liveblog.
The fiery clashes between Israel and Iran ignited when Israel unleashed Operation Skyward Strike, a massive assault on Friday, June 13, 2025, primarily aiming high-value targets of Iran's nuclear program. In response, Iran unleashed reprisal attacks, with both nations locked in a devastating tit-for-tat cycle of violence that shows no signs of letting up.
Check out the map below for a visual representation of the reported attacks thus far. Please note that due to the complexity of verifying each incident and the fluid nature of the conflict, this map is not exhaustive. Israel's strikes focused on not only nuclear program facilities but also residential compounds of high-ranking military figures and nuclear scientists in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Moreover, strategic targets in western Iran, where ground-to-ground missiles are believed to be stationed, were also attacked in an attempt to deter Iran from launching more missile attacks against the Jewish state. Iran, in turn, fired multiple missiles, primarily at Haifa in northern Israel and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Israel claims that most were intercepted, yet there were hits in the heartland of the country.
So far, the death toll in Israel has reached 24 individuals, with hundreds more left injured by Iranian strikes. In Iran, 224 individuals have been confirmed dead and approximately 1,300 injured since Israel kicked off their large-scale campaign on Friday night, according to official reports.
The Battle within Tehran
Tehran has been the recipient of some heavy blows, as reports of a 14-story residential building in the northeast being hit and subsequently collapsing have surfaced. further residential areas have allegedly sustained damage in Iran. The "New York Times" also reported footage of an explosion at Mehrabad Airport. Other reported targets in Tehran include a fuel depot, an oil refinery, a rocket storage base (Bid Kaneh) west of Tehran, and the military complex Parchin in the southeastern capital. On Monday, the state-owned broadcaster IRIB was struck during a live broadcast.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim has confirmed the demise of Mohammed Kasem, the head of the powerful Revolutionary Guards' intelligence service, and his deputy Hassan Mohaghegh. Both perished in the attacks on Tehran. Previously, prominent military figures and nuclear scientists had fallen victim to targeted killings within Tehran.
The Graze within the Tel Aviv Area
Turning its attention to the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv and its surrounding environs, Iran plastered them with rocket attacks. Many of these projectiles were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system, yet completely avoiding destruction was no easy feat. In Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, there have been reports of multiple fatalities after a multi-story building was struck, and at least one met untimely death in Ramat Gan from impact. On Monday, there were unconfirmed reports of further casualties in Petach Tikva.
The newspaper also reported a hit on Kirya, an area that houses the headquarters of the Israeli Defense Ministry, and the Israel Defense Forces. As for Haifa in northern Israel, Iran zeroed in on Israel's largest oil refinery.
An ultimate aim of Israel's large-scale offensive is to unravel or significantly hamper Iran's nuclear program, potentially delaying Iran's efforts to construct an atomic bomb by several years. Iran maintains it has no interest in manufacturing nuclear weapons. Scattered across the country, Uranium mines, refineries, reactors, and research centers are heavily fortified, such as the uranium processing facility at Fordo, built deep within a mountain.
Despite some apparent damage to facilities, including the research center in Isfahan, Israeli Iran expert Sima Shine, a former Mossad agent, believes that no substantial harm has been inflicted upon Iran's nuclear program.
- Middle East
- Iran
- Israel
The timeline of reported attacks between Israel and Iran in 2025 highlights an alarming escalation of hostilities marked by extensive military operations, considerable human loss, and strategic targets struck by both parties.
Timeline of Attacks and Key Events
- June 13, 2025 (Friday night): Israel initiated a large-scale military operation named Operation Skyward Strike, targeting over 100 locations across Iran. The strikes focused primarily on nuclear facilities, military leadership compounds, missile manufacturing sites, and air defense systems. Over 200 Israeli aircraft dropped more than 330 precision munitions, leading to the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials, including Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Emergency Forces Commander Gholam Rashid, and at least six top nuclear scientists. Israel's offensive is considered one of the most extensive aerial campaigns in the region in recent years, demonstrating a large-scale and technologically advanced Israeli air assault on Iran's critical infrastructure.
- June 14-15, 2025: Israeli strikes extended beyond military targets to oil refineries and government buildings in Iran. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa on June 16, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100, causing residential and infrastructure damage, including to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have used a novel method in their missile barrage that thwarted Israel's missile defense systems, enhancing their offensive effectiveness. However, Israel asserts that only seven out of fewer than 100 missiles actually landed within its borders. Israeli forces claimed to have destroyed approximately one-third of Iran's surface-to-surface missile launchers and achieved aerial superiority.
- June 16, 2025: Iran announced the apprehension of several alleged Israeli spies and saboteurs since the confrontation began. With ongoing attacks, nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US were abandoned as Iran rejected engaging in talks while under Israeli attack. The conflict has raised concerns about wider regional escalation, particularly with an upcoming G7 summit where de-escalation discussions were anticipated but uncertain.
Casualties and Damage
- Iran lost high-level military and nuclear scientists to Israeli attacks, signifying an intentional effort to compromise Iran's strategic capabilities.
- Israeli cities suffered civilian casualties from Iranian missile attacks, resulting in at least eight fatalities and over 100 injured on June 16 alone. The destruction included damaged homes and damage to diplomatic facilities such as the US Embassy. Israeli civilian casualties tallied three deaths and more than 50 injuries from multiple attacks across Israeli cities on June 14.
Key Targets
- Israel's targets in Iran:
- Nuclear facilities and scientists' residences
- Military leadership compounds
- Missile manufacturing facilities
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers
- Oil refineries and government buildings
- Iran's targets in Israel:
- Major cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa
- Residential areas
- Crucial infrastructure including the US Embassy
Geographic Concentration
- Israeli air raids centered on Iranian strategic locations, primarily around Tehran and other critical military and nuclear sites.
- Iranian missile strikes targeted Israeli coastal cities and key urban centers, leading to civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
- The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, primarily between Israel and Iran, has been marked by extensive military operations, significant human loss, and strategic targets being struck by both parties.
- In the realm of politics and general news, the escalating war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Iran, are currently dominating headlines due to the Vietnamese timeline of attacks showcasing a rapid and alarming deterioration of the situation.
