Escalation of Conflict in the Middle East: Israeli Fighter Jets Strike Rocket Installations in Iran, Tensions Rise
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in the past few hours, Israeli air forces conducted a series of airstrikes on missile launch complexes on Iran's western coast. This marks another phase of escalation in the region, which has been in a state of high tension for several weeks due to ongoing front-line hostilities between Israel, Iran, and their allies. Officially, IDF representatives emphasized in their Telegram channel that "in the last few hours, approximately 15 Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out targeted strikes on missile launch sites in western Iran." The Israel Border Guard reports that these operations aimed specifically at destroying key targets and potential sources of missile attacks, as well as preventing possible escalation of the conflict. It is worth recalling that on the night of June 16, Israeli military sources reported strikes on targets in central Iran, including Tehran. During the same hours, Israeli security forces noted they were conducting targeted actions against 'ground-to-ground' missiles used for launching attacks towards Israel, with the goal of neutralizing potential threats. The background of this conflict has deep roots. On the night of June 13, Israel carried out a series of missile strikes on facilities in Iran’s capital and surrounding areas. The military operation was justified as preventive — Israeli defense forces aimed to strike nuclear and military sites that could potentially be targeted by Iranian forces. As a result of these attacks, senior officials and scientists were killed, including IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Gholamali Rashed, and Iranian Armed Forces Commander Mohammad Bagheri. Additionally, according to official reports, at least six nuclear scientists were killed. These actions elicited strong responses from Iranian officials. The Iranian Foreign Minister announced that after these strikes, any negotiations with the U.S. regarding the nuclear program had lost their meaning. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to negotiate a new nuclear deal, warning that the time for compromises was limited. The next day, on the night of June 14, Iranian forces responded with missile strikes on Israeli territories using ballistic missiles. Reports indicate that as a result of these missile attacks, one person was killed and over 50 injured. On June 15, Iran further escalated the conflict by launching another large-scale missile attack on Israeli territory. According to Israeli sources, at least three Israelis were killed, over 200 injured, and around 35 people remain missing. Of particular concern is the information about human casualties among Ukrainian citizens in this conflict. Preliminary data indicate that, as a result of missile strikes from both sides on airports and other facilities within Israel, five Ukrainians have died, including three minors. This underscores the fact that tensions continue to grow, and the region is at increasing risk of a large-scale conflict with serious international security implications. Analysts and diplomatic circles are calling for restraint and dialogue. However, the war in the Middle East continues to intensify, and the escalation of violence threatens to develop into a broader crisis that could impact global political and security stability.