The Future of War After Israel’s Attack on Iran
In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched what it called a "preemptive" strike against Iran, unleashing a wave of explosions across the country. The targets included nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordo, military bases, research centers, and residences of senior military officials. By the end of the operation, Israeli forces had killed at least 974 people. In retaliation, Iranian missile strikes claimed the lives of 28 in Israel. Israel framed the assault as an act of anticipatory self-defense, arguing that Iran was only weeks away from developing a functional nuclear weapon. However, intelligence assessments—including those from the United States, a close Israeli ally—and reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found no evidence that Tehran was actively pursui...