On June 22, 2025, Iran launched a significant retaliatory missile attack on Israel, targeting multiple cities, including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, in response to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities. The Iranian response, which some analysts have labeled “ferocious,” comprised waves of ballistic missiles and drones, intensifying the conflict that began with Israel’s surprise attack on June 13 and intensified with U.S. bombings on June 21.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserted that the attack was a direct response to Israel’s assault on its nuclear facilities and military and the U.S. bombing of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iranian state television indicated that the missile attack intended to cause extensive damage, with images depicting bombed buildings in Haifa and other Israeli cities. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, threatened that any country assisting Israel, including the U.S., would be “complicit in aggression” and a legitimate target, indicating a wider threat.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the majority of the launched missiles were intercepted by its multilayered air defense capabilities, including the Iron Dome. A few rockets penetrated defenses, injuring residential and military installations. Local media verified at least three people injured in Haifa, as emergency services treated several impact areas across central and southern Israel. 24 fatalities and more than 685 injuries have been recorded from Iranian attacks since the conflict began. The IDF continues to call for civilians to stay close to bomb shelters, and schools are still closed throughout the country.

Iran’s response has been limited by previous Israeli and American attacks, which crippled its missile launchers and air defenses. Iran is estimated to have launched nearly 400 ballistic missiles, with about 35 penetrating Israel’s defenses, according to Reuters since June 13. Iran vows to continue its bombardments, with IRGC officials saying the counterattack would be “20 times stronger” than previous strikes.

The international community is on edge, with U.N. preparing for de-escalation and the threat of a greater war on the brink. The U.S. has strengthened its military in the region, with the Pentagon preparing for potential Iranian retaliation against U.S. bases.