Iran Retaliates, Strikes Israeli Cities
Iran has launched a large-scale wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, forcing millions into bomb shelters. The direct assault follows the killing of its Supreme Leader and marks a dangerous new phase in the conflict, with the U.S. and Israel responding with intensified bombing of strategic sites in Iran.
This direct state-to-state conflict shatters a long-standing "shadow war" that began after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. For decades, hostilities were primarily waged through proxy groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, as well as via cyberattacks and targeted assassinations of nuclear scientists. The situation began to shift from proxy to direct conflict in 2024, with both nations launching strikes against each other. Tensions boiled over into a 12-day war in June 2025 after Israel bombed Iranian military and nuclear facilities, prompting a massive missile retaliation from Tehran. Iran's arsenal includes a sophisticated array of ballistic missiles and long-range "suicide drones." To counter this, Israel employs a multi-layered air defense system that includes the short-range Iron Dome, the medium-range David's Sling, and the long-range Arrow missile system. Following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iranian officials have issued warnings to commercial ships in the Gulf, signaling a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is a critical chokepoint for global energy, with about 20% of the world's total oil consumption passing through it daily. Any disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could cause a severe shock to the global economy. Analysts warn that a prolonged closure could drive crude oil prices above $100 a barrel, fueling inflation and increasing the risk of a worldwide economic downturn.
