Israel and Iran trade strikes on fifth day of conflict
Tel Aviv/Tehran – June 17, 2025 – The direct conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fifth day today, marked by continued retaliatory strikes and a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis. Both nations reported significant casualties and damage as the international community struggled to de-escalate the volatile situation.
Israel confirmed further “extensive strikes” on military targets in western Iran, including numerous surface-to-surface missile launchers. The Israeli military also announced the killing of Ali Shadmani, Iran’s newly appointed wartime chief of staff, just four days after his predecessor was eliminated in a similar Israeli raid. Footage released by the IDF reportedly showed explosions at missile and drone sites.
In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched a “new and more powerful wave of missile strikes” towards Israel, asserting “accurate hits on targets” despite advanced defense systems. Iranian state media reported explosions and intense air defense activity in Tehran, with reports of a fire at Mehrabad International Airport and a strike during a live broadcast that allegedly hit the state-television complex. Iran also stated that three people were killed and four injured in an Israeli attack on the central city of Kashan.
The death toll continues to mount on both sides. Israeli strikes have reportedly killed at least 224 people in Iran, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Meanwhile, Iranian attacks have claimed at least 24 lives in Israel, with hundreds more wounded across both nations.
Adding to the complexity, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today reported that Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility had caused “direct impacts” on its underground centrifuge halls, raising concerns about potential nuclear radiation incidents. The IAEA had previously noted damage to the above-ground enrichment hall and electrical equipment at the site.
The widening scope of the conflict is having profound international repercussions. Portugal announced the temporary closure of its Tehran embassy due to the “gravity of the current situation.” European Union foreign ministers, while affirming Israel’s right to self-defense, unanimously called for urgent de-escalation and reiterated that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who departed the G7 summit early to focus on the conflict, issued a stark warning on social media, urging residents of Tehran to “immediately evacuate!” and vowing that “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.” His statements have added to the uncertainty, with some interpreting them as a precursor to further U.S. involvement, despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s earlier assertion that the U.S. was not directly involved in the strikes.
Economically, the conflict has sent shockwaves through global markets, particularly in the energy sector. Oil prices have surged, and there are growing concerns about disruptions to shipping through vital waterways like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, which could trigger a global energy crisis and recession.
As the exchanges show no signs of abating, the world watches anxiously, hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough to prevent a wider conflagration in an already volatile region.
