Overview

• Israel launched a large-scale preemptive strike on June 13 targeting Iranian commanders, military installations and nuclear sites to disrupt a suspected weapons program.
• Iran retaliated with waves of missiles against Israeli territory, killing at least two civilians and injuring dozens.
• The back-and-forth attacks have killed dozens across both countries and forced thousands of civilians into shelters, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
• Pope Leo XIV issued one of his most forceful appeals to date at St. Peter’s Basilica, urging both nations to choose dialogue and responsibility over violence.
• Tehran insists its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, a claim Israel rejects as it frames the strikes as necessary to protect its security.