Narrative Description

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:

Conflict Origins & Launch 

On 13, June 2025 , Israel initiated Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale preemptive military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, military installations, and high-value individuals in Tehran, Isfahan, and Natanz. The strikes reportedly killed senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists, and damaged civilian infrastructure. In response Iran with ballistic missile and drone strikes directly from its territories marking a significant escalation beyond proxy based aggression .

Combat Strategies :

Israel has achieved air superiority, Over 120 Iranian air-defense systems have been disabled, enabling operations over Tehran with little pushback

Iran did manage to fire over 400 missiles, but interception systems like Arrow‑2/3, David’s Sling, and THAAD neutralized the majority

Involvement Of Proxies :

Iran’s traditional proxies (Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi and Syrian militias, and Houthis) have largely refrained from fully joining , weakened by prior conflicts and fearing overexposure. Tehran is trying to apply gray zone tactics detach direct involvement yet maintain regional reach through proxies.

War Objectives :

Israel aims to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons in advance, degrade military capacity, and potentially spark regime change. Though analysts warn that strategic air strikes alone are unlikely to achieve this objective. Iran seeks to demonstrate deterrence, preserve regime integrity, and leverage potential U.S.–Iran diplomacy.

Impact On Civilians and Humanitarian Situation :

The Iran-Israel war has caused significant and growing humanitarian fallout, especially in urban centers across Iran. As Israel targets military infrastructure embedded within or near populated areas, civilian casualties and displacement are rapidly rising.

As of June 20, 2025, over 3,000 civilians in Iran have been reported dead or critically injured due to Israeli airstrikes, with heavy bombardment in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. These numbers continue to climb as critical infrastructure is hit. Israel, in turn, has faced limited civilian casualties (fewer than 100), due to its advanced missile defense systems (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow-3), which intercepted a majority of Iranian missile strikes. Hospitals in Iran are reportedly shortage of medical supplies and beds. 

Displacement & Shelter Crisis :

Over 400,000 Iranians have been internally displaced, fleeing cities to seek refuge in rural provinces. Makeshift camps have sprung up with minimal support from NGOs due to safety risks and state restrictions. Shelter conditions are dire, with reports of insufficient sanitation, food, and clean water, especially in southern provinces and near strategic military sites.

Impact On Foreign Students :

The Iran-Israel war has severely disrupted the lives of thousands of foreign nationals studying in the region. Among the most affected are Pakistani students enrolled in universities across Iran. Over 5,000 Pakistani students were estimated to be studying in Iran. The Pakistani Embassy in Tehran issued an emergency advisory on June 14 ,2025 . 15 Pakistani students injured and 3 confirmed dead.