The Twelve-Day War (June 2025)
Parties: Israel, Iran, United States
Israel's June 13, 2025 surprise air campaign against Iran's nuclear and military sites, joined by the U.S., and Iran's missile barrages on Israel — the largest direct Israel–Iran war to date. It ended with the June 24 ceasefire (separate entry); the war itself left the pre-war status quo collapsed with no return to it.
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise air war against Iran — striking nuclear facilities, military sites, and regime infrastructure, and killing top Iranian military commanders. Iran responded with waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. On June 22, the United States joined, directly striking Iran's nuclear sites (including Fordow).
Twelve days of the most intense direct Israel–Iran fighting on record followed. The war ended when, after Qatari mediation, President Trump announced a ceasefire on June 23, taking effect June 24 (see the June 2025 ceasefire entry).
This entry covers the war itself, tagged collapsed in the sense that the pre-June 2025 shadow-war status quo was destroyed and never restored — what followed was a fragile ceasefire that itself later broke down (February 2026). It is the central event of the 2024–present Israel–Iran direct track. Status as of July 2026.
~28 killed in Israel (mostly civilians, ~3,000+ injured); Iran's death toll estimated at 1,060–1,190 with thousands wounded and tens of thousands displaced.
Figures contested and varying by source. Iranian death toll estimates: ~1,060 (Wikipedia compilation), 1,190 (Iran Human Rights Activists / HRA), 935 (Iranian state media). Israeli figures: 28 killed per ACLED/Times of Israel.
Source: ACLED — Twelve days that shook the region; Wikipedia — Casualties of the Twelve-Day War
Sources:
- Twelve-Day War — Wikipedia
- ACLED — Twelve days that shook the region: Inside the Iran-Israel war
- Britannica — 12-Day War
- Reuters — Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire (June 23, 2025)
Last updated 2026-07-16