Iran Launches Drones in Response to Israeli Airstrikes

On Friday, June 13, 2025, Iran fired over 100 drones at Israel, labeling the recent Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear facilities as “a declaration of war.”

Brig. General Effy Defflin from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the drone launch, saying, “We’re working to intercept the threat.”

The Israeli military has been actively managing the situation. As per IDF reports, the Israeli Air Force is continuously intercepting these drones near the border, and so far, none have entered Israeli airspace.

This surge in tensions follows a major Israeli military operation on Thursday night targeting multiple Iranian installations, aiming to dismantle nuclear infrastructure, missile production facilities, and military bases.

In a communication to the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi termed these actions “a declaration of war.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, emphasizing the mission’s necessity for the “survival” of Israel, given the longstanding threats from Iranian leaders.

Netanyahu stated in a YouTube address, “These threats cannot be left to the next generation. If we don’t act now, we may not have a future.” He further warned against underestimating the enemy’s capability to inflict harm.

Approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets targeted close to 100 sites in Iran, including the important Natanz nuclear facility, which Netanyahu referred to as “the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile program.”

Iran acknowledged some damage to the facility but stated there has been no radioactive contamination as a result of the strikes. Iranian state media reported that several key figures, including military leaders and nuclear scientists, were killed during the attacks.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remarked that Israel would face “severe punishment” and “harsh responses” for its actions.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated the military’s commitment to obstruct Iran’s nuclear ambitions, underscoring that those involved in planning attacks on Israel would be eliminated.

For years, Israel has been concerned that Iran is working towards developing nuclear weapons, arguing that Iran’s uranium enrichment activities pose a serious threat.

On the same day, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had violated nuclear proliferation obligations for the first time in two decades and had not been cooperative with inspectors.

IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi indicated that evidence of uranium particles was found at three undisclosed Iranian locations during inspections conducted in 2019 and 2020.

Despite Tehran’s denials regarding any intentions to build nuclear weapons, the situation remains fraught with tension and uncertainty.