War in Israel: Special Update on Current Situation

June 15, 2025 – October 7 War, Day 618, 53 hostages remain in captivity

At least thirteen Israelis were killed and over 270 wounded by Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Israel over the weekend, including two young children who were killed when their Bat Yam building (near Tel Aviv) was struck. 
 
Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel office has activated its emergency protocols and is in close contact with the government, the military, missions, and partners on the ground, in order to report and assess the situation.

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Iranian Attacks

• In retaliation for Israel’s Operation Rising Lion (see more details in Friday’s update here, and below), Iran launched multiple assaults that included both missile and drone strikes across Israeli territory over the last two days.
• Saturday night, Iran launched a coordinated barrage of dozens of missiles targeting major Israeli cities, including Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other parts of Israel’s central region. See this post by Caitlyn Jenner, in Israel, for the now-cancelled Tel Aviv Pride Parade, depicting missiles over the city.
• Interceptions prevented most of the incoming fire from reaching its targets, but several missiles struck populated areas, causing significant damage and casualties.
• Iranian ballistic missiles scored direct hits on numerous sites, including an apartment building in Bat Yam in the center of the country. There, at least six people were killed, including two young children, and others remain missing. Nearly 200 were injured.
• Some reports suggest that the Weizmann Institute of Science was hit when a confirmed missile struck Rehovot, significantly damaging research facilities.
• A two-story home in the Arab-Israeli town of Tamra was directly hit, killing four and injuring others. The dead included a woman and her two daughters, aged 13 and 20. The casualties were not in approved shelters when the missile hit.
• In parallel, Iranian drones were launched toward Israel’s north; at least 7 drones were intercepted over the Galilee and Lower Galilee regions early Sunday morning.
• On Friday night, the Iranian missile barrage included approximately 150-200 ballistic and cruise missiles in several waves.
• In all the barrages, the vast majority of incoming missiles were successfully intercepted by Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and the air force, with unconfirmed assistance from US and Jordanian forces. The reported interception success rate currently exceeds 90%.
• In total, at least 3 civilians were killed across multiple impact sites on Friday night, with approximately 80 additional people wounded, several critically.
• Structural damage was reported in multiple locations, including collapsed building facades in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, and fires ignited by debris.
• A residential building in Rishon LeZion sustained a direct hit, injuring 19 people, two of whom later died of their wounds.
• Across both nights, air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across major population centers, forcing millions of Israelis to seek shelter as civil defense protocols remained in full activation throughout the weekend.
• The New York Times reported that in response to an Israeli attack, Iran had originally planned to launch 1000 missiles simultaneously to overwhelm Israel’s air defense system. However, Israel’s surprise attack was aimed first and foremost at Iran’s air defenses and ballistic missile launchers, and managed to drastically reduce that significant threat. As a result, Iran was only able to launch around 100-150 missiles at a time. While this is a large number, and some missiles succeeded in evading the defenses, the barrage was not able to overwhelm Israel’s overall defense system.

Israel’s Attacks Continue

• Israel has continued to carry out multiple waves of precision airstrikes targeting high-value military and nuclear infrastructure across Iran, including key sites in Tehran, Natanz, Isfahan, Khondab, Khorramabad, Hamadan, Tabriz, and Parchin.
• The IDF has so far hit around 170 targets in Iran since Friday, with impact on 720 different sites or sub-targets.
• It is now understood that the initial opening phase on June 13 involved 200 Israeli aircraft delivering over 330 munitions in five strike waves aimed at approximately 100 targets, including nuclear facilities, military command centers, and Revolutionary Guard bases.
• Airstrikes destroyed or damaged critical nuclear infrastructure: the Natanz Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Plant, Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, and centrifuge conversion facilities at Khondab and Khorramabad.
• Military targets included the dismantling of Tabriz and Hamadan airbases, Parchin military site, missile launcher depots, IRGC command facilities, and surface-to-air defense systems.
• Israeli stealth F-35I Adir, F-15, F-16 fighters, refueling tankers, reconnaissance aircraft, and UAVs were deployed; the F-35I units were confirmed part of the operation. Support included a Boeing 707 tanker enabling reach into Iranian airspace and extended range for strike aircraft.
• Reports indicate the use of covert Mossad operations and drones within Iran to disable air defense radar, missile launchers, and establish a forward strike capability.
• Israeli reports state that all aircraft returned safely. Iranian sources claimed the downing of jets and the capture of a female pilot, which Israel has strongly denied.
• The highest-ranking military and Revolutionary Guard commanders were killed, including Hossein Salami, Mohammad Baqeri, Gholam Ali Rashid, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as well as at least nine top nuclear scientists. The hope in Israel is that the loss of the scientists can prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear weapons capabilities for many years to come.
• Iran’s air defense, including S-300 batteries and radar installations, suffered significant damage, impairing its long-range missile and drone capabilities.
• Explosions and fires were reported in central Tehran and key areas of the energy and defense sectors.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed damage to nuclear sites, but no radiation leaks.
• Last night, Israeli strikes targeted both military and energy infrastructure, including an oil depot near Tehran and additional sites linked to nuclear development. Other targets included Tehran’s Ministry of Defense headquarters.
• Israel’s air force says that it has achieved “operational freedom” in western Iran airspace, implying extensive suppression of Iranian air defenses.

Israeli Home Front

• Most of the IDF Home Front Command’s rules remain in force in Israel, although some methods of notification have been refined. Specifically, under new rules, warning of a missile attack now comes in four stages:
  • Pre-Alert sent by app/cell phone (15-30 minutes before potential impact): This stage provides an early warning, giving people a window of time to prepare, such as gathering family members or moving to a secure location.
  • Loud SMS (upon missile launch): Upon detection of a missile launch, a loud SMS message is sent to mobile phones, alerting individuals to the impending threat and saying that a siren is likely in the coming minutes.
  • Sirens (90 seconds before impact): Sirens are activated approximately 90 seconds before the estimated time of impact in most areas, signaling the need to immediately seek shelter. As opposed to when sirens sound as a result of rockets from Gaza, Syria, or Lebanon, when attacks come from Iran, citizens have been advised not to leave shelters after ten minutes, but rather to wait for an all-clear notice.
  • All-Clear: An official all-clear signal is given when the threat has passed, allowing people to leave their shelters. This typically happens after 30-60 minutes.
• As of Sunday morning, all educational activities have ceased nationwide, for at least the coming week — including schools, kindergartens, universities, day camps, and special-education facilities. High school matriculation exams scheduled for this week have been postponed.
• Businesses and places of work, other than essential services (such as supermarkets), remain closed.
• Gathering limits are in place: Up to 1,000 people indoors and a lower unspecified cap outdoors, particularly in central and border cities.
• The IDF has banned all public events, especially large groups, to reduce the risk of a hit on a crowded location.
• Israel’s airspace is completely closed to civilian air traffic, and the country’s airports are shut. Hundreds of thousands of people are stranded, including Israelis abroad trying to get home, and non-Israeli citizens trying to leave the country. Israeli civilian aircraft have been evacuated to Cyprus.
• Public shelters, underground train stations, schools with protected spaces, and other similar venues were opened in many cities for those without access to other protected spaces.
• Public transport has been severely limited, with thousands of buses, trains, and other routes suspended or operating on a reduced capacity.
• Separately, IDF reserve soldier Noam Shemesh, 21, was killed in battle in Gaza yesterday when he was hit by an anti-tank missile. 

Jewish Federations Activities and Parters on the Ground

• Jewish Federations are also working closely with the National Emergency Management Authority (known by the Hebrew acronym RACHEL) to assess needs on the ground.
• Dozens of organizations supported by the Federation are already providing extensive support to the population, including significant mental health help, as well as preparing for any and all developments
• Israel’s National Security Council has alerted overseas Jewish communities and embassy staff to elevated risk levels, citing the potential for Iranian-sponsored terror.
• All missions and Federation personnel currently on the ground in Israel are safe, including 80 or so participants of the Jewish Federations’ LGBTQ Pride Mission who are still in the country following the program’s conclusion Thursday night. Jewish Federations’ Israel office is working to find a safe route out of the country for those trying to leave.
• The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) will hold an emergency briefing at 12 noon today, Sunday, with updates on the current situation and how JDC continues to respond to needs on the ground. Register here.

Statement by Israel’s President Isaac Herzog

“For decades, the Iranian Ayatollah regime has worked relentlessly on a calculated plan with one primary goal: to destroy the State of Israel. The only nation-state of the Jewish people. Their empire of evil took every effort to spread global and regional terror with its proxies, incite antisemitism, and above all, develop nuclear weapons. These are not just threats to our nation, but to the very fabric of peace and security in the Middle East and the world.

Iran’s ultimate objective is clear: to annihilate Israel. We must recognize the grave reality that nuclear weapons in the hands of a murderous ideology pose a clear and immediate threat to the very existence of the State of Israel and regional peace.

This is not just our struggle. This is the struggle of all who seek peace, stability, and a hopeful future in the Middle East. I want to express my deep gratitude to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, for his steadfast friendship and unwavering support for Israel. I also thank the countries and leaders who made clear their support of Israel’s right to defend itself.

The path ahead will not be easy, I have no doubt; however, in my mind, of the immense resilience of the Israeli people and our brothers and sisters in the Jewish communities around the world. We will continue to face challenges head-on, knowing that once again, good will triumph over evil, and light will prevail over darkness.” (Watch here).

Read: Israel’s Preemptive Strikes Were Legal And Necessary