Former US President Donald Trump hailed Israel’s massive airstrike on Iran as “excellent,” warning there’s “a lot more to come.” On Friday morning, Israel launched strikes on around 100 Iranian sites, targeting nuclear facilities and military command centres. “They got hit hard, very hard,” Trump told ABC News. When asked if the US assisted, Trump declined to comment. The attack marks a major escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, raising fears of broader regional instability. Iranian officials have condemned the strikes, vowing retaliation. Global leaders have urged restraint as tensions threaten to spiral into a larger Middle East conflict. (PC: HT)

Israel renewed its strikes on Iran early on June 13, following a surprise overnight wave. State TV reported fresh explosions in Tabriz province, near the airport and military base, as missiles hit at least 10 locations killing a minimum of three people. Alarmingly, Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei, was injured in the early strikes. In response, Qatar condemned the raids, while France, the UK and Germany held urgent consultations with Iran. At least 20 top Iranian commanders have been killed, though Tehran claims only “cosmetic damage” at Natanz’s nuclear facility.

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a major preemptive air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Natanz enrichment plant, Revolutionary Guards HQ, missile factories, and Tehran neighborhoods. Iranian state media confirms the deaths of IRGC commander General Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi‑Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, alongside civilian casualties. Explosions rocked Tehran early Friday; airspaces in Iran and Israel were shut amid national emergencies. Israeli officials warn of imminent Iranian missile or drone retaliation. The U.S., not directly involved, urged Iran not to strike American interests. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vows “severe punishment,” signaling a potential regional escalation.

In a bold preemptive strike dubbed Operation Rising Lion, Israel targeted key Iranian military and nuclear sites early June 13, resulting in the confirmed death of Major General Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian state media and AFP reported that Salami was killed along with senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Explosions rocked Tehran and Natanz, with Iran’s leadership vowing retaliation. The strikes mark a major escalation in regional tensions. Airspaces were shut, oil prices surged, and world leaders expressed concern over potential spillover into a broader Middle East conflict. (PC: Reuters)

Israel initiated a major preemptive strike—dubbed “Operation Rising Lion”—early June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities (including Natanz enrichment) and key military sites, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz . Explosions were reported across Tehran; Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, top military officials, and two nuclear scientists are believed dead . Air-raid sirens rang nationwide, with both Israeli and Iranian airspace closed amid declared national emergencies . Prime Minister Netanyahu framed the strike as essential to neutralize imminent nuclear threats. The US, led by Secretary Rubio, denied involvement while urging Iran against targeting American interests.

The U.S. State Department has ordered a partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil, Iraq, due to growing security threats across the region. Non-emergency government employees have been directed to leave as a precautionary measure. While no specific threat was mentioned, the department cited regional tensions and heightened security risks. The advisory also warned U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq. These developments follow a series of attacks on U.S. military facilities in Iraq and Syria amid ongoing regional unrest. Despite the drawdown, the U.S. embassy will continue to operate with essential staff to maintain diplomatic functions and services. (PC: NBC News & The Indian Express)

Pak Army Chief General Asim Munir, recently promoted to Field Marshal, will attend the US Army’s 250th‑year parade in Washington on June 14, the same day as former President Trump’s 80th birthday as per Pakistani sources. At the event, he’s expected to meet the State Department and Pentagon officials. His U‑turn follows glowing praise by US CENTCOM head Gen Michael Kurilla, who lauded Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counter‑ISIS‑K operations. In India, Congress’s Jairam Ramesh called the invite “a huge diplomatic setback,” citing Munir’s inflammatory remarks ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, the Pakistani diaspora plans protests in DC. (PC: India Today)

On June 11, 2025, five Palestinian aid workers were reportedly killed in an attack attributed to Hamas fighters, according to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid organization operating in the Gaza Strip. The GHF stated that a clearly marked bus carrying over two dozen workers to a food distribution center near Khan Younis came under fire. Several others were injured or remain missing. GHF condemned the attack, calling it a targeted assault on humanitarian workers. Hamas has not commented on the allegation. The incident raises fresh concerns over aid safety in conflict zones. (PC: Reuters)

Praveen Swami’s essay in ThePrint traces 175 years of racially charged unrest in Los Angeles—from Mexican uprisings in 1856 and anti-Chinese massacres in 1871, to the Zoot Suit riots of the 1940s, the Watts revolt in 1965, and the 1992 upheaval after the Rodney King verdict. Each eruption reflects entrenched inequality, police brutality, and exclusion, with marginalized communities—Mexican, Black, Asian—pushed to violent protest. Swami argues that these flashpoints reveal ongoing struggles over who truly belongs in America, underscoring immigration and hate‑speech rhetoric as modern catalysts. Yet he cautions that America’s future lies in embracing multicultural integration, not in succumbing to white‑chauvinist divisiveness.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic journey to the International Space Station was halted hours before liftoff after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The Axiom-4 mission, already delayed once due to weather, was scheduled for June 11 but now awaits urgent repairs. ISRO confirmed the leak was detected during post-static fire tests, and SpaceX will conduct validation tests before rescheduling. Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, was to become the first Indian to reach the ISS on a commercial spaceflight. A new launch date will be declared after safety clearance.