**Israeli Airstrikes Target Iran, Killing Top Military Official**
On June 13, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that its aerospace commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was killed in an Israeli air strike on a command facility. The attack also targeted Iran’s nuclear program and other military sites.
Hajizadeh was sanctioned by the European Union in 2022 for overseeing Tehran’s supply of Shahed-type drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. He played a key role in advancing Iran’s drone and missile capabilities, meeting with then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2023 to showcase Iranian weapons.
**Escalating Tensions**
The Israeli operation was described as “preemptive” and involved 200 aircraft and the dropping of 330 munitions. The full scale of the damage remains unclear. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing concern over the fallout from the Israeli operation, but underscored that Iran supports Russia in its war against Ukraine and supplies Moscow with weapons to kill Ukrainians.
**Regional Implications**
The Israeli strike took place amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and U.S. negotiations with Tehran regarding its nuclear program. The Trump administration acknowledged it knew about the operation in advance but denied any involvement. Kyiv warned of the potential global repercussions of the strike, noting that regional instability could severely impact international security and financial markets.
**Global Reactions**
Russia condemned Israel’s attacks as “unprovoked aggression” and a violation of the U.N. Charter. Crude prices surged more than 10% following the attack, boosting revenues for Moscow. Ukraine has received another 1 billion euros in macro-financial assistance from the European Union as part of a G7 loan.
**U.S. Involvement**
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was aware of Israel’s plans to conduct strikes on Iran in advance and that Washington is watching for any signs of retaliation by Tehran. The price spike threatens to undermine Western efforts to choke off a vital revenue stream for Russia, which relies heavily on oil profits to sustain its war in Ukraine.
**NATO Considerations**
For the first time, member states of NATO are reportedly considering combining the alliance’s ballistic missile shield with other integrated missile defense assets. Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan.
**Key Developments**
* Iran launched over 100 drones against Israel, all of which were intercepted outside of Israeli airspace.
* Ukraine successfully brought back five children who had been forcibly taken to Russia as well as Russian-occupied territory.
* Russia has condemned Israel’s attacks as “unprovoked aggression” and a violation of the U.N. Charter.
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