Laxman Singh Dev
The Iran-Israel war, also known as the Twelve-Day War, fundamentally shattered many longstanding assumptions in global geopolitics and military strategy. Spanning from June 13 to June 24, 2025, this brief yet intense conflict revealed the decades of meticulous preparation both countries had engaged in, despite the considerable geographical distance—over 1,500 kilometers aerial distance separating their capitals and with Iraq and Jordan lying between them.
Israel initiated the conflict with a surprise aerial and ground assault aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The strikes targeted key military and nuclear sites, including Tehran, Natanz uranium enrichment facility, and underground missile depots in Kermanshah and Tabriz. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) employed cutting-edge stealth aircraft, such as the F-35I Adir and F-15I Ra’am, flying over 200 sorties and disabling upwards of 70 surface-to-air missile systems, effectively neutralizing Iran’s air defenses. This precision was backed by intelligence successes from Mossad and Unit 8200, Israel’s elite cyber and intelligence units that had spent months gathering actionable information. One notable example was the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which was believed to have been coordinated from within Iran’s borders, highlighting Israel’s deep infiltration capabilities.
In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone strikes against Israeli cities and military sites—more than 550 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 explosive drones were deployed in Operation True Promise 3—causing explosions over densely populated areas like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Iran also enlisted proxy actors, most notably the Houthis in Yemen, to fire missiles toward Israel, further intensifying the regional scope of the conflict. The United States soon joined the warfront, conducting airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities using B-2 bombers equipped with Massive Ordnance Penetrators, a strategic move that reflected Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security while aiming to curb Iran’s nuclear progress.
During the conflict, Israel was able to assassinate numerous Iranian senior commanders by precisely targeting their residences and even bedrooms, an indication of the highly sophisticated intelligence network in place. Reports suggest that Israel had also been operating covert missile and drone assembly factories inside Iran, employing impoverished Afghan migrant laborers, whose status became precarious as Iran expelled nearly 700,000 undocumented Afghans amid fears of espionage.
Economically, the war plunged Iran deeper into turmoil. Already grappling with inflation soaring at around 40% annually over the past five years and rising U.S. dollar valuation, the damages inflicted on over 11,000 Iranian government and military sites exacerbated hardships. Residential buildings in affluent Tehran neighborhoods like Pasdaran, Elahiyeh, and Zafranieh were destroyed, demoralizing the populace and causing a property value collapse due to security concerns.
From a regional and global perspective, Iran’s missile attacks on Israeli cities forced Israeli citizens to take shelter in bunkers, highlighting the fragile security situation. Though Israel’s retaliatory bombings of Gaza following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack resulted in devastating civilian casualties—around 55,000, including 15,000 children—the world largely perceived Israel as an aggressor, tarnishing its international image. In contrast, Iran consolidated its standing among many in the global Islamic community, portrayed as a resilient defender in what was perceived as an asymmetrical struggle. This enhanced the prestige of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and bolstered Iran’s emergence as a Middle Eastern middle power asserting itself militarily and diplomatically.
The war also revealed evolving warfare dynamics—hybrid in nature, blending cyber warfare, intelligence, psychological operations, and precision strikes across multiple domains. While Israel maintained aerial superiority and employed advanced mechanisms to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities, Iran adapted by leveraging its proxies and asymmetric warfare tactics.
Strategically, the conflict underscored Iran’s mixed relationships with global powers. Frustrated by Russia’s cautious diplomacy, Iran sought to deepen ties with China, aiming for military and technological alliances, anticipating future geopolitical shifts in response to perceived Western hostility.
Ultimately, despite Iran’s bold missile campaigns and asymmetric responses, the war concluded with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on June 24, reflecting the desire to avoid further escalation in a volatile region. The conflict, nonetheless, redefined military preparedness, regional alliances, and the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, marking a pivotal moment in the enduring Israel-Iran rivalry.
This war was not just a military confrontation but a demonstration of intelligence warfare, proxy engagement, and diplomatic maneuvering that will shape the strategic calculus in the region for years to come.The question is, what did Iran gain from this war? What did it achieve through this well-resisted conflict? For Iranians already struggling with poor economic conditions, the war brought more inflation and destruction. The dollar rate increased again. Inflation in Iran has been growing at 40% annually for the last five years. Israel attacked over 11,000 government sites inside Iran, including secret agencies and military sites. Ordinary Iranian citizens were shocked to see that what they thought were ordinary residential houses were government offices. In Tehran’s Pasdaran neighborhood, nearly half a kilometer of buildings were destroyed in Israeli attacks. Attacks were made on the homes of government officials and those associated with the government in some of northern Tehran’s most expensive areas like Elahiyeh, Zafranieh, Karmanieh, and Andarjagu. So many attacks caused property values in these areas to fall as they were considered unsafe.
On the other hand, from a global perspective, Iran gave a strong reply to Israel, forcing Israeli citizens to hide in bunkers. After Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, Israel retaliated with strikes on Gaza to free hostages, killing about 55,000 civilians, including 15,000 children. This made Israel appear as a terrorist state worldwide. Iran’s attacks elevated its stature globally, especially in the global Islamic community, casting it as a hero. Trump exercised restraint in acting openly against Iran, though openly attacking an American Air Force base is a major issue. Iran adopted a do-or-die policy in this war. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s position and reputation were further enhanced, and Iran established itself as a middle power.
*Dr laxman Singh “Dev” is an expert of middle East society and politics . he has been part of top iranian think tanks .he lives in Iran.he has done his PhD on the subject of dalit political art of India and nepal. travelled extensively in middle East and Nepal for ethnographic research.
*Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Asia Live’s Editorial Policy.
