Tehran (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Wednesday, thousands of people were fleeing Tehran after U.S. President Donald Trump urged them to leave the capital, Reuters reported, and sources say Trump was considering possibilities that could involve joining Israel in targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
The conflict between Israel and Iran, involving missile strikes, began on June 13, 2025, when Israel, in a major airstrike operation called Operation Rising Lion, held on to dozens of Iranian nuclear sites, military bases, and commanders to stop Iran’s acquisition of nuclear technology.
Moreover, Iran and Israel have launched new missile strikes at each other, following Trump’s call for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”
What targets has Israel been hitting in Tehran?
Israel also advised residents in a southwestern part of Tehran to evacuate, as its air force was set to target Iranian military sites. Iranian media reported widespread traffic congestion on roads leading out of the capital and towards northern provinces.
According to Iranian news websites, Israel was also striking a university tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the country’s east, as well as the Khojir ballistic missile facility near Tehran. Israeli airstrikes previously hit this facility in October.
According to an Israeli military official, around 50 fighter jets hit over 20 targets in Tehran overnight, including sites that produce raw materials, components, and manufacturing systems for missiles.
How many casualties have been reported so far?
Iranian officials have said at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, but that number hasn’t been updated in days. Since Friday, Iran has launched around 400 missiles at Israel, with 40 of them getting past air defenses, killing 24 people – all civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
Is the US moving closer to joining the conflict?
On Tuesday, Trump had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and then met with his National Security Council for 90 minutes in the afternoon to discuss the
conflict.
U.S. forces are sending additional fighter jets to the Middle East and lengthening the deployment of other aircraft. To date, the U.S. has taken mostly indirect steps in the conflict, such as assisting in the interception of missiles launched at Israel.
Iran has threatened to strike U.S. bases if the U.S. joins the conflict. According to a source with access to U.S. intelligence, Iran has deployed some ballistic missile launchers, but it’s unclear whether they’re aimed at U.S. forces or Israel.
