26 Jun, 2025
Israel-Iran Conflict, U.S. Strikes, and Ceasefire [Updated June 26, 2025]
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs); Zanotti, Jim
The following excerpt from the document contains multiple concealed hyperlinks embedded in the original text: "On June 13, 2025, Israel began a major military operation against Iran, including air strikes and reported covert action. Iran retaliated by launching waves of ballistic missiles against Israel. [...] Israel has procured most of its fighter aircraft and large munitions from U.S. suppliers, financed to date by nearly $4 billion of U.S. aid annually. On June 22, the United States carried out strikes against three key Iranian nuclear sites (see 'Figure 1'), including a deep underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. Israeli officials reportedly may have sought direct U.S. involvement in targeting certain Iranian nuclear facilities with specific 'bunker buster' bombs and aircraft (the United States used GBU [Guided Bomb Unit]-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapons and B-2 Spirit bombers in its air strikes). In a notification to Congress that President Donald Trump said was 'consistent with the War Powers Resolution' (P.L. [Public Law] 93-148), President Trump stated the strike 'was taken to advance vital United States national interests, and in collective self-defense of our ally, Israel, by eliminating Iran's nuclear program.' Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe has stated that some intelligence indicates 'several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.' An Iranian official observed that 'our nuclear installations have been badly damaged.' The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that 'very significant damage is expected to have occurred' at Fordow. Broader details regarding the impact on Fordow and other sites may remain unclear."
    Details
  • URL
  • Authors
    Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
    Zanotti, Jim
  • Publisher
    Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
  • Report Number
    CRS In Focus, IF13032
  • Date
    26 Jun, 2025
  • Copyright
    Public Domain
  • Retrieved From
    Congressional Research Service: crsreports.congress.gov/
  • Format
    pdf
  • Media Type
    application/pdf
  • Subjects
    Relations with Israel
    Military operations, Aerial
    Relations with Iran
  • Resource Group
    Reports (CRS)
  • List
    Iran
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