[By Guancha Observer Network, Xiong Chaoyi] On June 13 local time, Israel launched a large-scale air strike against Iran, resulting in the deaths of several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists of Iran, causing another major upheaval in the Middle East situation, and the relations between the two countries became highly tense.

On June 14 local time, CNN reported citing White House and Israeli officials that Israel's military operation targeting Iran was expected to last "weeks rather than days," with the implicit approval of the United States.

An Israeli official told CNN that the Trump-led administration did not criticize this timeline of "several weeks" in private discussions. A White House official said that the U.S. government was aware of and covertly supported Israel's plan. When asked how long the conflict would last, the official replied, "It depends on Iran's response."

The official also stated: "The Trump administration firmly believes that this issue can be resolved through continued negotiations with Iran." He added that the U.S. will not instruct Israel to take any action, only requiring it to defend itself.

On June 15 local time, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Israel's anti-missile defense system intercepted missiles fired from Iran. Visual China.

According to reports by AP on June 13 citing U.S. officials, U.S. missile defense systems in the Middle East and a destroyer deployed in the eastern Mediterranean helped Israel shoot down ballistic missiles fired by Iran that day.

Iran launched these missiles in response to Israel's initial attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and senior military leaders. The U.S. has land-based Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems in the Middle East, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. In addition, the U.S. is readjusting its military resources in the Middle East to respond to this attack, including ship deployments.

Notably, on the same day when CNN broke this news, another media outlet, Axios News Network, cited two Israeli officials as reporting that Israel had requested the Trump administration join the war against Iran within the past 48 hours to destroy its nuclear program.

The report said that the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, built deep underground in the mountains of Iran, is beyond the reach of Israel's current bunker-busting bombs and large bombers. However, the U.S. military forces deployed around Iran possess both of these strike capabilities.

Even if the U.S. were to "limitedly intervene" by bombing a single nuclear facility, such direct attacks on Iran would fully involve the U.S. in the war; but if the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant remained operational after the military action, Israel's goal of destroying Iran's nuclear program would fail.

So far, the Trump administration has kept its distance from Israel's actions and insisted that Iran attacking U.S. targets as retaliation would be illegal.

A senior Israeli official told Axios News that "the U.S. may join this operation," and Trump even mentioned in his recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that he would do so if necessary. However, a White House official denied this statement on June 13 local time, and another U.S. official confirmed on June 14 local time that Israel had urged the Trump administration to join this war, but the Trump administration has not yet considered this issue.

On April 7, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C., U.S. President Trump held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Visual China.

"Whatever happens today cannot be stopped," said a senior White House official referring to Israel's attack. He told Axios News that if Iran is willing, the U.S. has the ability to successfully resolve this conflict peacefully through negotiation, and the fastest way for Iran to achieve peace is to abandon its nuclear program.

On June 15 local time, Trump also threatened on his self-created social media platform, "Truth Social": "The U.S. has no connection to tonight's attack on Iran. If we are attacked by Iran in any way or form, the full force and might of the U.S. armed forces will strike you at an unprecedented level. However, we can easily reach an agreement between Iran and Israel to end this bloody conflict!"

Previously, on June 13 local time, Israel launched a large-scale air strike against Iran, targeting dozens of sites related to Iran's nuclear program and other military facilities. The Israeli military claimed that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make several bombs within days, so preemptive action was needed to address this "imminent threat."

Following this, on June 12 local time (due to time difference), U.S. Secretary of State Rubio immediately stated that the U.S. was not involved or assisting Israel in its attack on Iran. "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in this attack on Iran, and our top priority is to protect U.S. troops in the region," Rubio said in his statement.

According to The Washington Post, citing two informed U.S. officials, the Trump administration has notified Israel that it will not provide military support for any possible strikes against Iran in the coming days.

The attack by Israel resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iranian media confirmed on June 13 that the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Bagheri, died in this attack. Previously, Iran initially reported six nuclear scientists killed in the air raid, while the Israeli Defense Forces claimed nine Iranian nuclear scientists died.

The Fars News Agency reported on June 13 that according to unofficial statistics, Israel's air strikes have caused 78 deaths and 329 injuries.

In response to Israel's attack, Iran retaliated that evening by launching missile and drone strikes against Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement saying that this operation successfully carried out "devastating precision strikes" on dozens of targets, including Israeli military centers and airbases.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran's counterattack has caused at least four deaths in Israel and injured dozens of others.

Earlier on June 15 local time, after Iran's missile attack, a building in Bat Yam, Israel, was damaged. The Times of Israel.

Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei has issued a statement, stating that Iran's armed forces will take military action to "completely destroy the Israeli regime." Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatened on June 14 that if Iran continues to launch missiles at Israel, "Tehran will turn into a sea of fire."

On the evening of June 14 local time, the second day of the Israeli-Iranian conflict, the Israeli military claimed that it had conducted airstrikes on Iran's Ministry of Defense headquarters, nuclear program headquarters, and multiple oil facilities. Meanwhile, Iran stated that it had used drones and ballistic missiles to retaliate against Israel's attacks, targeting locations such as Tel Aviv and Haifa in Israel. According to a statement issued by the Israeli Health Department, Iran's missile strikes on the evening of June 14 caused at least four deaths and over 100 injuries.

Reuters analyzed on June 14 that Israel's surprise attack on Iran had surface goals of disrupting Iran's nuclear program and slowing down the development of nuclear weapons, but the scale of the attack, the choice of targets, and the statements of Israeli politicians exposed its long-term ambition to overthrow the Iranian regime. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also publicly encouraged Iranians to overthrow the existing regime.

However, some experts pointed out that Israel alone may not be able to completely destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, and Iran's ruling class and most Shia Muslims hold long-standing hostility toward Israel. It remains uncertain whether Netanyahu can successfully "stir up the public to overthrow the regime" as desired.

On the other hand, although the U.S. government tacitly approved Israel's attack, it has not indicated seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime. Even if the Iranian regime were to change, the new successor might be more extreme, bringing further unpredictable risks.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516055803963441679/

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