Iran’s latest missile onslaught left a dozen Israelis dead and hundreds injured, but Israel now totally dominates the skies over Iran, knocking out missiles and their launchers before they can get off the ground, striking key military and nuclear assets. Global powers discuss and Trump sits on the fence while backing Israel defensively to the hilt.

As Israel secures full air dominance over Iranian territory, its devastating aerial campaign against Tehran’s nuclear and military infrastructure continues unabated. The fourth day of the Israel–Iran war, spanning June 15–16, witnessed brutal new missile strikes on Israeli cities, prompting a dramatic intensification of Operation Rising Lion.

Iran’s attempt to punish Israel with a barrage of ballistic missiles only hardened Israel’s resolve. With Israeli fighter jets roaming deep into Iranian airspace without interception and Iranian air defense systems failing under electronic and cyber warfare, military officials say the Jewish state has achieved “total air superiority.”

A Sky Without Resistance: Israeli Jets Rule Iran’s Skies
On Monday morning, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israel now has “complete aerial freedom of operation across all Iranian territory,” adding that Iranian air defenses have been “suppressed or destroyed.” This marks the first time since the Iran–Iraq war that any foreign power has freely penetrated and controlled Iranian airspace over multiple days.

In the early hours of June 16, Israel launched the third consecutive wave of deep-strike sorties. More than 60 air missions were flown against high-value targets in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, and Shiraz, including command centers, nuclear facilities, IRGC barracks, and advanced weapons storage. The absence of Iranian resistance in the skies stunned military analysts.

Sources within the Israeli Air Force reported that “entire squadrons” operated in coordinated formation above Iranian territory for hours, refueling midair without detection or engagement. Iranian radar and anti-aircraft systems—many of them Russian-built S-300s—have been neutralized by electronic warfare or destroyed outright.

Iranian Missiles, Israeli Pain
While Israel boasts strategic gains, its civilians have suffered another wave of Iranian terror. Between Sunday evening and Monday morning, Iran launched more than 100 missiles at Israeli cities—part of a broader offensive that began Friday night.

Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Haifa, Ramat Gan, and Bat Yam were all hit. A dozen more Israelis were killed in the latest round, bringing the confirmed civilian death toll since the war began to 24, with more than 500 wounded, according to Magen David Adom.

One missile struck an apartment building in Bnei Brak, collapsing two floors and trapping residents. In Petah Tikva, a high-rise was hit near a shopping center. A strike on Haifa damaged a power plant’s transformer yard, causing rolling blackouts.

Even though Israel’s multi-layered missile defense systems intercepted the majority of incoming rockets, they are not impenetrable. Iran’s use of faster, low-profile, maneuverable warheads overwhelmed even the most advanced interceptor layers.

Decapitation from Above: What Israel Has Hit So Far
On June 16, Israeli jets destroyed at least 10 IRGC command hubs in Tehran. A strike on a military intelligence gathering in central Tehran killed senior IRGC official Mohammad Kazemi, along with his deputy and several aides.

Missile silos and launch pads in Isfahan and the Khorramabad region were neutralized. High-resolution satellite imagery released by the IDF showed obliterated radar bases, melted hangars, and cratered runways at the Shiraz Air Base.

Mossad reportedly activated multiple drone swarms from inside Iranian territory. These drones, previously smuggled in and stored in civilian trucks, were used to map and disable short-range air defense systems.

Western defense analysts have called Israel’s campaign the most successful modern demonstration of air supremacy in a contested, long-range theater since the first Gulf War.

Iran in Crisis: Leadership and Civilians Under Fire
Iran’s government admitted at least 224 dead and 1,200 wounded, though independent estimates suggest the toll could exceed 400. Many casualties occurred near Tehran and Qom.

Tehran residents reported panic, mass exodus to rural areas, and food and fuel shortages. Protests have emerged on rooftops and in public squares, with chants of “Death to Khamenei” and “No to Gaza, No to Lebanon.” The regime has tried to suppress these with internet shutdowns and militia patrols, but footage continues to leak out.

The Iranian military’s morale is visibly shaken. A former Iranian Air Force officer quoted in The Guardian said, “We cannot see them. We cannot shoot them. They come and go like ghosts.”

Hezbollah and the Proxies: Secondary Fronts Open
Iran’s allies in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen launched rockets and drones into Israel’s north and south. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for over 30 rocket attacks on Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and the Golan. The Houthis targeted Eilat with drones, intercepted over the Red Sea.

In response, the IDF struck Hezbollah command posts in Tyre and Baalbek and destroyed Houthi drone launch pads near Sana’a. Israeli artillery in the Golan Heights fired on Iranian-linked militia cells along the Syrian border.

The View from Washington: Support but Boundaries
President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Israel while reaffirming that U.S. forces would not engage unless Iran attacks American personnel or bases.

In a statement Monday, Trump said: “Israel has earned air superiority. They have made clear that they won’t live in fear of Iran’s nuclear threats. We stand with them.”

However, Trump vetoed a proposed Israeli operation to target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning that such an act could ignite a regional firestorm.

The USS Nimitz has been repositioned to the eastern Mediterranean. CENTCOM has raised alert levels across all Gulf bases. American intelligence continues to assist Israel in targeting and surveillance.

European and Global Response: Cautious Alarm
The EU and G7 issued urgent calls for restraint. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “Israel is within its rights to defend itself, but we must prevent a Middle East-wide war.” France and the UK are reportedly engaged in back-channel diplomacy with both sides.

Russia, maintaining ties with both Iran and Israel, offered to mediate. Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said it “deeply regrets” the civilian toll but also warned Iran that further escalation may bring “unforeseen consequences.”

The UN Security Council held emergency closed-door meetings Monday. The IAEA issued a plea for both sides to avoid targeting nuclear facilities. While no resolution passed, diplomats signaled that Oman and Qatar may host ceasefire discussions.

Economic Ripples and Humanitarian Toll
Oil prices surged 12% on Monday, with Brent crude topping $102 a barrel. Airlines rerouted flights away from Iran and Israel, and Lloyd’s of London increased risk premiums for Gulf shipping by 40%.

In Iran, long fuel lines and bread shortages were reported in Isfahan and Shiraz. Israel opened emergency trauma clinics and expanded underground facilities in Tel Aviv and Ashdod. Hospitals in both countries are stretched thin.

The Red Cross and World Health Organization have appealed for humanitarian corridors, but continued air operations and closed airspace have delayed shipments.

A Turning Point in the Middle East
Military strategists say that Israel’s air superiority over Iran—if sustained—could permanently alter deterrence in the region. The ability to repeatedly strike Iran without losing aircraft or triggering foreign interference is a game-changer.

If Iran fails to restore aerial deterrence or deliver a powerful asymmetric counterblow, its regional image as a hegemon may be severely eroded. On the other hand, if Israel expands its targets to Hezbollah and Iraq, the war could escalate rapidly.

For now, the Israeli public remains resolute. In Jerusalem, a vigil was held for the fallen, while volunteers packed shelters and hospitals with supplies. Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a televised address:

“We told the world: never again. And now we are proving it—not in words, but with air superiority. The skies of Iran are ours, because our survival demands it.”

As the dust rises from Iranian missile ruins and Israeli jets prepare their next sortie, the question now is not whether Israel can strike again—it’s how long it will choose to keep striking.