Reactions and statements from the international community
Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran's ballistic missile launchers, with drone footage showing the strikes and demonstrating Israeli air superiority. The video evidence captures the scope of the military operation against Iran's missile capabilities.
According to former Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Iran's intelligence service discovered that the head of a unit tasked with targeting Israeli Mossad agents was himself a Mossad operative, along with approximately 20 other agents embedded within the organization.
Patriot air defense systems at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar engaged incoming Iranian missiles, with at least one interceptor reportedly malfunctioning during the encounter.
Iranian state media reported that missiles struck the U.S. Fifth Fleet service center in Manama, with smoke visible near the naval base, in apparent retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Residents across Iran have raised the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag in widespread displays of protest, including in the city of Nurabad in Mamasani province.
Residents in Mehrshahr and Karaj celebrated with the Lion and Sun flag, a symbol associated with pre-Islamic Revolution Iran, on December 16, 2025.
An open-source intelligence account claims multiple senior Iranian military and security officials, including the head of the IRGC Ground Forces and the Supreme Leader's security adviser, have been eliminated. The list includes several high-ranking defense ministry and intelligence officials.
