By Theo Nencini and Veronica Turrini
The Israel–Iran conflict of June 13–24, 2025 – christened the “Twelve-Day War” by U.S. President Donald Trump following his precariously brokered truce – represented the culmination of a protracted, multidimensional, and steadily escalating confrontation between Tel Aviv and Tehran. Although relatively confined, the hostilities alarmed regional actors fearful of the potential for broader escalation across the Middle East. Although it is premature to judge whether the episode marks a lasting geostrategic turning-point – not least given the real prospect of renewed hostilities – the conflict nevertheless exposed Israel’s regional military predominance, notably in aerial operations, human intelligence, and high-technology, while simultaneously revealing critical vulnerabilities in Iran’s air defense capabilities.
