Marine General and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis once famously stated, "You may want a war over. You may declare it over. You may even try to walk away from it. But the bottom line is that the enemy gets a vote." The same could be said for Iran's escalating actions, which began with approximately 200 ballistic missiles launched toward Israel in October 2024, and have now exploded into the most significant direct military confrontation between the two nations since 1948.
What started as sporadic missile exchanges has evolved into sustained warfare. Beginning June 13, 2025, with Israel's "Operation Rising Lion" - their largest military offensive against Iran since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s - we are witnessing an unprecedented escalation that has fundamentally shifted from proxy warfare to direct military confrontation. The world may wish that World War 3 never comes to be. We may even try to avoid it. Unfortunately, those like Iran will always have a vote.
The Context and Immediate Impact of the Missile Attack on Israel Why Iran Targeted Israel: Retaliation and Political Context Immediate Response: Israel's Defensive Measures U.S. and Global Involvement: What It Means for You Lessons Learned: Are You Prepared for Such Scenarios Hope is Not a Plan Preparedness Is The Future of the Iran-Israel Conflict: What Comes Next?Table of Contents
Source: Times of Israel
The Unprecedented Escalation: From October 2024 to June 2025
Israel's "Operation Rising Lion" - A Game Changer
The conflict reached a critical turning point on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion," executing strikes against more than a dozen locations across Iran. This operation was triggered by Israeli intelligence indicating Iran had amassed enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear weapons within days.
The Israeli strikes achieved devastating success, killing several high-ranking Iranian officials including:
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami
- Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri
- Prominent nuclear scientists Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi
The attacks destroyed the Natanz nuclear facility and damaged Isfahan's uranium conversion facility, dealing a severe blow to Iran's nuclear program.
Iran's Massive Retaliation: "Operation True Promise III"
Iran's response was swift and unprecedented. Beginning the evening of June 13, 2025, Iran launched "Operation True Promise III" - a large-scale retaliatory attack firing over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones. This marked the beginning of direct, sustained missile exchanges that have continued through June 16, 2025.
The scale of Iran's missile deployment has been staggering:
- Total missiles launched: Approximately 350 ballistic missiles fired at Israel as of June 16
- Attack waves: Iran has conducted at least six waves of ballistic missile attacks from Iranian territory
- Drone deployment: Over 100 drones launched alongside ballistic missiles
- Original plans: Intelligence sources indicate Iran originally planned to launch 1,000 ballistic missiles but was limited due to Israeli strikes on missile launchers and storage facilities
The Context and Immediate Impact of the Missile Attack on Israel
Israeli security personnel examine the wreckage of a building struck by an Iranian missile near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Source: AP
The current ballistic missile campaign against Israel represents a dramatic escalation from previous attacks. Iran has deployed its most sophisticated arsenal, drawing from what is estimated to be the largest missile program in the Middle East with over 3,000 missiles of various types.
Iran's Advanced Missile Arsenal
Iran has deployed a diverse range of ballistic missiles:
Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs):
- Emad missiles with maneuverable re-entry vehicles
- Ghadr missiles with ranges extending to almost 2,000 kilometers
- Kheybar Shekan missiles equipped with satellite navigation for increased precision
- Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles claimed to fly hypersonic trajectories, making them harder to intercept
Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs):
- Fateh-110 series with ranges from 300-500 km
- Qiam-1 missiles with smart targeting systems and 750 km range
- Zolfaghar missiles with 750 km range
The missiles can travel from Iran to Israel in approximately 12 minutes at Mach 5 speeds, creating minimal warning time for Israeli defenses.
Why Iran Escalated: Strategic Objectives and Desperation
Iran's sustained missile campaign serves multiple strategic purposes beyond simple retaliation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran's responses would be "more decisive and severe" if Israeli hostile actions continue, indicating this is far from over.
Deterrence and Retaliation: Iran has characterized its missile strikes as proportional retaliation for Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities and military leadership.
Psychological Warfare: Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced their attacks utilized "new methods" that caused Israel's multi-layered defense systems to engage one another, demonstrating tactical innovation.
Regional Power Projection: Iran's missile campaign demonstrates its ability to conduct sustained long-range strikes against Israel, showcasing capabilities that extend across the Middle East region.
The sustained nature of Iran's attacks represents the first time since 1948 that Israelis have faced direct, sustained missile attacks deep within their territory, creating unprecedented psychological impact.
Immediate Response: Israel's Defensive Measures Under Extreme Pressure
Israel has certainly not abdicated its defense to anyone, and that includes the United States of America. However, the scale of Iran's assault has pushed Israeli defenses to their limits.
Defense System Performance
Israeli air defense systems have achieved significant but not complete success:
- Overall interception rate: 80-90% according to the Israel Defense Forces
- Missiles penetrating defenses: 22 out of approximately 270 missiles launched by Iran managed to breach Israel's multi-layered air defense systems
- Iron Dome challenges: While claiming up to 97% success rates under normal conditions, the system has faced unprecedented challenges against Iran's sophisticated ballistic missiles
Israel's layered defense includes Iron Dome, Arrow 2, Arrow 3 interceptors, and David's Sling systems, supported by US Navy destroyers with Standard Missile 3 interceptors.
Devastating Impact on Israeli Infrastructure and Population
The sustained bombardment has caused unprecedented damage:
Casualties and Damage:
- At least 24 civilian deaths and over 390 injuries reported as of June 16
- A ballistic missile strike in Petah Tikva breached a reinforced shelter, killing four people and highlighting vulnerabilities in Israel's protective infrastructure
- Multiple residential buildings destroyed in Tel Aviv, with a residential avenue in Petah Tikva and a school in Bnei Brak directly struck
Critical Infrastructure Impact:
- An oil refinery in Haifa was damaged
- Israel's main international airport and airspace remained closed for three consecutive days
- Power facilities near Haifa port caught fire due to missile impacts
- The Kirya military headquarters near Begin Road in Tel Aviv suffered a direct hit
Shelter Inadequacy Crisis: Approximately 40% of Tel Aviv residents live in buildings without shelters meeting current safety standards, with tens of thousands of older buildings lacking proper protective infrastructure.
The Psychological Warfare Success: Unprecedented Trauma
Iran's psychological warfare objectives have achieved disturbing success. The sustained missile bombardment has created severe psychological trauma among Israeli civilians:
- Trauma center calls: A 350% increase in calls to trauma centers following Iranian missile strikes
- Symptoms reported: Panic attacks, trembling, crying, elevated heart rates, and extreme anxiety among the Israeli population
- Shelter fears: Many Israelis report being "too scared to leave the shelters" and having "lost control"
This psychological impact represents the first time since 1948 that Israelis have experienced sustained missile attacks deep within their territory.
U.S. and Global Involvement: What It Means for You
As the U.S. enters a contentious 2024 Presidential election, it is impossible for the implications not to be felt at home. The current administration is forced to defend Israel against this attack, and one can be certain that each party will say the other did not do enough.
The United States will be dragged into the fray whether we wanted it or not. The United States is making all the defensive preparations to defend Israel that are needed. The only question is whether or not you are doing the same for your own family.
For less than the cost of a trip to Disneyland, you can equip your entire family with the gas masks and equipment they will need to survive a future CBRN environment. Check out our Hazmat gear here. It is not fear-mongering to encourage preparation. Rather, it is pragmatism. We want to avoid World War 3 at all costs, even if that means us going out of business. Unfortunately, as stated earlier, the enemy gets a vote.
Lessons Learned: Are You Prepared for Such Scenarios
You have no control over whether or not Iran decides to launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time. Doing so again against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran, but Iran is not your concern. Your concern is an imminent attack against your family. That is all that matters.
Indications that Iran is preparing a second round of attacks are strong. The only question is what are you going to do about it. You don't live in Northern Israel which is within reach of Hezbollah and Iran, but you do live in the United States of America, which is now a target.
Can your family survive if Iran decides to target a chemical factory near your home? Iranian nationals and interests are present in the United States. What happens if they turn against you? The attack by Iran against Israel will carry consequences for us all. How are you preparing for the day most people dread?
Hope is Not a Plan Preparedness Is
We wish it were not so, but we do not live in the world of fiction. We live in the reality we now face. Israel in April warned the world about the direction this conflict was heading, and yet, many did not believe them. We didn't have to wait until Iran was ready to imminently launch a ballistic missile to prepare. We knew early, and it was our responsibility to be ready.
That's why we create the products we create. We have an unfortunate, but solid grasp on reality. Why do we sell Potassium Iodide Tablets? It is not because we want to, for sure. It is because one day they will be necessary. Why do we sell children's gas masks? It's not because we look forward to disaster. It's because we know what matters most when disaster strikes.
God help us, we wish demand for our business would plummet to the point we are no longer needed. Unfortunately, the enemy gets a say in this market, as Iran so aptly demonstrated today. May we never be necessary, but until that reality exists, we prepare the world for the reality in which it currently lives.
Source: MIRA Safety Evakpak™ Survival Kit
The Future of the Iran-Israel Conflict: What Comes Next?
Your guess is as good as ours as to what comes next now that Iran has launched an unprecedented attack of missiles toward Israel. We know that Israel has nuclear weapons, and while we don't think that they will go there just yet, we know Iran is on the cusp of having such weapons themselves.
There does not appear to be an obvious off-ramp for the two sides to deescalate. While we do not have a seat at the negotiating table, we do have a seat at the kitchen table of our own households. Do as you please, but as for the team here at MIRA Safety and our households, we will prepare for the day most people dread. We pray that you will do the same, and if we can be a part of that story, it is our honor to do so.
No one woke up today knowing that a barrage of missiles would put the world on the brink of World War 3. Israel could ignore it and count the minimal damage as water under the bridge. They will not. The Israeli military said a response is forthcoming, and there is no reason not to believe them. They will launch an attack on Iran, and the world will be one more step closer to the abyss. The most important question now is: what will you do to protect your family?
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