War in Israel: JFNA Special Update on Current Situation

June 17, 2025 – October 7 War, Day 620, 53 hostages remain in captivity

Iranian Attacks on Israel

• In the last day, Iran fired several barrages of ballistic missiles at Israel, again triggering sirens across the Jewish state’s major population centers. Millions of Israelis were awakened throughout the night and forced to run to shelters.
• Some minor wounds were reported, but no serious injuries or significant damage was caused. See this footage of shrapnel from a ballistic missile that fell in Israel.
• Smaller barrages have reduced the level of damage caused in the last 24 hours. In the first days of the war, Iran fired up to 200 missiles simultaneously. This number has been decreasing, and has not exceeded 50 rockets at a time in the last 24 hours. One recent attack included just one missile. Smaller barrages significantly increase the chances of successful interceptions, (and thus lower levels of death, injury and damage), yet even one missile sends millions to shelters, with all the associated panic, anxiety, and other risks.
• Commentators suggest two possible reasons for the lower number of missiles: Most likely, Israeli attacks on Iran have hit and therefore reduced both Iran’s stockpile of missiles, and, more significantly, the number of missile launchers that the Islamic Republic holds. A second possibility is that Iran is holding back its stockpiles so that it can use them over a more extended period of time.
• For more on Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, see here.
• See this video footage of a baby being rescued from the rubble in Tel Aviv yesterday morning.
• Iran has also been firing attack drones (UAVs) at Israel. While these weapons potentially cause less damage than a missile, they are more difficult to intercept. Once a drone infiltrates, we often see “chases” across the skies, by the air force and other defensive mechanisms. This can lead to a chain of sirens as the drone enters new areas. Watch this footage taken from the cockpit of an Israel Air Force plane showing the interception of a UAV. In the current war, Iran has fired 200 drones at Israel, all of which were, eventually, shot down.

Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Attacks on Iran Continue

• Israel continues to carry out round-the-clock attacks on a range of military, nuclear and other strategic sites inside Iran. Targets include UAV and missile launchers andstorage, military command and communications centers, air force jets, and more.
• It is estimated that Israel has destroyed 40% of Iran’s missile launchers. See this video footage and this map of Israeli attacks on Iran.
• On the first day of the war, Israel eliminated the chief of staff of Iran’s military (among other senior military figures). Today, Israel successfully targeted and killed his replacement, the new most senior military figure in Iran, who had been in his new position for just 48 hours.
• Yesterday, the IDF also struck the command center of the Quds Force in Tehran, a special branch within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that operates outside of Iran’s borders.
• When Israel needs to strike an important Iranian strategic target in an area with civilians, a warning to evacuate is issued.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that all 15,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges at Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Center have either been damaged or destroyed in recent Israeli attacks.
• Centrifuges are used to “spin” uranium very rapidly to separate two isotopes to “enrich” the uranium. Highly enriched uranium is the main ingredient of nuclear weapons, so damaging centrifuges makes it harder for Iran to get a bomb.
• Iran’s largest centrifuge center is at Fordow, 125 miles south of Tehran, where facilities are deep inside a mountain. Israel has been bombing Fordow, but so far, not destroyed the site. While the IDF hopes that ongoing strikes on the facility will eventually succeed in reaching the centrifuges, a successful attack may require heavier, “bunker-busting” bombs that Israel does not possess. In addition, such large bombs can only be carried by US bombers.
• The question of the US joining the fight and hitting Fordow, is unknown.
• The US Navy has been instructed to advance the Nimitz Aircraft Carrier Group from its present location towards the Middle East. The US Air Force has also moved 24 refueling planes to the Middle East, which will extend the range of US planes in the area should the White House decide to join the war in some capacity. In a social media post, President Trump wrote, “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.”

Other News

• The war in Gaza continues. In the past 24 hours, two IDF soldiers were killed in fighting. Staff Sergeant Naveh Leshem, 20, and Reserves Captain Tal Movshovitz, 28, both fell in battle.
• Israel will launch Operation ‘Safe Return’ to bring home close to 150,000 Israelis stranded across the globe by air or by sea. Private airlines and the Israeli Mano shipping company will be mobilized. Israel will also begin to take steps to evacuate non-citizens staying in the country, including Birthright participants and other tourists
• There is widespread public support for the current war with Iran, despite the high civilian costs. Leaders of the Knesset’s major opposition parties, including Benny Gantz, Avigdor Liberman, and others, have all expressed full backing of the government in pursuing the attacks on Iran. The Knesset’s Opposition Leader, Yair Lapid, said, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is my political rival, but his decision to strike Iran at this moment in time is the right one.”
• The G7 summit, currently taking place in Canada, expressed its recognition of Israel’s right to self-defense but also called for the protection of civilians on all sides. G7 leaders agreed that Iran can never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, and at the same time called for the de-escalation of the war.
• The Bank of Israel has launched a new program to provide loan relief for small and micro businesses that have suffered direct financial or physical damage. Eligible businesses can delay loan repayments for two months, on loans of up to two million shekels (around $600,000 USD).
• For comprehensive information on Operation Rising Lion, see the Government of Israel’s backgrounder.
• Jewish Federations’ public affairs office is asking constituents to  “Urge your members of Congress to stand united with Israel,” and call on representatives to express their unwavering support for Israel’s right to protect itself. The office is arguing that community members should advocate for stronger policies that protect both Israel and the United States.

As Reported Earlier:

• Jewish Federations are also working closely with the National Emergency Management Authority (known by the Hebrew acronym RACHEL) to assess needs on the ground.
• Dozens of organizations supported by Federation are already providing extensive support to the population, including significant mental health help, as well as preparing for any further developments.
• Israel’s National Security Council has alerted overseas Jewish communities and embassy staff to elevated risk levels, citing the potential for Iranian-sponsored terror.
• All missions and Federation personnel currently on the ground in Israel are safe, including 35 [1] or so participants from the Jewish Federations’ LGBTQ Pride Mission, who are still in the country following the program’s conclusion Thursday night.
• The “Special Emergency Situation” in Israel has been formally extended through June 30.
• Schools and other educational facilities remain closed as are most stores, places of entertainment, and offices until further notice. Essential services, such as grocery stores, supermarkets and medical facilities continue to operate.
• At least 2,400 Israelis have had to leave their homes due to damage or destruction by Iranian missiles. Some 80% of them are being accommodated in hotels.
• Most Israeli diplomatic missions around the world remain shuttered due to extremely high threat levels.
• Israel’s Tourism Ministry estimates that about 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israelafter the country’s airspace was closed until further notice. The Ministry says it has launched a 24/7 virtual office offering information services to tourists in Israel via digital channels, available in both Hebrew and English. “We are also trying to help tourists, presenting them with currently available options for foreign passport holders to leave Israel via land border crossings via Jordan and Egypt, which have remained open,” a Tourism Ministry spokesperson says.
• Have we been authorized to note that over half have left? I think we should cut the number just in case — we’ve been warned over and over to try to keep things quiet

For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.