U.S. and Israel strike Iran, triggering regional escalation and global responses

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran, targeting apparently leadership and air-defense sites, with Iran’s initial retaliation hitting Israel and U.S. bases in the region. Casualty figures cited by Iranian officials began at 15 dead and later rose to about 85, while reports of a major Israeli air operation described as the largest in its air force history circulated. The crisis prompted international calls for de-escalation, a scheduled U.N. Security Council emergency meeting, and NATO monitoring, as leaders in Europe and other countries weighed responses and the risk of wider conflict.