Oil spikes to $75 as Israel strikes Iran and kills the head of its military

GULF COUNTRIES - In Brief 12 Jun 2025 by Justin Alexander

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What happened? Writing a few hours into the attacks, which began around 3am on Friday (7.30pm ET Thur), there is only limited information about what has happened. There were at least six explosions in Tehran, some targeting residential buildings linked to military and scientific families. Civilian casualties have been reported, including children. Netanyahu said the Natanz nuclear site was also attacked. The strikes were likely mainly launched from outside Iran’s borders, probably by planes over Syria and Iraq, which lack air defenses; Israeli sources are saying there were also clandestine forces on the ground in Iran (AP).Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been confirmed killed by the Iranian media. Several other senior military figures and scientists are rumored to have been killed. Ayatollah Khamenei is reported to be alive (Ax).The differences from the two rounds of conflict last year include:Israel initiated, whereas last year Iran was the first to make direct territorial strikes (in response to the killings of its citizens in Syria and then Lebanon).Targets are much broader and more extensive, including in Tehran, whereas previously only military sites were targeted.Netanyahu’s rhetoric implies a potentially extended campaign, not a single wave.Iran’s allies in the region now pose little threat to Israel following the fall of Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah and the Houthis. This reduces the threat of additional counterattacks, beyond direct Iranian strikes.This is the first attack during Trump’s presidency, and how he will respond is untested.The US says it is not involved but was informed by Israel in advanc...