The contents of this article are written with authoritative materials and personal opinions. The source of the literature has been marked at the end of the article, so please know.
From late June to early July this year, the security situation in the Middle East changed significantly.
The long-running conflict between Israel and Iran has entered a new phase, with both sides suffering heavy human losses, Israel’s domestic political situation is also facing uncertainty due to the judicial case of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to a statement from the Palestinian side on July 1, the Israeli military launched a military operation in more than 24 hours in Gaza, attacking more than 140 targets, including armed personnel and military buildings, killing at least 51 people.
These operations followed a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, indicating that the conflict continues despite a ceasefire agreement.
Residents in the Gaza Strip say Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have destroyed large numbers of civilian facilities, including schools and hospitals, further aggravating the local humanitarian crisis.
The UN Office for Relief and Engineering for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East said in a report that the number of displaced persons in the Gaza Strip has exceeded one million and urgently needs more international assistance.
For Israel, what is even more worrying is the casualties of military officers. On June 29, seven Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion attack in southern Gaza, six of whom were military officers.
Since the ceasefire, more than 880 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, with military officers accounting for a significant proportion.Hamas armed forces have used volcanic tactics, causing significant strikes on the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, especially in the Khan Yunis region.
Video footage shows Hamas using anti-tank missiles to hit Israeli tanks and even carry out targeted attacks on senior military officers.
Colonel Amit bin David, deputy chief of staff of the 933 Naval Brigade, was killed in the attack, his body was found 300 meters from the tank, with a knife injury to the neck.
These losses not only had an impact on the Israeli military's command chain, but also raised domestic questions about military strategy.
These losses triggered a domestic reaction in Israel. People held protests demanding a ceasefire and Netanyahu's resignation. Protesters believe the government has been weak in handling the conflict in Gaza and the hostage issue.
On June 30, thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, shouting “immediate ceasefire” and “Netanyahu resigns.”
Some protesters also criticized the government for failing to effectively protect soldiers and civilians, causing unnecessary casualties.
Benny Gantz, former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, said in an interview that the current military operation lacks clear strategic objectives and may lead to longer-term security risks.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu himself faces legal challenges. In early 2020, Israeli prosecutors formally indicted Netanyahu on three charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust.
The trial lasted for four years and will be held again on June 30, 2025. If found guilty, Netanyahu could face up to 10 years in prison for bribery and up to 3 years in prison for fraud and breach of public trust.
During the trial, prosecutors presented new evidence, including Netanyahu’s recorded conversations with business people, showing his suspicion of abuse.
Defense lawyers say the evidence is part of a political persecution aimed at overthrowing Netanyahu’s government.
During the trial, the U.S. showed unusual concerns. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Hekabi appeared in Tel Aviv District Court to attend Netanyahu’s corruption trial.
This move is seen as a rare intervention of the US ambassador in Israel's domestic judicial process. Huckabee told the media that the trip was to convey the Trump administration's concern about Netanyahu's so-called "political persecution".
He also stressed that the United States is a firm ally of Israel and wants Israel to maintain political stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also repeatedly publicly called on the Israeli judiciary to stop the trial of Netanyahu. Trump posted on social media platforms asking the Israeli court to "immediately pardon" Netanyahu and threatened to potentially suspend military aid to Israel.
These statements sparked dissatisfaction on the Israeli side, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog almost completely ignoring Trump’s “forgiveness” request, saying he “is not considering forgiveness at the moment.”
There are voices in Israel criticizing Trump's move as "interfering with Israeli justice". Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with the Jerusalem Post that Trump’s remarks were a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty.
In addition to political support, the United States also provides military assistance to Israel. On June 30, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of a new shipment of weapons to Israel, worth $510 million, nominally to "supplement the Iron Dome air defense system."
On the same day, the White House approved the export of these arms to Israel. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that these weapons will help Israel deal with threats from Iran and its proxies.
However, some human rights groups have criticized the U.S. for failing to take humanitarian situation into account when delivering weapons.
Iran, despite repeated "beheading actions" by Israel, still maintains its ability to fight back. In June 2025, Israel implemented multiple round clearances on Iran’s military top levels.
On June 13, the Israeli army launched an airstrike code-named "Rise of the Lion", by fake conference instructions, seducing more than 20 senior Iranian Air Force commanders to gather at the Kum underground command center, then throwing drilled bullets to carry out the attack.
The dead included key figures such as Revolutionary Guard Commander-in-Chief Hussein Salami and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammed Bagheri.On June 15, Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief Kazimi and his deputy were killed by bombing.
On June 17, the four-day Emergency Command commander Ali Shadmani was killed in an airstrike in Tehran.In the six days of the conflict, at least 11 senior Iranian officers were beheaded.
These operations severely weakened Iran’s military command capabilities, but did not completely destroy its counterattack potential.
Iran has taken a double response to this: Military retaliation, on the one hand, launched 150 missiles against Israel on June 19, attacking military facilities in Tel Aviv; on the other hand, spying internally.
According to information from Iranian intelligence and security services, they have successfully arrested more than 700 “spies.”Iran’s parliamentary chairman, Mohammad Bahir Kalibaf, acknowledged in a speech on June 15:
“Many of the Israeli attacks were not carried out by external military operations, but by internal Iranian agents or trained infiltrators.”
In a public speech on June 20, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei called on the military and the people to remain united and said Iran would continue to support the Palestinian cause.
Other forces are also playing a role in regional conflicts. Yemen's Houthi armed forces fired missiles at Tel Aviv, targeting Ben Gurion Airport and Dimona nuclear facility.
Lebanese Hezbollah is fighting with the Israeli army in the north.These actions put Israel under pressure for multi-line combat. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari acknowledged in a briefing on June 28 that clashes on the northern border have dispersed Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Analysts believe that multi-line operations may lead to excessive consumption of Israeli military resources and affect its long-term strategic effect.
The international community expressed concern about the current situation.G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement on June 30 urging the resumption of negotiations.
In his speech on July 1st, UN Secretary-General Guterres called on all parties to cease fire immediately and stressed the importance of resolving differences through dialogue.
The current situation in the Middle East is in a delicate balance. Israel faces the dual challenges of external security threats and internal political crises. After suffering heavy losses, Iran tried to reorganize its command system and eliminate internal spies.
The United States, on the other hand, is trying to find a balance between supporting Israel and promoting regional stability, which will have a significant impact on the future security pattern in the region and may also reshape the role and relations of major powers in the Middle East.
References:
UN: Israel’s escalation of military operations in Gaza City leads to more displacement 2025-09-17 11:38
2. "Iraq-Israel Conflict 2025: Nuclear Crisis, Geopolitical Game and Global Shock" 2025-06-17 07:10 | Source: Sina Finance