Israel Just Killed Iran’s Top General — and Sparked a Global Firestorm

LIVE UPDATE – June 13, 2025 | 2:36 PM EST

Situation Escalating: Iran Launches Third Wave of Missiles — U.S. Forces Now Involved

Iran has launched a third wave of missiles targeting Israel, escalating the conflict to unprecedented levels. Initial reports confirm that:

• Wave One breached Israeli air defenses. At least 7 missiles got through, with one hitting a building in downtown Tel Aviv.

• Wave Two focused on military infrastructure in northern Israel.

• Wave Three, currently underway, has involved dozens of missile launches tracked from inside Iranian territory.

  Congress Played the Market While the World Braced for War

  While families in Iran pulled bodies from rubble and Israel braced for rocket fire, some members of your U.S. Congress were busy buying war stocks.

  You read that right.

  As missiles were loaded and intelligence chatter surged, lawmakers quietly stacked shares in defense contractors and oil giants—the same industries now booming off the back of this war.

The War Portfolio

Since Israel’s airstrike on Iran:

• Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris stocks surged.

• Oil giants like Exxon and Chevron spiked as global instability hit fuel markets.

And guess what?
Some of those very companies were quietly bought up by U.S. lawmakers in the weeks leading up to the attack.

This includes:

• Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) – Bought Lockheed and RTX

• Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) – Bought RTX

• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) – Bought Northrop Grumman

Dozens of others have traded defense and energy shares in 2024 alone, some of them while sitting on the very committees shaping foreign policy.

Let’s Not Pretend This Is Normal

Politicians owning stock in companies they regulate is already a problem.
But owning stock in weapons manufacturers while planning or approving military action?
That’s not “investing.”
That’s war profiteering.

And it’s not a partisan thing.
Both parties are in on it.
This isn’t red vs. blue—it’s them vs. the rest of us.

What Even Is the STOCK Act?

The STOCK Act, passed in 2012, was supposed to stop this kind of insider trading.
Spoiler: it hasn’t.
Penalties are rare. Enforcement is laughable. And the loopholes? Wide enough to fly a drone through.

Senator Josh Hawley recently introduced a bill to ban Congress from owning individual stocks. But unless public pressure explodes, that bill dies like all the others—buried under lobbyist money and bipartisan silence.

Why This Matters (More Than Ever)

War isn’t just fought with missiles. It’s fought with markets, with media narratives, and with morally bankrupt people in power making the world burn a little hotter if it boosts their quarterly returns.

If you're wondering why diplomacy keeps losing to escalation, or why "defense budgets" balloon while your rent and insulin do too—follow the money.

Because while Iran and Israel trade fire, America’s political elite are trading shares—and they’re winning, no matter how many people lose.

Update: Global Response-Germany Speaks Out

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that he spoke directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the strikes.

“Both sides must refrain from steps that could lead to a further escalation and destabilize the whole region,” Merz said.

Germany, he added, is prepared to use “all available diplomatic means” to urge restraint. However, Merz also reaffirmed Israel’s right to protect its existence and the security of its citizens—a familiar diplomatic balancing act.

German authorities are now increasing security for Jewish and Israeli facilities within Germany as tensions flare across Europe.

Pakistan Condemns Israeli Strike

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong condemnation of Friday’s Israeli strike on Iran, calling it a “highly irresponsible” and “unprovoked” military action. He expressed his “deepest sympathies to the Iranian people” and warned that the strike risks “further destabilising an already volatile region.” Sharif urged the international community and the United Nations to “take urgent steps to prevent any further escalation that could imperil regional and global peace.” 

The Foreign Office, via spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, described the strikes as “unjustified and illegitimate aggression” violating Iran’s sovereignty and the UN Charter. Pakistan “stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Iran” and signaled serious concern over the threat posed to regional stability. 

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed the condemnation on X (formerly Twitter), calling the strikes “a brazen violation” of Iran’s sovereignty and “abhorrent,” noting they “gravely undermine regional stability and international security.”

United Nations Response:

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes and warned that “millions of lives are now at risk” as the conflict threatens to expand into Lebanon, Syria, and even Yemen. The UN Security Council will convene an emergency session later today.

Retaliation Incoming: Proxies Mobilize

Iran has made it clear: retaliation is not just likely—it’s imminent.

While Tehran has not yet launched a direct counterstrike, its regional proxy network is already in motion. Armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen—all with known ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—have begun escalating coordinated actions in response to the Israeli strike.

• In Lebanon, Hezbollah confirmed the launch of multiple rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel, targeting military installations in the Galilee region and along the border. The group stated this was “only the beginning” and warned of a broader campaign if Israel escalates further.

• In Syria, local militias affiliated with Iran have reportedly mobilized along the Golan Heights, where shelling and drone surveillance have increased over the last 24 hours. Damascus has remained silent, but regional analysts suggest that Syrian airspace is once again being used for covert Iranian movements.

• From Yemen, Houthi forces launched long-range ballistic missiles believed to be aimed at Israeli territory, although they were intercepted by Israeli missile defense systems. The Houthis declared “full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran” and framed the retaliation as part of the broader resistance against “Zionist aggression and imperialist occupation.”

This coordinated flare-up marks the beginning of what could become a regional war-by-proxy, with Iran leveraging its allies to wage asymmetric retaliation while avoiding immediate direct engagement—at least for now.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces have been placed on Level 4 emergency readiness, and reservists have been called up across multiple sectors. Tensions in Gaza, the West Bank, and even Jordan are rising in anticipation of broader unrest.

“Operation Rising Lion” Roared Tonight — And The World Just Changed

At 9 PM EST tonight, everything escalated.

Israel didn’t just bomb Iran. It killed Iran’s top military commander — and shattered what was left of any illusion of restraint in this long-simmering conflict.

In a bold, high-risk military and covert operation, the Israeli government launched a sweeping strike across Iran — targeting not just nuclear infrastructure, but its military brain trust. The first confirmed fatality?

Mohammed Bagheri, The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran was assassinated tonight in Tehran by Israel.

General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian state media confirmed it within hours. Salami wasn’t wounded. He wasn’t sidelined. He was killed — along with multiple senior officials and two nuclear scientists.

This wasn’t business as usual. It was a deliberate kill shot. And the world is now holding its breath.

What the UN Has Declared

• The UN Security Council held an emergency session — but failed to reach consensus on condemning the strike. However, it issued a unified demand for de-escalation, warning that further retaliation could destabilize the entire region.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation “gravely dangerous,” urging all sides to halt escalation immediately.

• The IAEA (UN’s nuclear watchdog) issued a censure just yesterday, confirming Iran had been blocking inspectors from key nuclear sites — marking the first formal rebuke in 20 years.

Why Did Israel Attack Iran?

Let’s cut through the spin.

Israel says it struck to stop Iran from building nukes — and the timing wasn’t random.

According to Israeli and U.S. intelligence, Iran had enriched enough uranium for 15 nuclear warheads, and was actively testing missiles capable of striking deep into Israeli territory. With inspections blocked and Tehran ramping up regional proxy attacks, Israel decided the time for warnings was over.

“Preemptive” — or Just Illegal?

Israel is calling the strike “preemptive.” Let’s be clear: that’s a lie.

There was no active attack underway from Iran. No missiles in flight. No declaration of war. This was not a defense against an immediate threat — it was a coordinated offensive, planned, resourced, and launched across multiple Iranian cities in one night.

Under international law — including the UN Charter — this kind of unprovoked military assault is not “self-defense.” It’s an illegal act of aggression. It violated Iranian sovereignty, killed officials and civilians alike, and put millions of lives at risk across the region. If the roles were reversed, the global response would be very different.

This wasn’t a strike to prevent war. It was a strike that may have just started one.

They’re lying — and it’s not new.

Look at Lebanon — and now, Yemen.

In Lebanon, Israel has carried out repeated airstrikes on southern towns and civilian infrastructure, claiming to target Hezbollah. But documented strikes have hit journalist offices, residential buildings, aid workers, and media compounds, killing over 400 civilians, including children, according to international observers and Lebanese health officials.

In Yemen, the same pattern holds. On June 10, Israeli naval missiles struck the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, citing Iranian proxy activity. But humanitarian watchdogs confirmed the strike disrupted aid distribution channels to millions. Israel has also targeted Sanaa airport, civilian coastal zones, and urban areas in a series of strikes since May — often with no verifiable military targets, and with multiple confirmed civilian deaths.

Just like with Iran, the “preemptive” label is a political disguise for unlawful aggression. It’s not about stopping violence — it’s about escalating it while controlling the narrative

What triggered the strike:

• Long-range missile trials from central Iran raised alarm across the region.

• Blocked IAEA inspections suggested nuclear weaponization was closer than reported.

• IRGC military activity in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen surged.

• General Salami was reportedly coordinating a regional “deterrence plan” aimed at Tel Aviv.

So Netanyahu made the call.

What Was Hit (and Who)

This wasn’t symbolic. It was a full-scale, precision attack across six major Iranian facilities, including military, nuclear, and civilian-adjacent zones.

Confirmed strike locations:

1. Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility – central to Iran’s nuclear fuel production.

2. Parchin Military Complex – suspected site of nuclear warhead testing.

3. IRGC Headquarters in Tehran – where Salami and top brass were killed.

4. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant – an underground facility shielded from airstrikes, reportedly damaged by deep-penetration munitions.

5. Modarres Ballistic Missile Base – part of Iran’s long-range weapons program.

6. Malek Ashtar Aerospace Research Center – known for drone and missile development.

In addition to these high-profile sites, Israeli missiles struck military housing blocks and residential neighborhoods near Tehran’s defense zone — areas where IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists reportedly lived. Footage shows several apartment complexes in flames. Civilian casualties are expected but unconfirmed.

Iran Just Lost a General. Now What?

Let’s be clear: This isn’t just about one man.
It’s about what comes next.

Iran's government has activated nationwide air defense, and state TV is vowing “swift and crushing revenge.” Military analysts expect drone and missile retaliation in under 24 hours, possibly targeting Israeli infrastructure or U.S. bases in Iraq and the Gulf.

Meanwhile, Israel has locked down its airspace and declared a full civil emergency. Cities are on alert. Bomb shelters have been reopened. The IDF is preparing for multiple waves of incoming strikes.

The trigger has been pulled. There’s no walking this back.

Global Markets Are Spiraling

• Oil prices spiked 7%

• Gold prices jumped to an all-time high

• U.S. stock futures dipped sharply

• Cryptocurrency markets tumbled

Why? Because the Strait of Hormuz — where 20% of global oil flows — is now in the crosshairs. Iran could choke the waterway, target tankers, or even launch cyberattacks on global infrastructure.

This isn’t just geopolitics. It’s economic shock.

Where’s the U.S. In All This?

• The White House denies direct involvement but says Israel had a “right to self-defense.”

• U.S. forces across Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain have been put on high alert.

• Evacuations of non-essential embassy staff have begun.

• Biden warned Iran not to “mistake restraint for weakness.”

• Meanwhile, hawkish U.S. figures are cheering the strike. Critics say the U.S. is about to get dragged in — whether it wants to or not.

Let’s be honest: This was no surprise to Washington. And it may not be the last time they sit back and “observe” while allies escalate.

This Isn’t Just “Over There”

Tonight’s strike changes everything — and not just in the Middle East.

• Energy markets will reel.

• Global supply chains may freeze.

• Militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen are now activated.

• Diplomacy is likely dead — for now.

• And a cyber or proxy war could spiral at any moment.

If you’re still thinking, “This won’t touch me” — you’re already behind.

What Happens Now?

Iran’s retaliation is no longer an “if” — it’s a “when.” The IRGC has vowed a swift and direct response, and regional militias like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi paramilitary groups are already signaling alignment. Military analysts expect drone swarms, missile salvos, or cyberattacks in the coming hours — and American military bases across the region are officially on high alert. Israel, for its part, has made it clear: this is not the end. A spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that “Operation Rising Lion will continue until Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities are neutralized.” That means more strikes are not just likely — they’re imminent. The U.S. has warned Iran not to target its assets, but if a single American life is lost, this could spiral into a full-blown multinational war. Global markets will react in real time, diplomacy is hanging by a thread, and the risk of a nuclear flashpoint just became real. Everyone is on edge — because what just happened wasn’t a limited strike. It was a door being kicked open.