Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 13 June 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, prompting Iranian drone-strike retaliation

Israel launched an aerial assault on Iran in the early hours of June 13,targeting nuclear and military sites including the Natanz enrichment facility, missile infrastructure, and the residences of senior commanders near Tehran. The operation, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” was described by Prime Minister Netanyahu as necessary to thwart an imminent existential threat posed by Iran’s accelerating nuclear program. The strikes reportedly killed several high-ranking Iranian military leaders among them Gen. Hossein Salami (IRGC commander), Gen. Mohammad Bagheri (chief of staff), and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh as well as two nuclear scientists.

Following the strikes, Iran unleashed more than 100 drones toward Israel, most of which Israel’s air defenses intercepted, prompting both nations to close airspace and heighten security. The assault included coordination by Israel’s Mossad, reportedly smuggling explosive weapons into Iran to support the campaign. According to Iranian state sources, at least 78 people were killed and hundreds injured.

The international community reacted swiftly: the UN urged restraint, neighboring and global leaders called for de-escalation, and global oil prices surged amid fears of a broader regional conflict. The attack also disrupted key nuclear diplomacy just days before a planned sixth round of US–Iran negotiations in Oman and could derail efforts to revive the 2015 agreement. Iran condemned the strikes as a “declaration of war” and pledged further retaliation.

Related Articles:

• Israel launches ground operation to arrest alleged Hamas militants in Syria
• Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear and missile sites with explosions heard across Tehran
• SCN SITUATION REPORT: Israel Strikes Iranian Nuclear Facilities
• Reflections of the Israel-Iran Conflict on the Cyber World

Analyst Comments: The Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory drone attacks mark a major inflection point in regional stability. This level of direct confrontation not only heightens the risk of broader military escalation but also increases the likelihood of asymmetric threats globally including cyberattacks, retaliatory strikes from Iranian proxies, and attacks on symbolic or soft targets. For Jewish communities worldwide, especially in the U.S., Europe, and parts of the Middle East, this escalation raises serious safety concerns. A member shared in the FB-ISAO Slack that Community Security Initative (CSI) “assesses that the likelihood of Iranian or Hizballah-directed retaliation targeting Jewish communities in the United States remains low. However, as with all developments of this nature especially considering Iran’s operational history, we remain vigilant.”

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National Guard will remain under Trump’s control through the weekend as legal battle draws out

Federal authorities escalated their response by deploying up to 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines the first unrequested federal mobilization of California’s Guard since the 1960s prompting condemnation from state officials. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass filed legal challenges, labeling the deployment unconstitutional, politically driven, and an overreach; state courts temporarily ordered control returned, although federal appeals have blocked enforcement.

Tensions further escalated when Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s LA news conference, triggering bipartisan outrage and highlighting civil‐liberties concerns. Nationwide, solidarity protests have emerged not only in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, but also across at least 19 states, signaling deepening division over immigration enforcement methods.

Related Articles:

• Sen. Alex Padilla is forcibly removed from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles
• US faith leaders opposed to ICE raids counsel nonviolent resistance and lead by example
• In LA, faith leaders protest to stand up for the detained and to keep the peace
• Justice Department Files Lawsuit to Stop New York’s Unlawful “Protect Our Courts Act” from Obstructing Immigration Enforcement

Analyst Comments: The recent court ruling allowing  President Trump to retain control over the National Guard, the highly publicized detention of Senator Alex Padilla, and the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict particularly the recent strikes are all converging to create a volatile and emotionally charged environment. These developments may serve as catalysts for heightened unrest this weekend, especially in major urban areas already experiencing sustained protests. Of particular concern is the risk of opportunistic or ideologically motivated attacks against Jewish communities and sites, as global tensions involving Iran often lead to increased antisemitic targeting. Given that law enforcement and security resources are already stretched due to protest activity, faith-based institutions and community leaders should remain vigilant and consider heightened security measures through the weekend.