Iran displays wreckage of Israeli drones downed during 12-day war photo

Iran has publicly displayed the wreckage of Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles that it says were shot down during the 12-day war with Israel.

According to the Mehr news agency, the drone debris was showcased during a public rally held at Azadi Square in Tehran, where the fragments were presented as evidence of Iran’s actions during the conflict.

The display comes amid the aftermath of the June 2025 Iran–Israel confrontation, widely described as the most direct and intense clash between the two countries since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The 12-day war began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched a surprise offensive known as “Operation Rising Lion.” The operation targeted major Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, as well as military bases and senior leadership figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterised the strikes as preemptive, referring to a May 2025 assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency that concluded Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% could potentially be sufficient to produce up to nine nuclear warheads. The Israeli operation resulted in the deaths of several prominent Iranian nuclear scientists and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and inflicted significant damage on Iran’s air-defence systems and missile infrastructure.

Iran responded by launching multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli military targets and urban areas. The escalation drew in the United States, which on June 22 carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Iran’s regional allies also became involved, including the Houthis in Yemen, who fired missiles toward Israel.

The fighting caused heavy casualties on both sides, extensive infrastructure damage in Iran, and a worsening humanitarian situation. During the conflict, Iranian authorities detained around 700 people on suspicion of espionage and executed several individuals on spying charges. A fragile ceasefire was eventually reached on June 24 through US mediation under President Donald Trump.

By Tamilla Hasanova