Is Israel really winning at war against Iran?

Yesterday, on the third day of the war, my 12-year-old daughter was visibly stressed. It took me a while to coax her out of bed to join us for lunch. Clearly, the 3 a.m. wake-up call wasn’t the only cause of her fatigue, and my role as a parent was needed. We had a brief conversation about the war, and I suddenly realized that my daughter had mostly been exposed to images of direct and indirect hits in Israel, unaware of the significant achievements Israel has secured over the past four days. As I spoke with her, a question nagged at me: Why am I so certain that Israel’s military successes outweigh Iran’s? Could my optimistic Zionist perspective be clouding my judgment?

Fortunately, in today’s world, we have tools to challenge our biases against the broader perspective of the average person in the Western world. (I’m a bit hesitant to claim there’s an objective truth.) I turned to Grok’s “DeepSearch” feature to inquire about the five most significant military achievements of Israel and Iran since June 13. The response offers fascinating insights into the goals and outcomes of both Israeli and Iranian military operations.

Israel’s Achievements

Israel’s military operations, starting from June 13, 2025, under Operation Rising Lion, have focused on disrupting Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. Key achievements include:

1. Nuclear Facilities Damage: Israel targeted and damaged critical sites like the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, destroying 1,700 centrifuges, and other facilities like Isfahan and Arak, potentially setting back Iran’s nuclear program.
2. Elimination of Leaders: Strikes killed high-ranking officials, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami and Armed Forces Chief Mohammad Bagheri, impacting Iran’s military command.
3. Targeting Scientists: Israel eliminated 14 nuclear scientists, further hampering Iran’s nuclear advancements.
4. Military Installations Destroyed: Key assets like the Tabriz Shahid Madani International Airport and Kermanshah Underground Missile Facility were destroyed, reducing Iran’s military capabilities.
5. Air Defense Disruption: Israel compromised Iran’s air defenses by sabotaging radar systems, exposing vulnerabilities and aiding further operations.

Iran’s Achievements

Iran’s retaliatory actions, starting June 13, 2025, under Operation True Promise III, have aimed to demonstrate its strike capabilities and impact Israel. Notable achievements include:

1. Large-Scale Attack: Launched over 150 ballistic missiles and 100 drones initially, with approximately 350 missiles by June 16, showcasing significant offensive capacity .
2. Penetrating Defenses: Some missiles evaded Israel’s advanced air defenses, hitting targets and causing damage, as seen with casualties reported .
3. Striking Key Targets: Hit critical sites like The Kirya military base and Bazan Oil Refinery Complex, causing fires and potential economic disruption.
4. Civilian Impact: Resulted in 24 civilian deaths and over 494 injuries, demonstrating the ability to affect Israeli population centers .
5. Regional Coordination: Coordinated with Houthis in Yemen for simultaneous attacks, increasing the threat’s complexity and showing alliance strength.