Israel claims air superiority, but Iran still hitting region with missiles

Explosions in Iran from Israeli attack
(MEHR News Agency via Wikipedia)

Israel and Iran continue their attacks against each other:

Iran, Israel escalate strikes as death toll rises

16 June 2025

Israel came under heavy Iranian missile attacks early Monday while Israeli forces targeted a series of surface-to-surface missile sites in western and central Iran.

Israel came under heavy missile attacks at multiple locations early Monday

Israel strikes surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran

President Trump says he hopes Israel and Iran can reach a deal

The US embassy in Iraq warns of potential attacks against Americans

Iran’s death toll climbs to 224, with more than 1,200 people injured

Israel reports 24 people killed since Friday https://www.dw.com/en/iran-israel-escalate-strikes-as-death-toll-rises/live-72919550

June 16, 2025

Iran delivered a major counterpunch overnight, further demonstrating that Israel’s highly-touted Iron Dome defense system is vulnerable to Iran’s hypersonic missiles. Upon completing a deadly barrage aimed at targets in Tel Aviv, Haifa and elsewhere, Iran claimed it had employed a “new method” that put Israel’s multi-layered defense system in disarray to the point its various systems targeted each other. …

Citing a statement from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, state media outlet PressTV reported that “the operation specifically targeted the Zionist regime’s command and control systems using advanced tactics and enhanced intelligence-tech capabilities.”

“As a result,” the IRGC said, “the enemy’s multilayered defense systems were thrown into disarray, to the point where their own air defense units began firing on each other.” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-inflicts-more-punishment-claims-new-method-caused-idf-systems-target-each-other

Israel claims air superiority:

Israel says it has full control over Tehran’s skies as both sides continue strikes

16 June 2025

Israel says it has “full aerial operational control” over the Iranian capital Tehran, four days after launching strikes on the country

It says its air force carried out a wave of strikes overnight, while Iranian media reports new attacks in the west of the country on Monday

Israel’s claim of aerial control appears to be true, writes our defence correspondent Jonathan Beale – but air superiority isn’t everything

Iranian missiles again penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome defence system overnight

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2kqkd03xn5t

Thus far, the Iranian drone response has not seemed to have significantly changed the situation to deter or highly damage Israel.

But, Iran is not finished.

Israel and Iran both often make bold statements to suggest that their militaries can destroy the other’s.

The Bible has the following statement:

‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’ (1 Kings 20:11)

The conflict between Israel and Iran is not over.

The Book of Isaiah points to an Iranian confederation causing great damage to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9) and we are getting closer to the fulfillment of that prophecy. Israel’s attacking Iran may lead to the fulfillment of that prophecy, as well as lead to the deal of Daniel 9:26-27 and the countdown for the return of Jesus this year–with Jesus’ return being as early as 2032. For more on why Jesus could returning 2032, check out my post from last Friday: Could the Israel-Iran battles point to Jesus returning in 2032?

As mentioned here many times before, the Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian confederation, to strike the nation of Israel:

1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.

What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops, 2 You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slain men are not slain with the sword, Nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar. 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.”

5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain. 6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots,And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall. 11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.

12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning,For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts,”Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 22:1-14 NKJV)

Elam, in this context, seems to be a reference to at least some in Iran. Here some reports on the identity of Elam from the first century Jewish historian Josephus as well as the 20th century Worldwide Church of God:

Elam left behind him the Elamites, the ancestors of the Persians. (Josephus. Josephus Complete Works. Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, Chapter VI, Verse 4. Translated by William Whiston in 1867. Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 1960, p. 31)

Iranians comprise nearly 70 percent of the country. Iranians, though Islamic, are totally distinct from the neighboring Arab peoples of the Middle East. They are a mixed people of the remnants of Media and Elam and other ancestors of Semitic and Hamitic stock. (Stump K. South Asia in Prophecy. Plain Truth, July/August 1986, p. 5)

Kir looks to point to at least some in Syria. The Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir. While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran, while others suggest closer to the Black Sea. God’s word has the expression “the Syrians from Kir” (Amos 9:7), which is basically confirmation that Kir of Isaiah 22 would include Syrians. The Bible also tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

In Isaiah 22: 8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked! In Isaiah 22:9, consider that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem–and notice that the damage will be great.

The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20)–see also A Discourse on the House of the Forest of Lebanon, pp: 111-134 in Bunyan J. Stebbing H. The Entire Works of John Bunyan, Volume 4. Virtue and Company, 1860. So, Hezbollah, which has been somewhat sidelined for a time, looks to have future involvement.

Here is the Catholic Public Domain Version translation of Isaiah 22:8:

8 And the covering of Judah will be exposed, and in that day, you will see the weaponry of the forest house. (Isaiah 22:8, CPDV)

A way for Judah to “see the weaponry of the forest house” could be a massive attack by Hezbollah.

In Isaiah 22:1-14, the Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian-Southern Lebanese confederation, to strike the nation of Israel.

Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and other defenses will not be able to protect Jerusalem against enough of the coming attack to prevent great damage.

That said, a while back, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to Iran and Israel:

15:03

Iran and Israel Conflict

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.