You are invited to join us for Global Crisis Watch 348, on Friday, June 20th at 17:00 BST / 12:00 EDT.
The highlighted topics will include:
Israel–Iran Conflict Escalates as Trump Demands Tehran Evacuation and Khamenei Loses Top Advisers
The Israel–Iran conflict has entered its most dangerous phase in decades, with six consecutive days of intense airstrikes and mounting regional tension. Israel claims to control Iranian airspace and continues to target nuclear facilities, missile sites
and senior figures in Iran’s security apparatus. Analysts believe the scale of these strikes indicates a broader ambition beyond nuclear deterrence – potentially aimed at weakening or toppling Iran’s regime.
Iran has responded with waves of missile attacks, particularly targeting Israeli air bases. While Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons, Israel and the US argue otherwise. US President Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in Canada, abruptly left the meeting, citing urgent developments in the Middle East. He later called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and urged citizens to evacuate Tehran, fueling speculation about potential US military involvement – despite official denials. The Pentagon has since announced the deployment of additional forces to the region.
Internally, Iran is facing serious challenges. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, 86, has lost key military advisers – including the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, its missile chief and its intelligence head – due to Israeli strikes. This has left major gaps in his inner circle and heightened the risk of strategic miscalculation. His son Mojtaba has reportedly stepped in to coordinate decision- making, raising questions about succession and stability within Iran’s ruling elite.
G7 leaders issued a cautious joint statement urging de-escalation across the Middle East while reaffirming support for Israel’s security. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that regime change in Iran, if pursued militarily, could plunge the region into chaos. Trump, however, appeared to embrace Israel’s position more fully, contradicting his intelligence chief’s assessment that Iran is not actively building a bomb.
With over 224 deaths reported in Iran and at least 24 in Israel, the conflict shows no sign of slowing. Energy markets are rattled, and international diplomacy remains stalled. As Israel expands its campaign and Trump hints at new negotiations or escalations, the coming days could shape the future of Iran’s regime and the balance of power in the Middle East.
US Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade Met with Clashes and Calls for Democracy
On June 15th, President Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday with a large military parade in Washington, DC, featuring over 6,000 soldiers, 128 tanks and heavy artillery, marking the US Army’s 250th anniversary. The parade – long sought by Trump after attending a similar display in Paris in 2017 – was his most significant public show of military might and cost an estimated $45 million. As the president observed the spectacle from a viewing stand near the White House, he praised the US Army as the “greatest, fiercest and bravest fighting force,” and issued a forceful statement to America’s enemies, asserting, “Your defeat will be certain… your downfall will be total.”
However, across the United States, the parade was met with widespread resistance. Over 2,000 “No Kings” protests erupted in all 50 states, mobilizing millions of people. These demonstrations denounced Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rhetoric, the use of military force in domestic affairs and recent immigration enforcement raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Protesters carried banners rejecting monarchic rule and promoting democracy and immigrant rights.
While most rallies remained peaceful, some cities reported clashes. In Los Angeles and Portland, police used tear gas to disperse crowds. In Salt Lake City, gunfire left one person hospitalized. In Culpeper, Virginia, a car drove into protesters, though no injuries were reported. New York City, Seattle and Chicago saw massive turnouts, with Seattle alone drawing over 70,000 demonstrators.
Some events were marred by threats or violence, including canceled rallies in Minneapolis after a shooting linked to anti-Trump motives. In Austin, tear gas was deployed after credible threats toward lawmakers.
The “No Kings” movement positioned itself as a unifying response to what organizers termed “billionaire-first politics” and the “militarization of democracy.” A statement from the coalition emphasized the nationwide unity: “Today, across red states and blue, rural towns and major cities, Americans stood in peaceful unity and made it clear: we don’t do kings.”
Federal Agents Target Sanctuary Cities in New Deportation Push
President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive expansion of deportation efforts, directing federal agencies to carry out the “largest mass deportation programme in history.” The focus is on sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York – urban areas that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Trump’s directive, posted on Truth Social, instructs agencies like ICE ( Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and Customs and Border Protection to meet a daily target of 3,000 immigration-related arrests.
The administration claims the crackdown is necessary to remove “criminals,” although critics argue that many of those targeted do not pose public safety threats. Trump has also made unsubstantiated claims that undocumented migrants are being used to manipulate welfare systems and voter rolls. A months-long enforcement campaign is underway, supported by additional agents deployed to about two dozen cities.
The policy has caused widespread protests under the banner of the “No Kings” movement, with demonstrators opposing what they view as authoritarian tactics. A protest in Salt Lake City turned deadly when one person was shot. The use of the National Guard and Marines to control unrest has further raised concerns about the militarization of domestic policy.
Economically, the crackdown is affecting industries such as farming, hospitality and meatpacking—sectors heavily reliant on immigrant labor. Acknowledging the potential disruption, the administration has temporarily paused some workplace raids to avoid further strain on these industries.
Tensions are also growing between federal and local governments. City officials in sanctuary jurisdictions argue that they are legally protecting residents’ rights, while the federal government accuses them of obstructing immigration law enforcement. Critics say ICE has shifted from targeting dangerous individuals to pursuing broad, target-driven operations that undermine trust between communities and law enforcement.
Trump’s move marks a continuation of his firm position on immigration and has deepened divisions over how the US handles undocumented migrants, raising legal, social and humanitarian questions.
Minnesota Lawmaker Killed in Targeted Political Attack
A Minnesota man, Vance Luther Boelter, has been charged with murdering state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and attempting to kill Senator John Hoffman and his wife, in a politically motivated attack that unfolded in the early hours of 15th June. Authorities say Boelter, 57, posed as a police officer during a coordinated assault targeting Democratic lawmakers, using a police-style vest, badge and vehicle to access homes.
After a two-day manhunt – the largest in Minnesota’s history – Boelter was arrested in a rural field without resistance. He faces both state and federal charges, including murder, attempted murder, stalking and firearms violations. Prosecutors revealed that Boelter had also visited the homes of at least two other lawmakers during the same night and had compiled a “target list” of over 70 Democratic politicians and abortion rights advocates. His notes included surveillance details of the victims’ homes.
Representative Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, and her husband Mark were fatally shot in their home. Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette were seriously wounded but survived, thanks in part to their daughter, who called emergency services after shielding her mother from gunfire. Between the attacks, Boelter sent texts to family members describing his actions as “going to war.”
Officials say the motive remains under investigation but confirmed the attacks were politically driven. The FBI and local law enforcement emphasized the seriousness of targeting elected officials and condemned Boelter’s impersonation of police, calling it a betrayal of public trust.
The attacks occurred amid heightened political tension in the US, with recent violent incidents involving politicians, including an assassination attempt on President Trump in the run up to the presidential election last year. Leaders across the political spectrum condemned the Minnesota attack, with Senator Amy Klobuchar calling it “an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy.”
Governor Tim Walz urged for unity, stating, “This cannot be the norm… We must find common ground.”
Boelter’s next court appearance is scheduled for 27th June.
Plus, all the stories that are catching our attention wherever we live in the world. Feel free to join us and add your voice to the conversation.
