The legitimacy conundrum: Israel’s 12-day military attacks on Iran under international law

Author: Mohammad Hossein RAMAZANI GHAVAMABADI

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Abstract

Operation “Rising Lion” – a 12-day military campaign conducted by Israel against Iran in June 2025 – marks a culmination in the escalation of their tensions. Israel justifies this action under the right of preemptive self-defense, citing an existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program and its proxies. This article undertakes a comprehensive legal analysis of the legitimacy of this operation. The analytical framework draws upon Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, customary international law, and the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice. The study focuses on examining the conditions of necessity and proportionality, which lie at the heart of any invocation of self-defense. It explores the fundamental tension between, on the one hand, the imperatives of national security and the perception of an imminent threat, and, on the other hand, the strict limits imposed by contemporary international law on the unilateral use of force. The article thus invites reflection on the delicate balance between preserving the sovereignty and security of States and upholding the integrity of the international legal order, particularly in the face of the controversial notion of preemptive self-defense.

Keywords: Use of force, Preemptive self-defense, Necessity, Proportionality, Custom