USS Arleigh Burke sailors awarded Armed Forces Service Medal for ‘12-Day War’ operations
Sailors who served aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke have been awarded the Armed Forces Service Medal for their support and execution of ballistic missile defense operations in 2024 and during last June’s “12-Day War” between Iran and Israel, the ship said in a Facebook post Wednesday.
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Sailors who served aboard the vessel from Aug. 15, 2024, to Dec. 16, 2024, or during the 12-day armed conflict from Jun. 12, 2025, to Jun. 24, 2025, are eligible, according to the post.
Sailors who qualified under both stretches would receive the medal and a subsequent award.
The medal is authorized for service members who participate in a U.S. military operation of “significant activity” that did not involve foreign armed opposition or imminent threat.
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, such as the Natanz Nuclear Facility, that killed top military leaders. The country said it did so to prevent Iran from continuing to build its nuclear arsenal.
Iran retaliated by firing nearly 900 ballistic missiles at Israel, according to the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
About a week later, on June 21, President Donald Trump launched Operation Midnight Hammer, ordering airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities. The operation included 125 U.S. aircraft, 75 precision weapons and more than a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs that struck Iranian nuclear facilities Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
The conflict ended shortly after on June 24.
Sailors aboard the USS Arleigh Burke were awarded the Armed Forces Service Medal for their role in ballistic missile defense operations during the '12-Day War' between Iran and Israel from June 12 to June 24, 2025. Israel conducted Operation Rising Lion targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to launch nearly 900 ballistic missiles at Israel. Subsequently, the U.S. executed Operation Midnight Hammer, deploying 125 aircraft and precision weapons against Iranian targets.
- Sailors awarded Armed Forces Service Medal for operations during the '12-Day War'.
- Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025.
- Iran retaliated with nearly 900 ballistic missiles fired at Israel.
- U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer on June 21, 2025, involving 125 aircraft and precision weapons.
- The conflict lasted from June 12 to June 24, 2025.