Rapid Conflict Monitoring of Israeli Strikes on Iran in June, 2025 using VIIRS Nightfire Data

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Research Associate Mikhail Zhizhin, Earth Observation Group Director Christopher Elvidge, and Director Morgan Bazilian write about the thermal anomalies detected by the VIIRS Nightfire (VNF) algorithm in relation to reported Israeli military strikes on Iranian territory beginning June 13, 2025. Leveraging VNF’s ability to identify high-temperature combustion sources such as industrial flares, wildfires, and crucially, explosions and fires in conflict zones, this analysis aims to provide an independent assessment of the recent events. June 18, 2025.