US joins Israel-Iran conflict with overnight bombing campaign
The United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran with the latter responding with strikes on targets in Israel.
Israeli security forces and first responders gather at the site of an Iranian strike that hit a residential neighbourhood in the Ramat Aviv area in Tel Aviv on June 22, 2025. AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP
President Donald Trump said the US military carried out strikes Sunday on three Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran 'must now agree to end this war', following days of speculation over whether the United States would join its ally Israel's bombing campaign.
As the Iran-Israel war entered its 10th day, here are the latest developments:
US intervention
Trump said the US military carried out a 'very successful attack' on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo.
'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran,' Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.
'A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site,' Fordo, he said, adding the planes were safely out of Iranian airspace and on the way home.
Iranian media said the Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were hit.
Ahead the US strikes, The New York Times and specialist plane tracking sites said American B-2 stealth bombers had left a base in the United States and flown across the Pacific.
The B-2 can carry America's heaviest payloads, including the bunker-busting GBU-57 — the only weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facility in Fordo.
Trump said that, after the strikes, Iran 'must now agree to end this war', insisting that under no circumstances should Iran possess a nuclear weapon.
Israel raised its alert level after the strikes, permitting only essential activities until further notice, the military announced.
Iran says US attacks 'outrageous'
Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the US attacks and said his country had the right to defend its sovereignty.
'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' the foreign minister wrote on X, describing the attacks as 'lawless and criminal'.
'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.'
Iran's foreign ministry said in a separate statement Washington 'will stop at no illegality or crime' to support Israel.
Iran and Israel exchange missile salvos
Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites.
The targets included the airport, a 'biological research centre', logistics bases and various layers of command and control centres, it said, quoted by Fars news agency.
IRNA news agency said 40 missiles were fired in the '20th wave' of Iranian strikes.
At least 23 people were hurt and police said at least three impacts were reported.
'Houses here were hit very, very badly,' Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai told reporters at the scene. 'Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside.
'Those who were in the shelter are all safe and well. The damage is very, very extensive, but in terms of human life, we are okay.'
The Israeli military said it had launched its own fresh waves of strikes in western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran, IRNA reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the north of the city.
UN nuclear watchdog says 'no increase' in radiation
The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the US strikes.
'Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran… the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,' the watchdog said on X.
The UN body's head, Rafael Grossi, said the IAEA would hold an 'emergency meeting' at the organisation's headquarters in Vienna on Monday in response to the US strikes.
© Agence France-Presse
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'Change history', 'declaration of war': World reacts to US attack on Iran
The United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, joining Israel's bombing campaign after days of speculation over Washington's involvement in the conflict. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,' US President Donald Trump said after the strikes. Here is a roundup of the key reactions: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as 'outrageous' and said his country had a right to defend its sovereignty. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' he posted on social media, calling the attacks 'lawless and criminal' behaviour. Araghchi later said the United States and Israel crossed 'a very big red line' with the attacks, and said he would head to Moscow later Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin. Israel: 'Change history' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying the attacks would 'help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace'. 'Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,' Netanyahu said in a video message, adding that the attacks demonstrated 'America has been truly unsurpassed'. He also told Israelis that his promise to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities had been 'fulfilled'. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. 'I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,' Kallas wrote on X, adding that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday. Russia 'strongly condemned' the bombings, calling them 'irresponsible' and a 'gross violation of international law'. 'A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,' the Russian foreign ministry added. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the strikes were justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, praising them as a 'clear signal'. 'Ukraine is convinced that Iran's nuclear programme must be stopped so that it never again poses a threat to the countries of the Middle East or any other state,' it said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a 'dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge'. 'There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,' Guterres said in a statement. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation warned that the strikes could lead to 'heightened tensions and threaten regional security, peace, and stability'. It called for 'de-escalation and self-restraint, and for resorting to dialogue and returning to negotiations and peaceful means.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to 'return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis'. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,' Starmer said on X, adding that 'stability in the region is a priority'. French President Emmanuel Macron has called a meeting of the country's defence council for Sunday, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman on Sunday. France is urging 'all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict', Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X. China's foreign ministry said it 'strongly condemns' the US strikes, warning that they 'escalate tensions in the Middle East'. 'China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible,' the ministry said. Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that 'humanity is crying out for peace' and called for an end to all wars. 'Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irreparable chasm,' Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican. Saudi Arabia expressed 'great concern' after the strikes on its neighbour, the 'sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran'. 'The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,' the foreign ministry posted on X. Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks 'violate all norms of international law'. 'We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region,' Pakistan's foreign ministry said, adding that Iran had the 'right to defend itself under the UN Charter'. The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the 'blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran'. 'This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation,' Hamas said, calling the attack 'a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security'. Yemen's Houthi rebel government, which is backed by Iran, condemned the US attacks and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people. 'The Trump administration's reckless aggression… is a blatant declaration of war against the brotherly Iranian people. We declare our full support for the brotherly Iranian people,' it said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. © Agence France-Presse
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
US involvement in Iran's nuclear conflict: Unconfirmed claims and escalating tensions
US President Donald Trump has been accused of driving the country into war against Iran based on information that has never been confirmed. This after Trump took a dramatic step to insert the US into the fraught conflict between Iran and Israel, a conflict that has left mo re than 856 people dead and at least 3,396 others wounded since Israel launched its attack on June 13. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that aimed to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while demanding a halt to its nuclear enrichment facilities. On Saturday evening, Trump announced that the US had attacked three sites tied to Iran's nuclear programme, warning Iran against retaliating. The strikes hit uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. He expressed hope that his move would open the door to a more lasting peace, where Iran no longer had the potential to become a nuclear power. The Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed the strikes and congratulated Trump, saying his bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with 'the awesome and righteous might of the US will change history'. However, experts said Iran's nuclear programme does not exist. Civil nuclear engineer, Hugo Kruger, a South African who is based in Paris, said this is the propaganda that the US and Israel have pushed to attack Iran. He said it has not been confirmed that Iran has nuclear weapon capabilities, adding that Trump has driven the US into the war based on the information that has never been confirmed, even by the US intelligence agencies. He said this could be another narrative and a lie about another world war. 'Even the agencies did not confirm this, and Donald Trump at the moment, is driving the US into on the basis of information that has never been confirmed. He is spreading this incredible propaganda in the Western countries,' Kruger said. He said the US has the power to act against the nuclear programme and would have suspended it if it had existed. He said the US has legal and procedural frameworks for inspecting nuclear weapons, adding that this could also influence international laws. Kruger said this should be stopped, adding that South Africa and other countries must take a stance. 'This will stop the conflict because Israel will not be able to resist this pressure. They must do it through the United Nations,' he said. International relations expert, Dr Noluthando Phungula, said t he conflict is bound to harm the entire world, including South Africa. "Oil prices quickly surged up 7% by Friday afternoon and the attacks prompted an instantaneous reaction on the global markets. This will have a dire impact on the dependent developing world due to oil price increases, she said, adding that this also suggests that 'we' may be facing another period of sharply higher energy prices. 'Consequently, almost everything, petrol, gas, and food, will cost more.' She said this reality was seen during the Russia-Ukraine conflict a few years ago, affecting people's lives around the globe. Phungula also warned that other countries in the region could be drawn in, should the attacks continue. Meanwhile, the MK Party condemned the attack, saying it constitutes a direct violation of international law, sovereignty, and the foundational principles of peace, self-determination and non-intervention. The party said this is a declaration of war against the Iranian people, the majority of whom are innocent civilians. 'American officials, without shame or restraint, confirmed these strikes as deliberate and coordinated. President Donald Trump described the attacks as successful, a chilling reminder of how easily Western leaders disguise destruction as diplomacy. The US feigned diplomacy and struck in the dark. "The MK Party calls on the international community, especially the African Union, BRICS nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, to reject this new cycle of militarism and unilateral attacks on sovereign nations. As Iran prepares to defend itself, there has to be a reopening of diplomatic channels and full accountability for the lives lost and infrastructure destroyed,' the party said in a statement. President Cyril Ramaphosa also called on the three countries to give the UN an opportunity and space to lead on the peaceful resolution of the matters of dispute, including inspection and verification of Iran's status of uranium enrichment, as well as its broader nuclear capacity. [email protected]
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Trump says US strikes 'obliterated' Iran nuclear sites
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday "totally obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites, with Tehran later accusing Washington of "blowing up" talks aimed at a deal on its nuclear programme. Following the attack - the United States' first large-scale strikes on Iran - Trump warned Washington would hit more targets if Tehran did not make peace. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks against long-time foe Israel. "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said, adding the key underground enrichment site at Fordo was hit, along with facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace," he said, warning future attacks would be "far greater" unless a diplomatic solution was reached. "Remember, there are many targets left." Trump's intervention - despite his past pledges to avoid another "forever war" - threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers. "This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," he wrote on X. Aragchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had "crossed a very big red line", asserting Iran would continue to defend itself "by all means necessary". 'CHANGE HISTORY' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump's decision to "target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history". In response to the US attack, Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv. Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Police said at least three impacts were reported. One of them was the Ramat Aviv area of Tel Aviv, tearing holes in the facades of apartment blocks. "Houses here were hit very, very badly," said Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai. "Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside." In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war. "Israel by itself would not stop... and it would take longer," he said. Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city's north. The Israeli military said it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago". In Tehran, AFP journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city could be heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel's initial attacks. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the strikes and Tehran said Sunday there were "no signs of contamination". 'STEP BACK' Saudi Arabia said no radioactive effects were detected in the Gulf and voiced "great concern" over the US strikes. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US move and urged de-escalation. The European Union called on all sides "to step back", while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table" over its nuclear ambitions. The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for "serious consultations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. US media reported the strikes were carried out by B-2 stealth bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs, as well as submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. Following his address, Trump warned Iran against "any retaliation". Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. Iran's Huthi allies in Yemen on Sunday repeated their threat to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were "ready to target US ships and warships". The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons. Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since then. Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran's right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme "cannot be taken away... by threats or war".
