Israel and Iran launch new strikes as new diplomatic effort takes shape
The US president has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America's 'bunker-buster' bombs.
He said he will decide within two weeks whether the US military will be directly involved in the war given the 'substantial chance' for renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to be heading to Geneva for meetings with the European Union's top diplomat and counterparts from the UK, France and Germany.
But in an interview aired on Friday he said that 'in the current situation, as the Zionist regime's attacks continue, we are not seeking negotiations with anyone'.
'I believe that as a result of this resistance (by Iran), we will gradually see countries distancing themselves from the aggression carried out by the regime, and calls for ending this war have already begun, and they will only grow stronger,' he said, adding that Tehran considers 'the Americans to be companions and collaborators of the Zionist regime'.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he met US secretary of state Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss the potential for a deal to cool the conflict.
Israel said it conducted air strikes into Friday morning in Iran with more than 60 aircraft hitting what it said were industrial sites to manufacture missiles.
It also said it hit the headquarters of Iran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its acronym in Farsi, SPND. The US has linked the agency to alleged Iranian research and testing tied to the possible development of nuclear explosive devices.
Israeli air strikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early on Friday, Iranian media reported.
The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, but with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it is unclear how many people could see the message.
In Israel, paramedic service Magen David Adom said missiles struck a residential area in southern Israel, causing damage to buildings, including one six-storey building. Crews provided medical treatment to five people with minor injuries, it added.
It comes a day after at least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in a strike on the Soroka Medical Centre in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
Israel's defence minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the Iranian missile crashed into the hospital. Israel's military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist', said defence minister Israel Katz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Mr Trump would 'do what's best for America'. Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the hospital, he added: 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot.'
The war between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13 with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, senior generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.
Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds wounded.
Iran has long maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear weapons programme but has never acknowledged it.
The Israeli air campaign has targeted Iran's enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran, a nuclear site in Isfahan and what the army assesses to be most of Iran's ballistic missile launchers. The destruction of those launchers has contributed to the steady decline in Iranian attacks since the start of the conflict.
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Leader Live
24 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Security review launched after Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base
Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. Defence Secretary John Healey said he was 'disturbed' by the vandalism, while Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'disgraceful'. 'I am really disturbed that this happened and have ordered an investigation and a review of wider security at our bases,' Mr Healey said. 'These aircraft are used by our military personnel to support security and peace around the world. 'This action does nothing to support Gaza or our push for peace and stability in the Middle East.' Downing Street said security is being reviewed across the defence estate and that the Government is working closely with police. The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 A No 10 spokesman said: 'A full security review is under way at Brize Norton. 'We are reviewing security across the whole defence estate. 'We treat all breaches of security very seriously, and where there is suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute in line with longstanding principle.' He said the incident had not disrupted any planned aircraft movements or operations. A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. 'They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' Sir Keir said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage. 'An investigation has been launched and we are working with the Ministry of Defence Police and partners at RAF Brize Norton. 'Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible.'
Spectator
an hour ago
- Spectator
Palestine Action's RAF vandalism was no protest
Members of an activist group called Palestine Action have broken into the Royal Air Force's largest base, RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, and vandalised two Airbus Voyager refuelling aircraft. With breathless self-congratulation, the organisation said its members 'used electric scooters to swiftly manoeuvre towards the planes', sprayed red paint into the turbine engines and used crowbars to damage the fuselages of the aircraft. The red paint, of course, is symbolic of Palestinian bloodshed. BREAKING: Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts. Flights depart daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. From Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza. — Palestine Action (@Pal_action) June 20, 2025 If you are wondering why RAF aircraft in Oxfordshire were targeted by a group concerned with events in the Middle East, allow Palestine Action to remove the scales from your eyes: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened to break the chains of oppression.' Flights leave Brize Norton daily, our heroes explain, to fly to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and 'from Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza.' What is not legitimate, nor can ever be legitimate, is breaking into a UK military facility and damaging equipment The Royal Air Force begs to differ on at least some of these assertions. An RAF source told the media that, 'the UK is not supporting Israeli operations and these aircraft have not been used in support of Israeli forces in any shape or form.' There is certainly a defence and security aspect to the relationship between the UK and Israel, as set out two years ago in a '2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations.' The armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, stated in a debate in the House of Commons in March that the RAF conducted unarmed surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including Israel and Gaza, 'solely in support of hostage rescue'. Only intelligence relevant to the rescue of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza – nearly 21 months after the savage pogrom of 7 October 2023 – is shared with Israel. The UK suspended a range of arms exports to Israel in September last year. However, we continue to contribute components for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning strike aircraft to a global spares pool and the common production line for new aircraft; as Israel is also a partner in the F-35 programme, it is entirely possible that some UK-manufactured parts may be supplied for the Israeli Air Force's aircraft, but it is not possible for the UK to monitor or prevent that because of the way components are shared. The claim that the RAF is supporting Israeli operations in Gaza is at best overegged. But it would be a mistake to think that Palestine Action is especially interested in the intricacies of Britain's operations in the eastern Mediterranean or the precise role of aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri. Doubtless every member of Palestine Action is deeply grieved by the loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza. But the group makes no pretence of its agenda. Its website refers to its activities being 'geared towards harnessing the strength of the grassroots and directing it towards bringing down Israel.' It has focused its attention on the Israeli technology and defence contractor Elbit Systems Ltd, the business model of which, the group claims, 'relies on the destruction of Palestine and the genocide of it's [sic] population'. It moves into a full lower-sixth activism fury register when it continues that Elbit 'use Palestinians as test subjects, before selling these technologies on to fuel imperialism and colonialism elsewhere.' For Palestine Action, Elbit is a proxy for Israel, and the group makes little effort to hide that conflation. That is their right: we live in a free and open society and it is legitimate for a campaign group to oppose a foreign state (though the logic of that can carry people to some dark places). It is also legitimate for members of that group to pursue peaceful protest. What is not legitimate, nor can ever be legitimate, is breaking into a UK military facility and damaging equipment. It is, of course, against the law and it is to be hoped that Thames Valley Police catch, charge and prosecute those responsible for the vandalism at Brize Norton. It goes further than that, though. However much members of Palestine Action think they know about RAF operations in the Mediterranean, they have attempted –seemingly without a great deal of success – to reduce the operational capability of the armed forces. The RAF has 14 Voyager refuelling aircraft: Palestine Action vandalised two of them. Those aircraft could be required to support UK operations anywhere in the world, at any time. Anti-Israel activists cannot damage them in relation to activities in the Mediterranean without potential consequences for the whole force. Protest is a desperately precious right, more now than ever. Palestine Action crossed a very clear line in order deliberately to weaken the capacity of British armed forces. There is a word for that, and it is not 'protest'. Catch them, find the heaviest book, and throw it at them.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Labour MP calls for RAF break in group to be banned under terror law
Backbencher David Taylor, who previously unsuccessfully campaigned for Kneecap to be banned from Glastonbury, made the call after a break-in at RAF Brize Norton. Palestine Action members sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager on Thursday evening and said they used crowbars to further damage the planes. It is believed that one of the aircraft targeted is the UK's official VIP jet, used to ferry prime ministers and royals to official visits. Taylor insisted he supported the 'right to peaceful protest' but added: 'Palestine Action has long since crossed the line into criminality. Their latest alleged activity, breaking into RAF Brize Norton and damaging military aircraft, is not protest, it's sabotage. You cannot attack UK military assets. READ MORE: UK's 'Union flag plane damaged' in pro-Palestine RAF break-in 'This group have engaged in illegal activity: smashing into defence sites, vandalising property, and disrupting key infrastructure. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a coordinated campaign of unlawful direct action.' Palestine Action have vandalised the premises of numerous businesses linked with the Israeli military. Last month, a case against activists for blocking access to Elbit's Instro Precision weapons factory in Kent was thrown out at Margate Magistrates Court. Elbit is a key target of the group because the firm is a key supplier of the Israeli military. Taylor (above) added: 'It is time for the government to take a firmer stance. I believe Palestine Action should now be considered for proscription under the Terrorism Act. We cannot allow groups who glorify and incite violence to operate unchecked under the guise of activism.' Groups proscribed under the Terrorism Act include Hamas and Hezbollah. Declaring support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act. READ MORE: UK Government urged to publish legal advice on joining war on Iran Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh – known by the stage name Mo Chara – appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court earlier this week charged with an offence under the act after allegedly flying a Hezbollah flag at a concert. He was released on unconditional bail with his lawyers arguing that the alleged offence took place outside the six-month window required to fall under the court's jurisdiction. Palestine Action was approached for comment.
