Iran threatens to strike US bases in vow to continue retaliatory blitz on Israel
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Iran retaliates with 200 ballistic missiles and barrage of drones
Strikes between both enemies still ongoing after night of terror
78 people killed in Iran, while three people killed in Israel
Fears America and Gulf nations will get dragged in fighting
Fears are rising that the Middle East is teetering on the edge of an all-out war as strikes between Israel and Iran continue to escalate – with now US military bases becoming potential targets.
Longtime adversaries, Israel and Iran, unleashed a barrage after a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, with explosions slamming into Jerusalem, Tel Aviv ,Tehran and Zanjan.
In Iran, more than 78 people have been killed, including including four of its top security chiefs, and 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Three people died in Israel, with dozens more injured in Iranian strikes.
Pillars of black smoke rose from military sites and residential areas across both countries after a night of relentless bombardments.
This could be the start of a prolonged military campaign as neither side is showing any inclination to end the fighting – despite international calls for de-escalation.
There are fears that the US – where Donald Trump has been congratulating Israel for the 'excellent' attacks – and Gulf nations will be dragged into the conflict.
Iran's Fars news agency reported that senior military officials have warned that the conflict will spread to US bases over the coming days.
'This confrontation will not end with last night's limited actions and Iran's strikes will continue,' Fars cited an unnamed official as saying.
'And this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors.'
Shahram Akbarzadeh, the director of the Middle East Studies Forum at the Alfred Deakin Institute, warned there are 'more attacks to come' as Israel and Iran 'settle in for the long haul'.
'There is every chance this could spread out to the whole region and draw in the US,' he told Al Jazeera.
'Israel is actually banking on this dynamic that once a conflict starts, the US has an obligation and commitment to Israeli security.
'So the US will be dragged into the conflict.'
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.'
It was just hours after that Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel late Friday and early today.
Iranians awoke to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel, as well as videos of people cheering and handing out sweets.
Meanwhile, Israel's military said more drones had been intercepted near the Dead Sea in the early hours of this morning. More Trending
A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage; all but one of them had light injuries.
Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said they were wounded when a projectile hit a building in the city.
A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital said one woman was killed. Hours later, an Iranian missile struck near homes in the central city of Rishon Lezion, killing two more people and wounding 19, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom.
Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defence systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Lonely Planet co-founder reveals three more countries 'not to visit'
MORE: Israeli Mossad agents 'infiltrate heart of Iran with special-made weapons'
MORE: Iran vs Israel: who has the strongest military?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in UK after leader's dire Putin warning
Keir Starmer will meet Ukrainian President in the UK today. Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks with the Prime Minister, hours after at least seven people were killed in Russian air and drone strikes in Kyiv. Mr Zelensky branded Russia, North Korea and Iran a "coalition of killers" and said he would be sounding the alarm duuring his visit. He said: 'After the strikes on Iran's nuclear program facilities, there was a lot of noise from Moscow – the Russian leadership demonstratively condemned the 'rocket-bomb' steps. 'Today, Moscow is silent after the Russian army launched an absolutely cynical strike with Russian-Iranian [drones] and missiles on the civilian infrastructure of Kyiv and other our cities and communities. In Kyiv alone, five apartment buildings were damaged. 'These are ordinary residential buildings. As of now, six people are known to have been killed.' And the Ukrainian leader continued: 'Everyone in the countries next to Russia, Iran, and North Korea should think about whether they will be able to protect life there if this coalition of killers persists and continues to spread terror. 'Today, during my visit to Britain, I will talk to my partners about exactly this - about our defence, which should become the basis for a much stronger common defence. And we will also agree on new and strong steps to put pressure on Russia for this war and to stop the strikes.' It comes after Mr Zelensky claimed that Vladimir Putin's Russia is gearing up for military operations in Europe. The Ukrainian leader said his country is "preparing joint decisions for defence, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union" and promised to keep allies in the loop. Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn. Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
Reuters
33 minutes ago
- Reuters
European shares slip as US strikes on Iran fuel Middle East escalation fears
June 23 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Monday after the U.S. decision to join Israel in striking Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend heightened investor fears of an escalation in the Middle East conflict. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), opens new tab was down 0.3% at 535.11 points, as of 0712 GMT. Other major regional indexes also traded lower. Iran and Israel exchanged air and missile strikes on Monday, as global tensions rose over Tehran's expected response to a U.S. attack on its nuclear facilities over the weekend. In a post to the Truth Social platform on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the possibility of regime change in Iran. Markets fear that an Iranian retaliation may include a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil artery. Bucking the sombre mood, the oil and gas sector (.SXEP), opens new tab led gains in the regional index, rising 0.7%, as oil prices jumped on fears of supply disruption following the weekend strike. Travel and leisure stocks (.SXTP), opens new tab lost 0.8%. Among stocks, Spectris (SXS.L), opens new tab rose 14.6% after private equity firm Advent said it will acquire the scientific instruments maker in a deal valued at 4.4 billion pounds ($5.91 billion). ($1 = 0.7443 pounds)
NBC News
37 minutes ago
- NBC News
Live updates: Iran's top diplomat to meet with Putin as U.S. braces for retaliation
What we know U.S. ON ALERT: The world is bracing for Iran's response after the U.S. entered the war by striking three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, with officials telling NBC News the first 48 hours are of particular concern. ISRAEL HITS AIRPORTS: The Israeli military said it had attacked six airports in western, eastern and central Iran as part of its 'effort to deepen air superiority in Iranian skies.' IRAN-RUSSIA TALKS: The Iranian foreign minister is meeting with President Vladimir Putin today in Russia, with whom he said Iran will coordinate its response to U.S. and Israeli strikes. WARNING FOR AMERICANS: The State Department advises U.S. citizens worldwide to "exercise increased caution" in the wake of the U.S. strikes. IRAN WEIGHS RESPONSE: Iran says it 'reserves all options,' which could include targeting U.S. bases in the region or disrupting global trade by closing the Strait of Hormuz; President Donald Trump said any Iranian retaliation against U.S. assets 'will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed today.' REGIME CHANGE: In a break with members of his administration, Trump appeared to call for a change in Iranian leadership, saying in a social media post yesterday, "Why wouldn't there be a Regime change?" HUNDREDS KILLED: Israeli strikes have killed at least 400 people in Iran and injured 3,000 in the 10-day conflict, according to Iran's health ministry, while Iran's retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 in Israel.
