
Live updates: Israel says Iran will pay for hospital attack
The conflict has killed hundreds of Iranians and scores of Israelis since Israel launched a surprise attack on nuclear and military targets on June 13. Israeli warplanes struck three nuclear sites in Iran on June 18, while a military spokesman walked back an earlier Israeli claim to have bombed Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant.
Follow along with USA TODAY for live updates.
More: 40,000 reasons to worry: U.S. troops in Middle East could face Iran blowback
Iran's state-owned IRNA news outlet said its ballistic missiles were aimed at Israeli Defense Forces and intelligence targets located in the same area.
"The claim of an attack on an intelligence base or the presence of military equipment under the hospital is another lie. We are not so despicable as to endanger civilians," the IDF said in a Persian-language statement, the Times of Israel reported. "Attacking hospitals is a crime. Fabricating a reason does not justify it."
No deaths were reported in the attack. Six people were seriously injured, emergency workers said.
Trump supporter will back an Iran strike, Steve Bannon says
The "vast majority" of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement "will get on board" with strikes on Iran, if he goes ahead with military action, his former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon says.
Should he decide there's no diplomatic solution to be had, Trump will need to walk the American people and MAGA through his thinking, Bannon told reporters at a June 18 breakfast hosted by Christian Science Monitor. But Trump is also likely to win ove most of his naysaying supporters.
"There will be some, but the vast majority of the MAGA movement will go, 'look, we trust your judgement, you've walked us through this, we don't like it, in fact maybe we hate it, but we'll get on board,'" Bannon said.
-Francesca Chambers
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South Wales Guardian
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
David Lammy arrives in Geneva to meet Iran's foreign minister for peace push
The Foreign Secretary is meeting Abbas Araghchi on Friday alongside his counterparts from France, Germany and the EU as he seeks to negotiate a settlement before US President Donald Trump decides on whether to take military action against Tehran. In a statement read by his press secretary on Thursday, Mr Trump said there was still 'a substantial chance of negotiations' and said he would make a decision on deploying US forces 'within the next two weeks'. Mr Trump had previously said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' Friday's meeting with the so-called E3 countries follows Mr Lammy's visit to Washington, where he met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in the White House on Thursday evening to discuss 'how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict'. The Foreign Secretary said: 'The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon.' The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Meeting with @SecRubio and @SteveWitkoff in the White House today, we discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two… — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 19, 2025 Adding that a 'window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution', Mr Lammy said: 'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no-one.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on Friday morning the White House had provided a 'very clear timescale now' for the UK and its allies as they push for de-escalation in the Middle East. She also told Times Radio: 'There is this two-week window where the US is offering diplomatic talks. And my counterpart, David Lammy, is over in Geneva today with leading European figures meeting with the Iranian foreign minister. 'We appreciate the seriousness of the situation, but we are hopeful that we will be able to achieve de-escalation and a diplomatic solution. And all of our efforts continue towards that end.' Israeli air strikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early on Friday, Iranian media reported. Since the conflict erupted last week, 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. Meanwhile, at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any military action, although there has been speculation that US involvement could require using the British-controlled base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Meanwhile, two Labour backbenchers pushed for a 'fresh, tough approach' to Tehran. Jon Pearce and Mike Tapp, chairman and vice-chairman respectively of Labour Friends of Israel, said the UK urgently needed 'a multifaceted diplomatic, economic and national security plan to guard against the Iranian threat and force the regime to change course'. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the pair called for tighter sanctions on Iran, the proscription of the country's Revolutionary Guard Corps and a 'comprehensive diplomatic solution' that 'eliminates once and for all' Iran's nuclear threat.


Powys County Times
27 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Israel and Iran launch new strikes as new diplomatic effort takes shape
Israel and Iran have exchanged strikes a week into their war as Donald Trump considered US military involvement and new diplomatic efforts appeared to be under way. 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.


Scottish Sun
33 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Celtic star on ‘weird' White House meeting with Donald Trump as he talked Iran and trans athletes
He replied to one of the President's questions but was called 'too nice' AWKWARD MOMENT Ex-Celtic star on 'weird' White House meeting with Donald Trump as he talked Iran and trans athletes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU'VE surely seen it by now - the cringe worthy, awkward and frankly strange video of Donald Trump meeting the stars of Juventus at the White House. In amongst the players - who looked a mixture of nervous, stunned or disgusted - was a former Celtic star who has now opened up on the "weird" Oval Office encounter. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 1 Donald Trump hosted the Juventus squad at the Oval Office The Serie A giants were granted the opportunity to visit the President in Washington DC. But it descended into a bit of a farce as the squad were forced to listen to Mr Trump talk about the serious escalation in relations with Iran in front of them, as well as being asked for their opinions on trans athletes in sport. Mr Trump said at one point: "Could a woman make your team, fellas? "Tell me." After a few strange and anxious looks, the only one to offer a reply was former Celtic winger Timo Weah. He said "Yeah" before the president disregarded his response and replied "you're being nice." Mr Trump then turned to some senior Juve officials and asked: "What do you think, you think a woman could make the team? "General managers, what do you think?" One responded by saying: "We have a very good women's team." Mr Trump said: "You do have? Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return "But they should be playing with women. "It's one of those things right. "They're very diplomatic." The President then asked where the two American players in the squad were - Weah and Weston McKennie - before shaking their hands and calling them "the best players on the field." Speaking after the bizarre incident, Weah, who played for Celtic on loan in the 2018-19 season, said: "It was weird. I was caught by surprise, honestly, when he started talking politics, with Iran and everything. "I was kind of like, I just want to play football... "They just told us that we have to go, and I had no choice but to go. "So I guess it was a cool experience, obviously being in the White House as a first time, it's always wonderful. "But I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page