logo
"Can't Wait For Another Time": Israel's Army Chief On Iran Strike

"Can't Wait For Another Time": Israel's Army Chief On Iran Strike

NDTV13-06-2025

Jerusalem:
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has said Israel launched the military offensive against Iran's nuclear programme "because the time had come; we'd reached the point of no return".
"We cannot wait for another time to act, we have no choice," Zamir said in remarks published by the IDF.
"History, both distant and recent, has taught us that in the face of ambitions to destroy us, we must not bow our heads, and so we fight to preserve our existence. Freedom is granted to those who are willing to fight for it," he emphasised.
Declaring the launch of Operation Rising Lion aimed at foiling Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Friday that his country has struck at the heart of the Islamic regime's nuclear programme, including its main enrichment facility in Natanz.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Unimaginable, unacceptable': Russia rejects Israel's call for regime change in Iran, backs Khamenei
‘Unimaginable, unacceptable': Russia rejects Israel's call for regime change in Iran, backs Khamenei

First Post

time29 minutes ago

  • First Post

‘Unimaginable, unacceptable': Russia rejects Israel's call for regime change in Iran, backs Khamenei

'(Regime change in Iran) is unimaginable. It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone,' said Russian President Vladimir Putin's Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov read more Russia has rejected calls for any potential push for regime change in Iran, warning that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could trigger a surge in extremism within the country. '(Regime change in Iran) is unimaginable. It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone,' Politico quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying in an interview with Sky News published Friday. 'Those who are speaking about (killing Khamenei), they should keep it in mind. They will open the Pandora's box,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Peskov warned that the direct involvement of other parties in the conflict could be 'even more dangerous,' as the US weighs offering military support to Israel. 'It will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation of tension in the region,' he added. Russia, meanwhile, has been waging a full-scale war against neighboring Ukraine for over three years, an invasion that has shaken Europe's long-standing security framework. The Kremlin's remarks come as former US President Donald Trump's team announced Thursday that he will decide within two weeks whether the US will join Israel's military campaign against Iran. Earlier the same day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that eliminating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not Israel's objective, though he claimed Khamenei's removal would ultimately serve the interests of the Iranian people. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also declared on Thursday that Khamenei 'will be held accountable' following a missile strike that damaged an Israeli hospital. Meanwhile, on Friday morning, an Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Be'er-Sheva, damaging buildings and injuring seven people after what local authorities described as a 'direct hit.' In response, the Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes on three Iranian missile platforms poised for launch and reported killing an Iranian commander involved in the operation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), more than 60 fighter jets struck dozens of military targets in Iran overnight, including missile production facilities in the Tehran area. With inputs from agencies

Himanta Sarma claims 5,000 accounts from countries like Pak backing Congress
Himanta Sarma claims 5,000 accounts from countries like Pak backing Congress

India Today

time34 minutes ago

  • India Today

Himanta Sarma claims 5,000 accounts from countries like Pak backing Congress

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged that around 5,000 Facebook accounts, mostly operated from Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, have become active in the past one month and were posting content in favour of the said such foreign involvement ahead of the elections was concerning, and he had informed the Centre about to the media, Sarma said these accounts originated from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and were interacting with content related to the Assam Congress and one of its While Sarma did not name the Congress leader, he appeared to be referring to Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi was appointed the Assam Congress president in from Islamic fundamentalist content, Sarma said pro-Palestine posts and remarks supporting Bangladesh's interim head Muhammad Yunus were being put out by these accounts."These accounts are not just politically aligned but are also propagating hardline Islamic content that does not resonate with the sentiments of indigenous Muslims in Assam," the Chief Minister further claimed that the Congress was highlighting interactions from these accounts to portray increased public support. He called this approach misleading and warned that such activity from foreign sources could harm India's democratic process, especially during also said there was information that some people from outside the state had rented houses in Guwahati and have connected with social media influencers for this Congress has not yet responded to the allegations, the Chief Minister called on national agencies to investigate what he described as "foreign involvement" in Assam Watch

‘Hope Pakistan will stand with Iran,' says Iranian diplomat, urges India to condemn Israeli aggression
‘Hope Pakistan will stand with Iran,' says Iranian diplomat, urges India to condemn Israeli aggression

The Print

time44 minutes ago

  • The Print

‘Hope Pakistan will stand with Iran,' says Iranian diplomat, urges India to condemn Israeli aggression

The Deputy Chief of Mission added: 'According to the discussions we had with Indian officials, India says it has a stand. It has good relations with both Iran and Israel and they want to show neutrality. We have told them that this is not an Iran-Israel issue where one can remain neutral, but a matter of aggression against a country. It must be condemned as per international law.' 'There has been a lot of misinformation and news around the situation [the meeting between Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir and US President Donald J. Trump]. I hope Pakistan will stand with Iran against Israeli aggression,' Hosseini said at a press conference at the Iranian embassy. New Delhi: Iran 'hopes' that both India and Pakistan will stand with it, in the ongoing conflict with Israel, said Mohamed Javad Hosseini, the Deputy Chief of Mission of its embassy Friday. Hosseini highlighted that Tehran expects India to 'condemn' Israel's aggression, given New Delhi's role as the voice of the 'Global South'. The Iranian diplomat's comments come after Munir had lunch with Trump Wednesday at the White House. The two, who met for over two hours, had a 'detailed exchange of views' on the 'prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel', the Pakistani military readout of the meeting said. The US is potentially eyeing access to Pakistani airbases for any offensive against Iran, according to reports. However, President Trump has set a two-week deadline for any action against Iran Thursday. 'We believe that there is an understanding between Iran and Pakistan. They know our stance and understand us well, the same as India that understands us well. We hope that in the end the decision that will be made [is] to condemn the aggressor and stand with Iran,' Hossein said. Tehran is also of the view that India, as a leader of 'the Global South', should condemn Tel Aviv's aggression. India has called for the de-escalation of the situation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been in touch with both his Iranian and Israeli counterparts, Sayyid Abbas Araghci and Gidon Sa'ar, since the conflict began 13 June. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has had a telephonic conversation with PM Narendra Modi. 'We believe every country including India must condemn this [Israeli] aggression not because of [its ties with] Iran, but because it would open the way for other countries to attack their neighbours for baseless reasons. If you do not condemn this attack, you are giving those nations an incentive [to attack],' Hosseini said. The Iranian diplomat said that Tehran is not 'disappointed' with India's reaction to the war, but rather 'expects' more. India distanced itself from a statement made by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), condemning Israel's military action. The SCO is the regional forum that India is a member of, alongside Iran, and eight other member-states including China, Russia, and Pakistan. The current conflict began when Israel launched targeted strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities and key personnel including military personnel and scientists in Operation Rising Lion. At least 10 Iranian generals have been killed in Israeli strikes. Iran retaliated later that day and launched its Operation True Promise 3, launching ballistic missiles across Israel. Hosseini made it clear that Tehran will not accept any 'imposed' peace, but is willing to sit together with mediators once Tel Aviv has been condemned and the attacks have stopped. Iran does not diplomatically recognise Israel, therefore any negotiations will be with other parties. The Iranian diplomat pointed out that both Russia and China have offered to mediate an end to the conflict. Also Read: India evacuates students from Tehran to other parts of Iran, some leave country via Armenia Iran to open airspace for evacuation Tehran, which has closed its airspace since the conflict began, in a gesture to India, will allow at least three charter flights to evacuate Indians, who wish to leave Iran to depart the West Asian nation. The first evacuation flight is set to land late evening in New Delhi, departing from Iran's second-largest city Mashhad, in the North-East of the West Asian nation. India launched Operation Sindhu Wednesday to evacuate its citizens from the West Asian country. According to Hosseini, around 1,000 Indians are seeking to exit the country. Tehran made arrangements to transport those who wish to evacuate to reach Mashhad via Qom. Around 110 students were shifted from Tehran to Armenia, via a land-border, before a special IndiGo flight brought them to New Delhi. They were the first group to be evacuated from the West Asian nation. 'An Iranian carrier, Mahan Air, is going to bring them [Indians] in two or three charter flights. One will land tonight, two tomorrow [Saturday] and one on Sunday…We are making arrangements for safe passage and opening airspace specifically for these flights,' Hosseini said. The operation is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, who have been coordinating with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, its embassy in Tehran, and the Iranian embassy in New Delhi, he added. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Israel says Iranian war-time chief-of-staff killed. Tehran mum on death of 11th general in 5 days

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store