Internet partially restored in Iran: UK-based watchdog

Internet service was partially restored in Iran on Saturday, after Tehran imposed a blackout during its war with Israel, London-based online watchdog NetBlocks said."Metrics show a partial restoration in internet connectivity in Iran after a ~62 hour government-imposed shutdown," NetBlocks posted on social media."However, service remains diminished in some areas and overall connectivity remains below ordinary levels," the internet watchdog added.Iran on Thursday imposed a "nationwide internet shutdown" according to NetBlocks, resulting in the most extensive blackout since widespread anti-government protests in 2019.
On Saturday, access to the internet remained highly unstable and patchy in Tehran, with many websites still inaccessible, according to AFP journalists.
Israel launched strikes over a week ago against Iran, claiming its long-time rival was close to developing a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies.
The two arch-foes have since exchanged waves of deadly strikes, with the US mulling whether or not to enter the war.
In Iran, people fleeing Israel's attacks described frightening scenes and difficult living conditions, including food shortages and limited internet access.
Earlier on Saturday, NetBlocks said the internet shutdown had "severely limit(ed) the public's ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely, and follow safety alerts."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

First Post

an hour ago

• First Post

Pro-Palestinian protests take Europe by storm as West Asia crisis continues to escalate

There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza read more Protesters wave Palestinian and Iranian flags and hold placards reading "Stop arming Israel" as they gather in Russell Square to take part in a march through central London, on June 21, 2025. AFP Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in European cities Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation. In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves. In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire. There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza. This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including 'Stop arming Israel' and 'No war on Iran' as they marched in the sweltering heat. 'It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now,' said 34-year-old Harry Baker. 'I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation.' This was his third pro-Palestinian protest, he added. Regional fears Saturday's marches comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran. Tehran said Saturday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures. One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was 'scared'. 'I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country. I'm scared,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade. Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites. 'People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening,' said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus. 'Scared' In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting 'Germany finances, Israel bombs'. 'You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up,' said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name. For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the 'genocide currently taking place' and the 'dirty work' being done by the German government. In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The rally there was called by organisations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Slogans included 'Stop the occupation', 'Stop the starvation, stop the violence', and 'Right to self-determination'. Some marchers chanted: 'We are all the children of Gaza'. The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry. Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.

Hindustan Times

2 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

‘Did Trump start a World War?': Americans fear after US bombs Iran's nuclear sites

Soon after President Donald Trump confirmed that the US had dropped bombs on three of Iran's nuclear sites, Americans took to social media to ask whether the 78-year-old had started a full-scale world war. In his message on Truth Social, Trump, meanwhile, said that 'now is the time for peace'. President Donald Trump announced that US has struck Iranian nuclear sites(AFP) 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home," he wrote on the platform. "Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,' Trump added. Follow: Iran Israel war news LIVE updates The New York Times and Reuters cited sources to report that several B-2 stealth bombers were used for the US strikes on Iran. Experts told NYT that the strikes marked the start of an unpredictable chapter of security and politics in the Middle East. 'It's a new phase, and a potentially problematic one,' Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the publication. Several social media users, meanwhile, worried about a World War-type of retaliation from Iran. Read More: 'Fordow is gone': Trump signals major blow to Iran's nuclear programme after US strikes 'Trump just announced that he bombed Iran. Is World War 3 about to break out? 💀' one person asked on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. 'Imagine dropping the worlds biggest non nuclear bombs on Iran 3X & then having audacity to say, 'Now is the time for Peace' Trump lied, he is President for War not Peace. World War 3 has begun. Take down all the names of the Neocons who advocated for the bomb,' another person added.

Hindustan Times

3 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

B-2 stealth bomber: How many bunker busters can it carry? Can it be detected? Payload capacity? All FAQs answered

President Donald Trump announced that the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. Soon after the 78-year-old's post on Truth Social, The New York Times and Reuters cited sources to report that a number of B-2 stealth bombers were used in the operation. Trump, however, did not confirm if the bombers were used. The B-2 bombers were reportedly used in US strikes on Iran(AFP) 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he said on Truth Social. Earlier in the day, reports noted that the US had deployed its B-2 bombers to Guam. Neither the White House nor Trump officials confirmed the details. Here is all on US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber How Many Bunker Busters Can the B-2 Carry? The B-2 can carry two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds (15 tons), designed to destroy deeply buried targets like Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. The MOP's size limits the B-2 to two per mission, though it can carry other munitions simultaneously if payload allows, National Interest notes. The GBU-57 penetrates up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of concrete, ideal for fortified sites. Can the B-2 Be Detected on Radar? The B-2 is engineered for low observability, making it difficult to detect on conventional radar. Its flying-wing design, radar-absorbent materials, and reduced infrared signature yield a radar cross-section of about 0.001 square meters, comparable to a small bird. What Is the B-2's Payload Capacity? The B-2's total payload capacity is 40,000 pounds (20 tons), per This allows configurations like two GBU-57 MOPs (60,000 pounds total, with mission-specific adjustments), 80 500-pound Mk 82 bombs, 16 2,000-pound JDAMs, or 16 nuclear B61/B83 bombs, per