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Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Iran earthquake: A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hits Semnan, Iran, amid rising tensions with Israel
A powerful earthquake shook Semnan in northern Iran early Friday, rattling a region already fraught with tensions. The shallow, 5.2-magnitude earthquake sparked concern because it struck near a city with a space and missile complex. The area remains volatile, both geologically and politically. The shallow 10 km-deep earthquake sparked concern, but there were no immediate reports of damage and casualties as of now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Recently. Investructor Undo About 35 kilometers southwest of Semnan, close to Tehran, the earthquake occurred in central Iran. At 7:49 UTC, the region was shaken by the earthquake, as per a report. Tensions are already high at the time of the earthquake because of Iran's ongoing conflict with Israel. The Semnan Space Center and the Semnan Missile Complex, run by Iran's military, are said to be located in Semnan. Live Events ALSO READ: Iran news: Israel faces massive air defense crunch as Arrow interceptors run low and US stockpiles dwindle Is this area prone to earthquakes? Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, situated on the geologically active Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt. Seismic events are common due to its complex tectonic setting, and over the years, many of them have resulted in significant destruction and fatalities. Iran typically receives 2,100 earthquakes a year, of which 15 to 16 are of magnitude 5.0 or higher. On June 20, representatives of Israel and Iran engaged in a face-off at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) amid rising tensions between the two countries. FAQs How strong was the Semnan earthquake ? It was a 5.2 magnitude quake located approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Semnan. Was there any damage? No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Israel may run low on missile interceptors, putting US in a 'bind'
If the U.S. chooses to replenish Israel's missile interceptors, it may have to draw them from other stockpiles. As Israel downs incoming volleys of Iranian missiles, a shortage of its missile interceptors could put both the United States and Israel in a bind. After a week of its aerial war with Iran, Israel's long-range Arrow interceptors are running low, the Wall Street Journal reported on June 18. In addition to Arrow interceptors, which are Israeli-made, Israel also has U.S.-made THAAD systems, which intercept medium-range ballistic missiles. If the United States chooses to replenish Israel's missile interceptors, it would mean drawing from other stockpiles, since Congress wouldn't have time to surge U.S. defense production of more, according to Brandan Buck, a research fellow at the Cato Institute. That could include siphoning off interceptors marked off for delivery to Ukraine, to Taiwan in a possible future conflict, or from the U.S.'s own national stock, Buck said. "If they truly do run out... that's going to put us in a position in which we have to make some serious decisions," Buck said. "It's going to put the U.S. and Israel in a bit of a bind," he added. The U.S. could also position some naval ships off the coast to "augment some of their capacity," according to Buck. The USS Nimitz, a massive aircraft carrier, is en route to the region and will arrive in less than a week, USA TODAY previously reported. It will join the USS Carl Vinson, which moved to the Middle East in April. When Iran launched a volley of ballistic missiles at Israel in October, the U.S. helped to intercept its attacks using interceptors fired from two other U.S. warships. The U.S. spends $3.4 billion to bolster Israel's missile defense every year, including $1.3 billion for its Iron Dome, according to the State Department. Iran could still have thousands of missiles in its arsenal Israel keeps information about its missile interceptor stockpiles tightly under wraps. Its military said on June 16 that it had taken out a third of Iran's missile launchers. Israel says its missile defense success rate stands at greater than 90% against Iran's attacks in the ongoing aerial war. Still, some have evaded Israel's defenses, including the missile that struck a hospital in southern Israel on Thursday. It's also unclear exactly how many missiles Iran has left. The Pentagon estimated in 2021 that Iran just under 3,000 missiles of different ranges. Since Israel attacked Iran on June 12 through June 16, Iran had fired around 370 missiles, meaning thousands could remain. Israel's multilayered air defense system is designed to take down incoming missives from a variety of ranges. The Iron Dome intercepts missiles and rockets fired from a short range of up to around 45 miles, and David's Sling intercepts cruise missiles and rockets at a range of up to about 125 miles. The longer-range missiles fired by Iran are picked up by the Israeli-made Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, which intercept ballistic missiles at a range of up to around 60 miles and 1,500 miles, respectively. In October, the United States sent Israel a THAAD system – capable of intercepting missiles inside and outside of the atmosphere – including American personnel to operate it. According to news reports, the United States sent a second THAAD to Israel in April, although the Pentagon has not publicly confirmed the transfer. The U.S. Army has just seven THAAD batteries in total – it will get an eighth later this summer.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
US races to defend Israel as it burns through missile interceptors
The U.S. is racing to reinforce Israel's defenses, sending more warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to the region as Iranian attacks drain Israel's stocks of interceptors. An additional U.S. Navy destroyer arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday, joining three others in the area and two in the Red Sea. The ships are operating close enough to Israel to be able to intercept missiles fired by Iran, a defense official said. Most of the U.S.'s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are armed with a range of interceptors, known as SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6, that can shoot down ballistic missiles and other aerial threats. SM-3s, first used in combat last year to counter an Iranian attack, are designed to intercept missiles above the atmosphere in the middle of their flight paths. The U.S. has also replenished stocks of ground-based interceptors for the Thaad antimissile system it set up in Israel last year. Formally known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, the system is operated by the U.S. Army and designed to intercept missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight, known as the terminal phase. The surge of seaborne and ground-based missile defenses underscores the concerns about Israel's dwindling supplies of the armaments. Israel risks exhausting its supply of high-end Arrow 3 interceptors in the coming weeks if its conflict with Iran isn't resolved and Tehran continues to launch volleys of missiles, a U.S. official said. Israel uses several different systems to provide a multilayered defense of the country. The well-known Iron Dome works on shorter-range rockets and drones. David's Sling intercepts missiles, planes and drones at a greater distance. The Arrow 3 is the crown jewel, designed to intercept missiles above the Earth's atmosphere. It can neutralize threats before they cross into Israeli airspace and give other systems time to act if the first shot misses. 'Without Arrow 3, it's problematic," said Timur Kadyshev, a researcher at the University of Hamburg who has studied the Arrow system. 'You have less time to shoot down an incoming missile because you're shooting them only in the terminal phase." Israel Aerospace Industries, the company that makes Arrow interceptors, didn't respond to requests for comment. Israel's armed forces also declined to comment on interceptor stockpiles, but said they are ready to handle any scenario. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview Thursday with Israel's public broadcaster Kan, declined to answer whether Israel was running out of Arrow 3 interceptors. 'I would always like more and more," Netanyahu said. He estimated that Israel has destroyed around half of Iran's missile launchers since the current conflict began, thereby diminishing the threat posed by Iran's missile arsenal. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump had approved attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy. The waiting period will keep the onus on Israel to continue the fight even as its ability to defend against missile attacks runs down. 'There's no time to lose, and two weeks is a very long time," said Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Israel is using its control of the skies over western Iran to take out more missiles before they are launched. Its air superiority could also force Iran to fire from farther away, which means using liquid-fueled missiles that take more time to get ready, making them more vulnerable to attack. Still, Tehran has continued to fire volleys of missiles at Israeli population centers. If Iran keeps up its attacks, Israel in the coming days might be forced to make difficult decisions about husbanding its resources and giving priority to which missiles to intercept, Kadyshev said. The U.S. is facing its own concerns about supplies of interceptors. Supplies diverted to the conflict in the Middle East are coming at the expense of those available in the event of a bigger conflict with China. 'We are concerned for the number remaining for the high-end fight," said a U.S. officer who has operated in the Middle East. 'SM-3s will start running low at this pace of operations, cutting into reserves for the next kinetic engagement." The U.S. might also face tough decisions about how many interceptors to exhaust if the fighting drags on. It rushed missile defenses to its Persian Gulf partners after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel kicked off what would become more than a year and a half of war. Those defenses are politically and militarily important. Gulf countries have pressed the U.S. to take a more active role in their defense, and Iran has threatened to hit American bases in the Gulf and elsewhere in the region if the U.S. joins Israel in the attack. Israel's conflict with Iran is costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars a day, according to early estimates, a price tag that could constrain Israel's ability to conduct a lengthy war. The biggest single cost is the interceptors, which can run up tabs of tens of millions to even $200 million a day.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Beneath the Iron Dome, Iran tests Israel's deterrence
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel has exposed both the strengths and vulnerabilities of Israel's military posture, particularly its dependence on air defense systems to shield its territory from a sustained ballistic missile campaign. While Israel's technologically advanced missile defence architecture has proven capable of intercepting the vast majority of Iranian missiles so far, it faces a reckoning now: Can Israel maintain its missile shield in a long-term war of attrition?Since Iran initiated missile attacks last week, Israel's multi-layered air defense system -- a complex integration of Iron Dome (short-range), David's Sling (medium-range), and the Arrow system (long-range) -- has been operating at near-full capacity. The Arrow system, in particular, designed to intercept high-altitude ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, has become the lynchpin of Israel's strategic defense against Iran's increasingly precise, long-range performance of these systems has been stellar. According to various media reports quoting Israeli authorities, most of the incoming missiles have been successfully intercepted, preventing significant infrastructure damage or civilian casualties. However, success comes at a cost, and that cost is becoming a pressing concern in military and political circles in from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicate a growing concern among Israeli defence officials about the pace at which interceptors are being used. A senior US official confirmed that Israel's supply of Arrow interceptors, costing roughly $3 million each, is running low. If Iran maintains its current tempo of missile launches, Israel may only have enough interceptors left for 10 to 12 more days, according to intelligence sources quoted by the WSJ. Moreover, Israeli financial daily The Marker estimates that nightly missile defense operations could cost as much as 1 billion shekels (approximately $285 million). This extraordinary financial burden is compounded by the logistical limits of replenishing high-tech interceptors that require months to manufacture and the context of attritional warfare , where endurance and resupply become as important as battlefield success, Israel's heavy reliance on missile defence may become a strategic liability. Iran's ballistic missile arsenal, one of the largest in the world, allows it to absorb higher losses and maintain pressure without necessarily achieving direct military victories. For Iran, the cost of launching a missile is significantly lower than the cost for Israel to intercept one. This imbalance introduces a dangerous asymmetry. Even if each Iranian missile is intercepted, the financial and logistical strain on Israel could grow unsustainable over time. Attrition, in this case, becomes a tool of strategic leverage for Iran, by forcing Israel into a prolonged and expensive this vulnerability, Israel's ability to sustain its current operational tempo may hinge not only on its domestic industrial capacity but also on rapid US resupply. The US has historically supported Israel with missile defence funding and technological cooperation. US strategic planners are reportedly considering ways to boost production and provide emergency shipments, but even under optimal conditions, these efforts may not keep pace with operational demands if the war drags on for weeks or months. The chance of a missile shortage, especially for critical systems like Arrow, raises the possibility that Israel may have to prioritise targets, ration interceptors or rely more heavily on offensive operations to degrade Iran's launch an attritional scenario, Israel may be compelled to shift its operational doctrine. Rather than absorb waves of missile attacks, Israeli forces could increase the scale and intensity of air strikes inside Iran in an attempt to preempt or degrade its missile capabilities at the source. This shift would, however, raise the stakes dramatically and could lead to a broader regional escalation involving Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. This would also carry political and humanitarian costs, particularly if Iranian counterstrikes increase civilian air defense system has performed with impressive precision and effectiveness, maintaining the country's security during the initial days of conflict. However, the sustainability of this defence is now in question. US President Donald Trump has given a two-week deadline for making a decision whether to enter conflict. With missile interceptor supplies dwindling and resupply timelines uncertain, Israel faces a narrowing window in which to recalibrate its the war continues at its current pace, Israel will soon be forced to decide between escalating offensively to reduce the missile threat or adjusting its defense doctrine to prioritize critical assets. Either choice will pose significant risks. Israel, a country renowned for its military innovation, may now face its most severe test -- not in defeating its enemies outright, but in sustaining its defence long enough to shape the endgame.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
First day of summer 2025 kicks off with the summer solstice, bringing heat and sunshine ahead
Summer is finally here officially! After weeks of rainy weather, New Yorkers can expect sunny skies and rising temperatures. Prepare for sunshine, heat, and everything summer has to offer. Summer officially kicks off with the summer solstice on Friday, signalling the astronomical start of the season in the Northern Hemisphere. It's the longest day of the year, which means brighter, hotter days ahead. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo When is the first day of summer 2025? The summer solstice occurs on Friday, June 20, 2025, officially beginning astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, June 20 marks the first day of summer in 2025. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Friday, June 20, 2025, is the longest day of the year. What is summer solstice? The summer solstice is on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 PM EDT. The solstice signifies the official commencement of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, happening when Earth reaches the position in its orbit where the North Pole is maximally tilted toward the Sun, leading to the longest day and shortest night of the year, as per the Almanac. Live Events ALSO READ: Iran news: Israel faces massive air defense crunch as Arrow interceptors run low and US stockpiles dwindle During the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year. This leads to the Northern Hemisphere seeing the greatest duration of sunlight hours. What weather should we expect after June 20? Following the summer solstice on June 20, temperatures are anticipated to ascend into the 90s across the state, as per National Weather Service predictions. As Temperatures in New York are expected to rise, daylight will also last more than 15 hours in many cities. Does the same day always mark the solstice? TIL Creatives First day of summer 2025 brings heat, sunshine, and the year's longest day The June solstice is determined by the Sun's arrival at its northernmost point from the celestial equator, not by a particular time or date on the calendar. As a result, it is not always the same day that the solstice falls. At the moment, it alternates between June 20 and June 22. How long will the sun stay out in New York? On June 20, some New York cities, including Watertown, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, Binghamton, White Plains, and New York City, will get to experience 15 hours and 32 minutes of sunshine. Use the sunrise and sunset calculator in the Almanac to determine how much sunlight you'll receive on the longest day of the year. FAQs When does summer officially start in 2025? Astronomical summer begins on June 20, 2025, at 10:42 p.m. EDT, which coincides with the summer solstice. Which New York City receives the most daylight on June 20? Watertown tops the list, with 15 hours and 32 minutes of daylight during the solstice.
