Latest news with #GeneralStaff
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran confirms deaths of top commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians
Shafaq News/ Iranian authorities have confirmed the deaths of several senior military officials, prominent nuclear scientists, and civilians following Israel's airstrikes on Iranian territory under Operation Rising Lion. Among those confirmed killed are Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. Brigadier General Gholam Reza Mehrabi, Head of Intelligence Affairs at the General Staff, and Brigadier General Mehdi Rabani, Chief of Operations, were also killed later. From the scientific community, the fatalities include Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, President of Azad University, Ahmad Reza Zoulfaghari, nuclear engineering professor. Additional nuclear scientists were also killed in the Israeli strikes. They include: Dr. Abdolhamid Minouchehr, head of the Faculty of Nuclear Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University, Dr. Amir Hossein Faghihi, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization and head of the Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Motalibi Zadeh, a researcher affiliated with Iran's nuclear program. Iran has not yet released the full casualty count, but confirmed that civilians, including women and children, were also killed in the strikes, which hit not only military facilities but also residential blocks. The attacks, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a 'historic' and 'strategic shift,' targeted nuclear sites and command centers across Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz. Israel claims the operation was designed to 'eliminate Iran's ability to produce missiles and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Denies Missile Threats, Confirms Airspace Safety Amid Regional Escalation
Kuwait's armed forces and government agencies on Monday reassured the public after social media was flooded with reports of ballistic missiles and alleged military activity in the country's airspace. In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwait Army confirmed that the missiles in question had been flying at 'very high altitudes and outside Kuwaiti airspace,' posing no threat to national territory. 'There is no cause for concern,' the statement read, urging citizens to rely solely on official sources for accurate information. Addressing parallel rumors, the Kuwait National Guard also denied claims that its forces were conducting operations in the skies over the country. The Moral Guidance Directorate clarified that the Guard continues its regular security and defense duties in coordination with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, with no exceptional air missions being carried out. Meanwhile, the Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) reiterated its round-the-clock preparedness to respond to all forms of emergencies, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Brigadier General Mohammad Al Gharib, KFF's Director of Public Relations and Media, emphasized the use of advanced detection technologies, specialized reconnaissance vehicles, and protective suits to safeguard critical areas — including land, sea, and airports. On the same day, Kuwait's Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources convened an emergency meeting with GCC counterparts to address regional food security. Director General Salem AlHai underscored the urgency of regional cooperation, innovation, and knowledge-sharing to ensure sustainable food and water security amid rising global pressures. As regional tensions intensified following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonji, sought to calm concerns. Speaking at a press conference, he assured that Kuwaiti citizens in Iran faced no travel issues and reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to peaceful neighborly relations. Totonji condemned the strikes, attributing responsibility to Israel and, by extension, the United States. He warned that any violation of Iranian sovereignty would be met with a firm response. 'We have always respected the territorial integrity of our neighbors and will continue to strengthen relations in the region,' he said, also highlighting the humanitarian consequences of the recent attacks. At an emergency session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Director-General Rafael Grossi confirmed that there was no radiological impact outside Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. However, he warned of possible internal contamination risks linked to uranium hexafluoride exposure, stressing the importance of transparent technical communication to manage fallout and prevent escalation.
4 days ago
- Politics
14 dead in overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, General Staff says
An overnight Russian strike on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, killed 14 people and wounded another 40 people, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in an update early Tuesday. It was not immediately clear whether others may be trapped beneath the rubble, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor, said in an update on the Telegram messaging app. Emergency personnel were working at several sites, including a residential building in the Solomianskyi district, where "an entire entrance collapsed," Klitschko said.
Libyan Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Iran-Israel tensions rise as Tehran warns of expanded strikes
BY Libyan Express Jun 16, 2025 - 03:32 Colonel Reza Sayyad Colonel Reza Sayyad, spokesperson for the Communications Centre of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, has issued a warning to civilians residing in Israeli-controlled territories, advising them to evacuate immediately. He stated that Iran is preparing a 'broad and decisive response' to recent Israeli military actions, which may target various locations across Israel. According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Colonel Sayyad began his statement with a religious invocation and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching a new offensive. He described the move as a 'strategic miscalculation' that would prompt what he called a 'powerful, deterrent response' from Iran's military. Sayyad claimed that Iranian forces had, over recent nights, successfully targeted several sensitive locations within Israeli territory, including military and intelligence facilities, decision-making centres, and even the residences of senior military officials and scientists. He further asserted that Iran possesses a detailed intelligence database of key sites within Israel and is capable of striking them at any time. In his message, Sayyad advised civilians to avoid remaining in or near areas that could be considered potential targets, warning that even underground shelters may not provide safety. He urged people not to allow themselves to be used as 'human shields', and to take Iranian warnings seriously. He concluded by accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of endangering civilian lives in pursuit of personal and political interests. Sayyad warned that ignoring Iran's message would result in 'significantly more difficult days' for residents of the affected areas. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Days of Palestine
5 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Israel's Civil-Military Nexus: How Israeli Military Shields itself in Civilian Areas
DayofPal– Tensions continue to rise between Iran and Israel following a series of cross-border strikes between, but the attacks raise questions about Israeli military's longstanding practice of using its civilians as human shields. Despite frequent accusations that Palestinian fighters are working from aming civilians, a growing body of evidence reveals that Israel itself has woven its military operations deeply into the urban fabric of its cities. From Tel Aviv to Be'er Sheva, it places command centers, intelligence units, and key defense personnel in or near residential neighborhoods, hospitals, and commercial zones. At the center of this issue stands HaKirya, Israel's central military headquarters located in Tel Aviv. Nestled within the city's bustling core, the base houses the IDF's General Staff and the Ministry of Defense inside the towering 17-story Matcal Tower. Just meters away lie the Azrieli shopping complex, Ichilov Hospital, and the HaShalom train station, all emblematic of Tel Aviv's civilian life. The office of the IDF's chief of staff is situated only 450 meters from hospital wards. This strategic proximity is no coincidence, analysts suggest. Rather, it is a calculated move that integrates military operations into civilian zones, complicating potential enemy targeting and raising concerns under international humanitarian law. Similar configurations exist across Israel. In Ramat Gan, the sprawling Sheba Medical Center lies adjacent to the Tel Hashomer military base. In Haifa, the Israeli navy operates from a base positioned directly behind Rambam Medical Center. Even Israel's secretive nuclear capabilities, widely believed to be housed at Sdot Micha Airbase near Beit Shemesh, are surrounded by rural farming communities, further blending military infrastructure into seemingly innocuous civilian settings. The integration of Israel's military infrastructure into residential areas is not limited to buildings. Many of Israel's top military and political leaders live in civilian neighborhoods. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence is located in Jerusalem's Talbieh neighborhood, while the defense minister resides in Moshav Kfar Ahim. The IDF's chief of staff lives in Hod HaSharon, another civilian area. Critics argue that this deliberate placement reflects a deeper strategy, one that blurs the line between civilian and combatant, not just physically, but ideologically. 'The entire society is mobilized,' said a Middle East security expert who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'Military service is universal, and many civilians are directly involved in supporting or enabling military operations. The result is a society where civilian life and military strategy are tightly interwoven.' This interweaving extends into the occupied West Bank. Settlements, often allegedly viewed as civilian outposts, are strategically placed in volatile areas and frequently host both military and ideological leaders. Rabbis, community heads, and former officers play dual roles, spiritual guide and political actor, shaping narratives that justify expansion and confrontation, while insulating themselves from accountability. Even Israel's most advanced intelligence units are based near dense civilian areas. Glilot Base, home to Unit 8200-the IDF's elite cyber surveillance division, sits just two kilometers from northern Tel Aviv neighborhoods. Palmachim Airbase, a key site for drone operations and missile testing, is only 10–12 kilometers from residential communities in Yavne and Greater Tel Aviv. While Israeli officials have long condemned Hamas and Hezbollah for operating in urban zones, they rarely acknowledge that their own command centers function from cityscapes filled with civilians. Israel's military infrastructure reveals a strategic pattern of embedding critical defense facilities within or near civilian areas. HaKirya, the headquarters of the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, sits at the heart of Tel Aviv, surrounded by malls, hospitals, and major transport hubs. Nearby, Matcal Tower, an intelligence and communications center, rises from the city's dense urban core. Glilot Base, home to the elite cyber surveillance Unit 8200, lies less than two kilometers from residential neighborhoods. Palmachim Airbase, a hub for drone and missile testing, is located just 10 to 12 kilometers from populated zones such as Yavne and Greater Tel Aviv. Even Israel's suspected nuclear storage facility at Sdot Micha Base is surrounded by quiet agricultural villages near Beit Shemesh. This proximity of military targets to civilian areas raises serious concerns about the deliberate intertwining of defense operations with civilian life, potentially placing non-combatants at risk during times of wars. The juxtaposition raises critical legal and ethical questions under the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit using civilian infrastructure to shield military targets. Human rights observers and military analysts alike warn that this civil-military fusion could make Israeli civilians de facto participants in military operations, a dangerous and potentially unlawful strategy that affords to civilians. 'Embedding command and control in civilian areas creates not just tactical complexity, but also legal and moral ambiguity,' said a legal analyst with a Geneva-based NGO. 'It raises real questions about proportionality, distinction, and the protection of non-combatants.' Israel maintains that its military complies with international law, emphasizing its efforts to minimize harm to civilians. Yet that the very architecture of Israel's defense strategy, one that locates bases among schools, hospitals, and homes, undermines those claims. Shortlink for this post:
