Latest news with #IranianForces
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Beware of old video claiming to show 2025 Iranian strikes on Israel
Claim: A video authentically showed Iranian missiles striking Israel around June 18, 2025. Rating: Around June 18, 2025, a video (archived) circulated widely online claiming to show Iranian missiles striking Israel. The clip circulated after days of attacks by both Iran and Israel after Israel struck the Iranian capital of Tehran on June 13. The video showed several missile strikes lighting up the night sky around the person recording the scene. Users on Instagram and YouTube (archived) claimed the footage showed strikes on Israel's capital Tel Aviv. The footage also circulated on X (archived). However, while the video was authentic and did likely show strikes in Israel, it originally (archived) circulated (archived) around Oct. 1, 2024, amid reports of strikes on the Israel Defense Force's Nevatim Air Base. Since then, the same clip also circulated (archived) falsely claiming to show Indian forces striking Pakistan in May 2025. Given the original Oct. 1, 2024, circulation date, it was clear the footage showed neither Iranian strikes on Tel Aviv in June 2025 nor Indian strikes on Pakistan in May 2025. Rather, the footage was miscaptioned. Around Oct. 1, 2024, as the video first circulated, Israeli officials (archived) and international media widely reported a barrage of Iranian strikes hitting targets, including Nevatim Air Base. One video, which showed a similar sequence of strikes, also featured an air alarm in Nevatim, according to a geolocation (archived) by Bellingcat and NPR journalists. At the time, Israeli officials said no aircraft were damaged in the strikes, and that Israel's air bases (archived, time code 3:10) remained operational. Brumfiel, Geoff. "How Iran's Missile Strike on Israel Appears to Have Hit Some Targets." NPR, 2 Oct. 2024. NPR, "Institute for the Study of War." Institute for the Study of War, Accessed 18 June 2025. "Iran Launches More than 180 Ballistic Missiles at Israel." BBC News, 1 Oct. 2024, New York Post. "Iran Launches Ballistic Missile Attack on Israel." YouTube, 1 Oct. 2024, Shahzad, Asif, et al. "Pakistan Vows Retaliation after Indian Strike over Tourist Deaths." Reuters, 7 May 2025. זיתון, יואב and AP. "המתקפה האיראנית: תמונות הלוויין חושפות את הנזק בבסיס נבטים." Ynet, 3 Oct. 2024.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israeli nuclear sites to face ‘crushing blows' – Iranian source to RT
Iran intends to continue its military response against Israel and could target its nuclear infrastructure, a senior Iranian security official has told RT. In an exclusive statement to the head of RT's Tehran bureau, the official, who chose to remain anonymous, said that Iranian armed forces will maintain missile and drone operations throughout the day, specifically targeting 'the occupied territories and Israeli garrisons.' The official said Iran's response follows 'the Quranic advice on retaliation,' and warned that Iranian forces would respond 'to any extent and wherever the regime attacks Iranian soil.' He noted, however, that based on 'Iran's moral principles,' there would be no attacks on hospitals. 'The Zionist regime's claim that Iran attacked one of the hospitals in the occupied territories is completely false,' the official stressed, referring to reports of the Soroka hospital being struck in the city of Be'er Sheva in southern Israel. He also stated that Tehran's response will be escalated in light of the Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. 'Since the [Israeli] regime has attacked our nuclear facilities, our armed forces will subject their nuclear facilities to crushing blows,' the official said. Since launching its assault last week, Israel has hit several Iranian nuclear facilities, including sites in Natanz, Isfahan, Fordow and near Tehran. Between nine and 14 nuclear researchers have been reported killed in the attacks. Without naming the US directly, the Iranian official also warned that 'if another country directly enters into war with us, it will provide much more accessible targets for the Iranian armed forces to destroy.' US President Donald Trump has hailed Israel's attacks on Iran as 'excellent' and has urged Tehran to surrender unconditionally. He has also warned that the US could become directly involved in the conflict if any American targets are hit by Iran. Last Friday, Israeli forces began carrying out strikes on Iran, claiming Tehran is nearing the completion of a nuclear bomb. Iran dismissed the accusations and retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes on the Jewish state. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has since also refuted Israel's claims, stating that the watchdog has found no evidence that Iran has been making a 'systematic effort' to produce a nuclear weapon.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Khamenei, Netanyahu and Trump's Keys
It's no simple feat to make Tehran live at the mercy of Israeli fighter jets and for the Israeli army to declare that the skies leading to the Iranian capital are open to its aircraft. It's no simple feat to make Tel Aviv come under a barrage of Israeli missiles and for its people to come out of the shelters and observe the destruction around them. The Israeli defense minister declared that Tehran 'will burn' if it continued to target civilians, meanwhile the Iranians watched as their facilities went up in flames and were turned to rubble. We aren't just being confronted by two countries with no shared borders trading strikes. We are facing a cross-border seismic shift. Following the deadly blows the Israeli army dealt in recent months in Gaza and Lebanon, the Israelis were deluded into believing that they were living in a fortified fortress. They awoke to the reality that the fortress was actually weak despite possessing an extraordinary arsenal. They realized that the walls of the fortress are riddled with holes and that the Iranian missiles can infiltrate them. After decades of expanding in the region, the Iranians believed that they were living in a fortified fortress and that the wars in the region were always going to be waged in other people's countries. They believed that the previous blows between Iran and Israel were nothing more than an exchange of messages. The Iranians awoke to the reality that their fortress is weak, with holes so large they allowed Israel to control their skies and the Mossad to infiltrate their land and homes. The massacre of generals and nuclear scientists revealed that Israel's breach of Tehran was much deeper than its breach of Beirut. The most difficult battle is that of the image; when the government appears lost or confused and the army appears incapable or in disarray. People grow more fearful when their faith in their guards becomes shaken. On October 7, 2023, the Israelis were crippled by fear and the world was struck with awe. For several hours, the Israeli government seemed absent or paralyzed and the army unable to protect the fortress. On June 13, 2025, Iran appeared to be in a similar position. It wasn't easy on October 7, 2023, to inform Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Yehya al-Sinwar's attack. On June 13, it wasn't easy at all to inform the Iranian supreme leader about what had happened to the military commanders and nuclear scientists. It wasn't easy for Netanyahu to watch the funerals caused by the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation and for Ali Khamenei to watch the funerals of the generals and scientists, and the killing of figures he had decorated with medals in recognition of their loyalty and roles. The Israeli attack on Iran launched a mutually destructive operation. The two countries and the region entered what appeared to be a tunnel where Iran doesn't have the ability to stop the Israeli raids and Israel cannot stop the barrage of Iranian rockets. Escalating the fight will impact regional security and energy prices and bring about images the people have never seen before despite the horrors they have witnessed over the years. This truly is the mother of all battles in the region. It is more dangerous than all the wars the Middle East has seen in half a century given the arsenals involved and the expected repercussions. Was Iran wrong in failing to recognize what it meant for Donald Trump to return to the White House? Was it wrong to ignore his 60-day deadline and the severe consequences of failing to make a deal? Should it have sensed the danger when Iranian advisors fled Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa sat down in the presidential palace and Hassan Nasrallah was taken out of the equation? Was it wrong when it failed to assure the International Atomic Energy Agency? Did it underestimate the dangerousness of a dangerous player and gambler called Benjamin Netanyahu and the growing hostility of Israel's military and security institutions in wake of the Al-Aqsa Flood? It will be difficult for the world to live for a long time at the beat of the destructive blows between Israel and Iran. It won't be long before it urges Netanyahu and the supreme leader to consider their options. Iran doesn't have that many. Expanding the conflict by attacking American bases will only deepen its crisis and so will the closure of the Hormuz Strait. The only solution lies in returning to Trump's table, perhaps with Russian and Chinese help. Trump's table means abandoning the nuclear dream and opening the door to Iran normalizing ties with the US, the West and the world. This means changing Iran without changing its regime. The situation in the Middle East is worrisome and scary. Israeli fighter jets violate regional countries to pounce on targets in Iran. The Iranian rockets and drones violate the skies of regional countries to attack targets in Israel. The fight between Israel and Iran has taken the spotlight from the horrors in Gaza and crises elsewhere. The Middle East needs to get out of the tunnels of death, destruction and injustice. It needs countries to respect the borders and sovereignty of others and to recognize people's rights. It needs Israel to adopt a different policy and for Iran to seek different options. It needs to know the borders of a country called Israel and the limits of Iran's role in the region. Netanyahu does not have the green light to wage a long open war. It is difficult to believe that Iran is capable of waging a long fight that would shake the foundations of its image and economy and expose the fragility of its regime. A crushing victory will be difficult to achieve. The fight is costly, and Trump is looking at his watch. He seems confident that Israel won't be able to achieve peace without US support and that Iran has no other choice than taking the path laid out by the 'Great Satan.' Trump holds the keys. He alone can sway the battle in Israel's favor. He alone can summon Netanyahu to the negotiating table. He alone can save Iran from Israeli strikes. However, the holder of the keys is not a charity, and Iran will pay a price in negotiations he is sponsoring.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
‘Where Can I Go?' Iranians Weigh Escaping Tehran
As Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian cities, and Iranian forces fired back, Meisam, 41, an Iranian poet and writer, decided it was time to leave Tehran. On Sunday night, he joined the crowds of people fleeing the Iranian capital and headed for his hometown in East Azerbaijan Province. Meisam, who asked to be identified only by his first name because of the sensitivity of the situation, said he drove through areas where smoke from explosions hung in the air. So many people were driving out of Tehran, he said, that even at 2 a.m. he had to wait in a long line at the gas station to fill up his tank. 'Everything's uncertain,' he said. Chaos and fear have gripped Iran in the days since Israel launched its surprise attack on Friday and Iran began launching strikes on Israeli cities in response. Israel's attacks have killed more than 200 people in Iran, according to the country's health ministry, and injured more than 1,400. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed in retaliatory barrages by Iran, with roughly 600 injured. The sense of foreboding escalated on Monday after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order on social media for a large part of northeastern Tehran, saying it planned to target 'military infrastructure' in the area within hours. With internet connectivity disrupted, many people without access to social media may have missed the warning. Gas stations are closing because there is no fuel, those that are open have imposed a limit of 10 liters per car and internet and phone service is severely disrupted, according to six residents of the area. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Khamenei, Netanyahu and Trump's keys
It is no simple feat to make Tehran live at the mercy of Israeli fighter jets and for the Israeli army to declare that the skies leading to the Iranian capital are open to its aircraft. It is also no simple feat to make Tel Aviv come under a barrage of Iranian missiles and for its people to come out of their shelters and observe the destruction around them. The Israeli defense minister declared that Tehran 'will burn' if it continued to target civilians, while the Iranians watched as their facilities went up in flames and were turned to rubble. We are not just being confronted by two countries with no shared borders trading strikes. We are facing a seismic cross-border shift. Following the deadly blows the Israeli army dealt in recent months in Gaza and Lebanon, the Israelis were deluded into believing that they were living in a fortified fortress. They awoke to the reality that the fortress was actually weak, despite possessing an extraordinary arsenal. They realized that the walls of the fortress are riddled with holes and that the Iranian missiles can infiltrate them. After decades of expansion in the region, the Iranians also believed that they were living in a fortified fortress and that the wars in the region were always going to be waged in other people's countries. They believed that the previous blows between Iran and Israel were nothing more than an exchange of messages. The Iranians awoke to the reality that their fortress is weak, with holes so large they allowed Israel to control their skies and Mossad to infiltrate their land and homes. The massacre of generals and nuclear scientists revealed that Israel's breach of Tehran was much deeper than its breach of Beirut. This truly is the mother of all battles in the region. It is more dangerous than all the wars the Middle East has seen in half a century Ghassan Charbel The most difficult battle is that of the image: when the government appears lost or confused and the army appears incapable or in disarray. People grow more fearful when their faith in their guards becomes shaken. On Oct. 7, 2023, the Israelis were crippled by fear and the world was struck with awe. For several hours, the Israeli government seemed absent or paralyzed and the army unable to protect the fortress. On June 13, 2025, Iran appeared to be in a similar position. It was not easy on Oct. 7, 2023, to inform Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Yahya Sinwar's attack. On June 13, 2025, it was not easy at all to inform the Iranian supreme leader about what had happened to the military commanders and nuclear scientists. It was not easy for Netanyahu to watch the funerals caused by the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation or for Ali Khamenei to watch the funerals of the generals and scientists, along with the killing of figures he had decorated with medals in recognition of their loyalty and roles. The Israeli attack on Iran launched a mutually destructive operation. The two countries and the region entered what appears to be a tunnel where Iran does not have the ability to stop the Israeli raids and Israel cannot stop the barrage of Iranian rockets. Escalating the fight will impact regional security and energy prices and bring about images the people have never seen before, despite the horrors they have witnessed over the years. This truly is the mother of all battles in the region. It is more dangerous than all the wars the Middle East has seen in half a century, given the arsenals involved and the expected repercussions. Was Iran wrong in failing to recognize what it meant for Donald Trump to return to the White House? Was it wrong to ignore his 60-day deadline and the severe consequences of failing to make a deal? Should it have sensed the danger when Iranian advisers fled Syria, Ahmad Al-Sharaa sat down in the presidential palace and Hassan Nasrallah was taken out of the equation? Was it wrong when it failed to assure the International Atomic Energy Agency? Did it underestimate the dangerousness of a gambler called Benjamin Netanyahu and the growing hostility of Israel's military and security institutions in the wake of the Al-Aqsa Flood? It will be difficult for the world to live for a long time at the beat of the destructive blows between Israel and Iran. It will not be long before it urges Netanyahu and the supreme leader to consider their options. Iran does not have many. Expanding the conflict by attacking American bases would only deepen its crisis and so would closing the Strait of Hormuz. The only solution lies in returning to Trump's table, perhaps with Russian and Chinese help. Trump's table means abandoning the nuclear dream and opening the door to Iran normalizing ties with the US, the West and the world. This means changing Iran without changing its regime. It will not be long before the world urges Netanyahu and the supreme leader to consider their options. Iran does not have many Ghassan Charbel The situation in the Middle East is worrisome and scary. Israeli fighter jets violate the region's countries to pounce on targets in Iran. The Iranian rockets and drones violate the skies of various countries to attack targets in Israel. The fight between Israel and Iran has taken the spotlight from the horrors in Gaza and crises elsewhere. The Middle East needs to get out of the tunnels of death, destruction and injustice. It needs countries to respect the borders and sovereignty of others and to recognize people's rights. It needs Israel to adopt a different policy and for Iran to seek different options. It needs to know the borders of a country called Israel and the limits of Iran's role in the region. Netanyahu does not have the green light to wage a long, open war. It is difficult to believe that Iran can wage a long fight, one that would shake the foundations of its image and economy and expose the fragility of its regime. A crushing victory will be difficult to achieve. The fight is costly and Trump is looking at his watch. He seems confident that Israel will not be able to achieve peace without US support and that Iran has no other choice than to take the path laid out by the 'Great Satan.' Trump holds the keys. He alone can sway the battle in Israel's favor. He alone can summon Netanyahu to the negotiating table. He alone can save Iran from Israeli strikes. However, the holder of the keys is not a charity and Iran will pay a price in the negotiations he is sponsoring. This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.
