Latest news with #IsraelDefenseForces
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Israel-Iran war escalates; Iran's cluster bombs bring war to civilians
As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its eighth day, tensions have reached a new high. Both countries unleashed waves of missile and drone attacks on Friday, marking the most intense exchange yet. Israel targeted key Iranian nuclear infrastructure, prompting a sharp retaliation from Tehran. In a major escalation, Iran fired missiles armed with cluster munitions — the first confirmed use of such weapons in the ongoing confrontation. One of these strikes hit an Israeli hospital, injuring dozens. Following the hospital attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran's leadership would pay a 'full price'. He stated that Israel is 'ahead of schedule' in its military campaign, having already surpassed initial expectations. 'We are moving faster than planned. Our goal is clear: to neutralise Iran's nuclear capabilities before it is too late,' Netanyahu said. Israel strikes deep into Iran The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued their focused strikes on Iranian military and nuclear assets, including infrastructure linked to Tehran's nuclear program. Notably, Israel claims it has the capability to target all of Iran's nuclear facilities — even the heavily fortified Fordow site, built deep within the mountains. While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israeli officials maintain it is a direct threat to regional stability. IAEA confirms strikes on multiple nuclear sites The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is closely tracking the fallout from Israeli airstrikes launched under ' Operation Rising Lion ' beginning June 13. Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed damage at nuclear facilities in Natanz, Esfahan, Arak, Tehran, and Khondab. At Natanz, above-ground parts of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant were destroyed, along with electrical systems critical to underground operations. 'It was limited to this facility. There was no radiological impact externally,' Grossi said. However, contamination inside the facility was confirmed. Esfahan's site suffered hits to a uranium conversion plant and a reactor fuel manufacturing plant. The Tehran Research Center and TESA Karaj, both involved in centrifuge production, were also struck. At Khondab, a heavy water reactor under construction was damaged, though it held no nuclear material. Grossi warned that the volume and dispersion of nuclear material across Iran leaves 'potential for a radiological accident' very real. He added, 'Military escalation threatens lives, increases the chance of a radiological release… and delays indispensable work towards a diplomatic solution.' Despite a reduced IAEA presence due to security concerns, Grossi said inspections would resume once safe, and reaffirmed the agency's readiness to send nuclear safety teams. 'Amid these challenging and complex circumstances, it is crucial that the IAEA receives timely and regular technical information,' he said. Tehran responds with cluster munitions Iran responds with force, launching a barrage of drones and missiles at Israeli targets. The Israeli military confirmed that one of the missiles carried cluster munitions — marking the first documented use of such internationally controversial weapons in this conflict. One of the most severe attacks hit a medical building in southern Israel, wounding 71 people. Most victims suffered minor injuries or panic-induced trauma while seeking shelter. The Israeli Health Ministry confirmed the toll, stating that emergency services remain on high alert. Washington watches closely As the crisis unfolds, the White House signalled growing concern. In a briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump would decide 'within the next two weeks' whether to extend military backing to Israel. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Leavitt quoted Trump as saying. In a striking revelation, US intelligence now believes that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in 'a couple of weeks' if given the green light by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Behind closed doors, diplomatic conversations are underway. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly held multiple phone calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to sources familiar with the matter. Shake-up in Iran's military leadership Adding to the volatility, Iran has named Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the new head of intelligence at the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The appointment comes after Israeli airstrikes killed his predecessor, Mohammed Kazemi, and two other senior officers — Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri — last Sunday. The change in leadership signals a potential hardening of Iran's military posture, as tensions rise. US moves assets from Qatar base Meanwhile, nearly 40 US military aircraft have vanished from the tarmac of a major American airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks. Military analysts suggest this could be a preemptive measure to shield US assets from potential Iranian retaliation, especially if the US becomes more directly involved in the conflict.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Trump weighs joining Israel-Iran war as nuclear talks hang in the balance
As Donald Trump delays decision on joining Israel's war, US officials prepare for a possible strike on Iran's fortified nuclear sites, including the mountain-buried Fordow enrichment facility New Delhi President Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether the United States will join Israel's military campaign against Iran, as rising tensions between the two nations threaten to ignite a broader regional conflict with global consequences. In a statement delivered by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Thursday, Trump said the possibility of renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran would weigh heavily on his decision. 'There's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future. I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' the statement said. US officials prepare for possible action in Iran The announcement followed days of speculation over Washington's potential involvement in ' Operation Rising Lion ', Israel's ongoing air campaign targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and missile systems. While Trump had previously struck a more aggressive tone, including calling on Tehran residents to evacuate, his latest comments suggested a possible turn towards diplomacy. Israeli strikes continue, target nuclear assets Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continued overnight. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had hit dozens of targets in Tehran, including missile production centres, command hubs and the heavy water reactor at Arak. The Arak facility, long a source of international concern, could theoretically produce plutonium, providing a second route to nuclear weapons capability beyond enriched uranium. Iranian state television reported no radiation risk from the Arak strike, saying the site had been evacuated. The IDF said the objective was to ensure the reactor could not be restored for weapons development. Iran had agreed to redesign the reactor under the 2015 nuclear deal, but that work stalled after Trump withdrew the US from the accord in 2018. ⭕This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear bomb. It has now been neutralized. Here is a closer look at the reactor itself: — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2025 Netanyahu says regime change is not the goal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking during a visit to Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, damaged in a missile strike on Thursday, said Israel's objective was to dismantle Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. 'We may create the conditions to help change the government, but our goal is not regime change—it's removing the threat,' he told Kan television. When asked whether Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was a target, he replied, 'No one is immune'. Defence Minister Israel Katz took a more explicit line, calling Khamenei the 'modern Hitler' and saying his removal was 'absolutely necessary' to ensure regional stability. הדיקטטור חמינאי הוא היטלר המודרני שחרט על דגלו את השמדת מדינת ישראל ומשעבד את כל המשאבים של המדינה שלו לקידום המטרה הנוראית הזאת. הוא לא יכול להמשיך ולהתקיים. — ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 19, 2025 The conflict has so far claimed at least 657 lives in Iran, including 263 civilians, and injured more than 2,000, according to a US-based Iranian human rights group. Israel has reported 24 deaths and hundreds wounded in Iran's retaliation, which has involved more than 450 missiles and 1,000 drones. Diplomatic window still open As tensions escalate, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate have gained urgency. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is due to meet his British, French, German and EU counterparts in Geneva on Friday. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, after holding talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, said there was now a 'window' to reach a diplomatic solution. Khamenei on Wednesday ruled out surrender and warned that US military intervention would have 'irreparable consequences'. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused Trump of using military threats to extract concessions at the negotiating table.
NDTV
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Satellite Images Show Massive Damage To Iran's Arak Nuclear Facility
New Delhi: Satellite pictures from Maxar Technologies, dated June 19, confirm that Israel's recent airstrike caused substantial structural damage to Iran's heavy water reactor facility at Arak, also known as Khondab, roughly 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran. The high-resolution images reveal the collapse of the upper section of the reactor dome alongside visible destruction to adjacent infrastructure, including distillation towers. While Iranian authorities acknowledged that "projectiles" had struck the compound, they did not initially disclose the extent of the destruction. The satellite images provide the most detailed visual confirmation of the Israeli strike's impact. Facility Designed For Plutonium Production Though not operational at the time of the strike, the Arak facility has remained under close observation by nuclear experts due to its technical capacity to produce plutonium, a material that, like highly enriched uranium, can be used to construct a nuclear weapon. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Arak was originally conceived in the 1990s following Iran's decision to pursue a nuclear capability in response to the 1980-88 war with Iraq. Unable to procure a heavy water reactor from international sources, Tehran opted to develop its own. According to the Associated Press, heavy water reactors differ from light water reactors in that they use deuterium oxide (heavy water) as a neutron moderator, enabling the use of natural uranium and the production of plutonium as a byproduct. The Israeli Strikes Over the past week, Israel has acknowledged strikes on Natanz, Isfahan, Karaj, and Tehran, describing the campaign as a preemptive measure to degrade Iran's nuclear capabilities and prevent any progress toward weaponisation. Video footage released by the Israel Defense Forces shows precision-guided munitions hitting the reactor dome, followed by a plume of fire and debris. The footage, though brief, was consistent with Maxar's satellite imagery showing the collapse of the reactor dome's crown structure. In a statement, Israeli officials said the attack was "intended to target the plutonium-producing component of the Khondab reactor in order to prevent its restoration and eventual use for military nuclear development." The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, has confirmed that there was no radiological release from the Arak facility, noting that the reactor was not yet loaded with fuel and had never entered operational status. Nevertheless, the agency expressed "serious concern" over the precedent of military attacks on nuclear installations. Arak's Role In 2015 Nuclear Deal The Arak reactor was a contentious point during the negotiations of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. As part of that agreement, Iran pledged to redesign the reactor to significantly reduce its plutonium output and render part of the core inoperable by pouring concrete into it. Yet, following the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 under US President Donald Trump, progress on the redesign halted. In 2019, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation at the time, revealed on Iranian state television that duplicate parts had been secretly procured to allow for the potential reassembly of the disabled components. Inspectors from the IAEA have repeatedly said since then that due to limitations imposed by Iranian authorities, the agency lost "continuity of knowledge" regarding both the reactor's configuration and heavy water stockpiles.
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran's Arak Nuclear Site Suffered Massive Damage After Israeli Strikes, Satellite Images Show
Last Updated: Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium. Satellite images confirmed that Israel's recent airstrikes had caused significant damage to Iran's heavy water reactor facility at Arak, also known as Khondab, roughly 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran, amid an escalating conflict between the two arch-foes. The Israeli military said it targeted the Arak heavy water reactor's core seal to stop it being used for 'nuclear weapons development". The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the reactor was hit and that it contained no nuclear material. The satellite images by Maxar Technologies provided the most detailed visual confirmation of the level of damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the Arak facility, which reportedly has the capacity to produce plutonium, a key element in building a nuclear weapon. A large hole was visible in the reactor building, along with destroyed distillation towers belonging to the adjacent heavy water production plant, BBC reported quoting experts. ⭕This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear has now been neutralized. Here is a closer look at the reactor itself: — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2025 Iran decided to build the heavy water plant after the devastating war with Iraq in the 1980s. Heavy water is water in which hydrogen is replaced by deuterium and is used as a coolant for heavy water reactors. However, Iran agreed under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to redesign the facility to alleviate proliferation concerns. That included pouring concrete into part of it, though the overall work was never completed. The Arak reactor became a point of contention after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. Ali Akbar Salehi, a high-ranking nuclear official in Iran, claimed on Iranian state television in 2019 that Tehran bought extra parts to replace the portion of the reactor into which officials poured concrete. ⭕This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear has now been neutralized. Here is a closer look at the reactor itself: — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2025 Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium. 'The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development," it said. The Israeli military also struck a 'nuclear weapons development site" at the Natanz nuclear site, which is the main plant producing enriched uranium. Israel says its main goal was to stop Iran for producing a nuclear weapon. (with agency inputs) First Published: June 20, 2025, 12:06 IST
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
What Is A Cluster Bomb? Weapon Behind Iran's June 19 Missile Strike On Israel
A missile fired by Iran towards Israel on June 19 has raised concerns about cluster bombs, a weapon known for causing serious harm to civilians. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that at least one of the projectiles launched as part of the barrage contained a cluster bomb warhead, marking the first reported use of such munitions in the ongoing conflict. What is a cluster bomb? A cluster bomb is a weapon designed to release smaller bombs or 'submunitions' over a wide area. Instead of detonating in a single explosion, the bomb opens mid-air — often at high altitude — scattering multiple smaller explosives across a broad target zone. In Iran's June 19 attack, the Israeli military reported the missile's warhead detonated at around seven kilometres above ground, releasing approximately 20 submunitions across an eight-kilometre radius in central Israel. These munitions are not guided or self-propelled. They just fall to the ground and are intended to explode on impact. Why are cluster bombs controversial? The controversy lies in their indiscriminate nature and their tendency to leave behind unexploded ordnance. Because many of these munitions fail to explode upon landing, they can remain active, posing a grave danger to civilians who unknowingly come near or in contact with them. 'They are egregious weapons with their wide-area destruction, especially if used in a civilian populated area and could add to the unexploded ordnance left over from conflicts,' said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. What damage did the June 19 attack cause One of the submunitions from the Iranian missile struck a home in the central Israeli town of Azor, causing material damage, The Times Of Israel reported. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli Home Front Command later issued a public safety advisory through X (formerly Twitter), warning residents to be alert. It said, 'This morning we experienced a missile strike capable of dispersing small munitions over a relatively wide area. It is possible that some of the munitions will remain on the ground and not explode. Do not touch any fallen objects or suspicious objects. Immediately call 100.' הבוקר חווינו פגיעה של טיל בעל יכולת פיזור של חימושים קטנים המתפזרים בשטח רחב יחסית. יתכן שחלק מהחימושים יישארו על הקרקע ולא יתפוצצו. לא נוגעים בנפלים או בחפץ חשוד, מיד מתקשרים 100. — פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) June 19, 2025 How cluster bombs differ from traditional missiles While a standard ballistic missile detonates in one concentrated blast, cluster munitions are designed to spread destruction across a wider area. A senior Israeli military official told The Times of Israel that although each individual munition is less powerful, such a missile poses a threat to a much wider area than Iran's other ballistic missile warheads. This makes them dangerous in populated zones, where the smaller munitions may hit civilians, homes, or infrastructure. Are cluster bombs banned? The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty, bans the use, stockpiling, transfer and production of cluster bombs. A total of 111 countries and 12 other entities have signed on. But key military powers, including Iran, Israel and the US, have refused to join the treaty. In 2023, following debate, the US supplied cluster munitions to Ukraine to aid in its defence against Russian forces. Kyiv alleges that Russia has also used cluster munitions in the ongoing war. Like Iran and Israel, both the US and Russia have declined to sign the treaty.
