Latest news with #IsraeliDefenceForce
West Australian
9 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Israel-Iran war: IDF chief warns Israelis must brace for ‘prolonged campaign' against Iran as strikes continue
Israel's top general has warned citizens to brace 'for a prolonged conflict' as Israel and Iran continue to trade blows over nuclear sites and weapons. Iran fired missiles at central Israel early Saturday morning as the feud entered its ninth day, but the Israeli Defence Force were quick to intercept the attack. One interception sparked a roof fire but the blaze was quickly extinguished. The military says Israeli Air Force shot down more than 15 drones launched from Iran at Israel overnight, with no reports of casualties so far. The IDF has also launched a new wave of missile strikes as part of its mission to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, with fighter jets targeting 'missile storage and launch infrastructure in central Iran'. On Friday afternoon, Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, setting off alarms across the country and sending millions running for bomb shelters. Sites in Haifa and Karmiel where hit in northern Israel and Beersheba was targeted again in southern Israel, already reeling from a major hospital being struck just days earlier. The missiles wounded at least 23 people in Haifa, striking a mosque, and one woman had a heart attack and died in a shelter in Karmiel, The Times of Israel reports. Footage from Beersheba showed Iran likely targeted the city with a cluster bomb, with one of the small munitions hitting Colel Chabad Daycare Center. Two homes were also damaged, but no one was hurt, police and medics said. 'Miraculously, no children or staff were physically harmed, as the strike occurred Friday afternoon outside the center's regular operating time. However, the destruction of classrooms and play areas has deeply impacted dozens of local families who rely on the center for stability, safety and childcare,' a Colel Chabad Daycare Center spokesperson said. The attacks came as Israel's IDF chief warned Israelis to brace for a 'prolonged campaign' to 'eliminate a threat of this magnitude'. In a video statement, Eyal Zamir said Iran had been 'building for years a clear plan to destroy the State of Israel' and that in recent months, 'the plan reached the point of no return, where the capabilities reached operational capability.' 'Had we delayed, there was a risk of losing these conditions and entering the campaign in the future from a position of clear disadvantage,' he said. 'We understood that history would not forgive us if we failed to act now to defend the existence of the Jewish people in the State of Israel.' Zamir added the strikes had already 'eliminated the enemy's senior command, inflicted deep damage to components of the nuclear program, opened an aerial corridor to Tehran and identified and destroyed about half of the missile launchers'. He reassured citizens that alongside offensive operations defence of the home front continued. 'We are preparing for a range of possible developments,' he said. 'We have embarked on the most complex campaign in our history. We launched this campaign in order to eliminate a threat of this magnitude, against such an enemy, which requires readiness for a prolonged campaign,' said Zamir. 'The IDF is prepared for this. With each passing day, our freedom of action is expanding, and the enemy's is shrinking. The campaign is not over. While we have achieved significant results, challenging days still lie ahead, and we must remain alert and united until the mission is complete. 'I am confident that together, we will finish this campaign with Israel's hand on top.'
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Israel warns of ‘prolonged war' as missile strikes continue
Israel's top general has warned citizens to brace 'for a prolonged conflict' as Israel and Iran continue to trade blows over nuclear sites and weapons. Iran fired missiles at central Israel early Saturday morning as the feud entered its ninth day, but the Israeli Defence Force were quick to intercept the attack. One interception sparked a roof fire but the blaze was quickly extinguished. The military says Israeli Air Force shot down more than 15 drones launched from Iran at Israel overnight, with no reports of casualties so far. The IDF has also launched a new wave of missile strikes as part of its mission to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, with fighter jets targeting 'missile storage and launch infrastructure in central Iran'. On Friday afternoon, Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, setting off alarms across the country and sending millions running for bomb shelters. Sites in Haifa and Karmiel where hit in northern Israel and Beersheba was targeted again in southern Israel, already reeling from a major hospital being struck just days earlier. The missiles wounded at least 23 people in Haifa, striking a mosque, and one woman had a heart attack and died in a shelter in Karmiel, The Times of Israel reports. Footage from Beersheba showed Iran likely targeted the city with a cluster bomb, with one of the small munitions hitting Colel Chabad Daycare Center. Two homes were also damaged, but no one was hurt, police and medics said. 'Miraculously, no children or staff were physically harmed, as the strike occurred Friday afternoon outside the center's regular operating time. However, the destruction of classrooms and play areas has deeply impacted dozens of local families who rely on the center for stability, safety and childcare,' a Colel Chabad Daycare Center spokesperson said. The attacks came as Israel's IDF chief warned Israelis to brace for a 'prolonged campaign' to 'eliminate a threat of this magnitude'. In a video statement, Eyal Zamir said Iran had been 'building for years a clear plan to destroy the State of Israel' and that in recent months, 'the plan reached the point of no return, where the capabilities reached operational capability.' 'Had we delayed, there was a risk of losing these conditions and entering the campaign in the future from a position of clear disadvantage,' he said. 'We understood that history would not forgive us if we failed to act now to defend the existence of the Jewish people in the State of Israel.' Zamir added the strikes had already 'eliminated the enemy's senior command, inflicted deep damage to components of the nuclear program, opened an aerial corridor to Tehran and identified and destroyed about half of the missile launchers'. He reassured citizens that alongside offensive operations defence of the home front continued. 'We are preparing for a range of possible developments,' he said. 'We have embarked on the most complex campaign in our history. We launched this campaign in order to eliminate a threat of this magnitude, against such an enemy, which requires readiness for a prolonged campaign,' said Zamir. 'The IDF is prepared for this. With each passing day, our freedom of action is expanding, and the enemy's is shrinking. The campaign is not over. While we have achieved significant results, challenging days still lie ahead, and we must remain alert and united until the mission is complete. 'I am confident that together, we will finish this campaign with Israel's hand on top.'
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Israel-Iran war: IDF strikes at least 20 military sites using fighter jets as conflict intensifies
The Israeli Defence Force has confirmed it struck more than 20 military targets in the heart of Iran using 60 fighter jets, as the growing conflict in the region enters its seventh day. In a post on X, the IDF said it hit key nuclear and missile sites across Tehran, including uranium enrichment and centrifuge sites, plus missile and air defence production facilities. The IDF also confirmed it targeted research and development sites for Iran's nuclear weapons project. 'These sites fuel Iran's weapons program and attacks on Israeli civilians,' the IDF wrote. 'The IDF will continue targeting threats to defend Israeli civilians.' In a separate statement, the IDF asserted that the sites struck were 'designated to allow the Iranian regime to expand the scale and pace of its uranium enrichment purpose of developing nuclear weapons.' According to the IDF, the strikes specifically targeted 'factories producing raw materials and components for missile assembly, as well as sites for the production of Iran's air defense systems'. The latest wave of attacks follows reports that Iran has downed its first Israeli aircraft since the conflict began, confirming the destruction of a Hermes 900 long-endurance tactical UAV over Isfahan Province earlier this week. Video released by Iranian state media appears to corroborate the claim, showing debris consistent with the unique structure and markings of the Israeli-manufactured drone. More to come...
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Why are Iranian missiles hitting Israel? What to know about Iron Dome and other defence systems
Article content Defence systems known as David's Sling and The Arrow are also both helping Israel to intercept and destroy long-range missiles fired from Iran. But even Israel's vaunted missile defence system can't stop everything. The Iranian missile attacks began June 13 after Israel launched what it called a pre-emptive strike to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Operation Rising Lion targeted Iranian nuclear sites and military installations, killing hundreds, including several of the country's top military leaders. 'Iran retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions flared in the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below,' the Associated Press reported Saturday. The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that the Israeli Defence Force 'provided its first statistics of the war on its shoot down success against Iran's ballistic missiles, setting it at 80-90 per cent, with only about 5-10 per cent of ballistic missiles hitting actual residential areas.'
National Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Why are Iranian missiles hitting Israel? What to know about Iron Dome and other defence systems
It's not just the so-called Iron Dome that's protecting Israel from hundreds of Iranian missiles. Article content The term Iron Dome has become 'a stand-in for Israeli missile defence more broadly; so, it's kind of like how we use Kleenex to describe every type of facial tissue,' said Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow in the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Article content Article content Article content Defence systems known as David's Sling and The Arrow are also both helping Israel to intercept and destroy long-range missiles fired from Iran. But even Israel's vaunted missile defence system can't stop everything. Article content Article content The Iranian missile attacks began June 13 after Israel launched what it called a pre-emptive strike to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Operation Rising Lion targeted Iranian nuclear sites and military installations, killing hundreds, including several of the country's top military leaders. Article content 'Iran retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions flared in the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below,' the Associated Press reported Saturday. Article content The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that the Israeli Defence Force 'provided its first statistics of the war on its shoot down success against Iran's ballistic missiles, setting it at 80-90 per cent, with only about 5-10 per cent of ballistic missiles hitting actual residential areas.' Article content Article content Per the Post, 'eight more Israeli civilians were killed in Iran's Sunday-Monday middle-of-the-night attacks, bringing the total number of deaths to 24, with one more missing person expected to be declared dead in the coming hours.' Article content Article content Here's what we know about Israel's missile defence systems, including how they work and why some missiles are still getting through. Article content Israel fields three tiers of missile defence systems, Rumbaugh said. 'At the lowest tier is Iron Dome, which has gotten more popularity just because it gets used a lot more often against rocket and maybe lower-tier cruise missile attacks. Every time that Hamas shoots rockets at Israel, that's where Iron Dome comes in.'
