Latest news with #IsraeliDefenseForces
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump repeats ‘maximum' 2 weeks for US to decide whether to join Israel against Iran
US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his two-week timeline for deciding whether America would join Israel 's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it the 'maximum' window for action in an apparent bid to pressure Tehran to negotiate. Advertisement Asked by a reporter whether the US could launch a strike before the two-week deadline, Trump on Friday replied: 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.' The American leader also on Friday declined Iran 's call for him to urge Israel to stop its air strikes, saying, 'It is very hard to make that request right now.' Israel on Friday launched fresh strikes against dozens of targets in Iran, including missile production facilities. 'If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do that than if somebody is losing,' Trump said, referring to Israel's battlefield advantage. Advertisement 'But we're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens,' he added. 'We'll see what happens.'
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump reiterates ‘maximum' 2 weeks for US to decide whether to join Israel against Iran
US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his two-week timeline for deciding whether America would join Israel 's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it the 'maximum' window for action in an apparent bid to pressure Tehran to negotiate. Advertisement Asked by a reporter whether the US could launch a strike before the two-week deadline, Trump on Friday replied: 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.' The American leader also on Friday declined Iran 's call for him to urge Israel to stop its air strikes, saying, 'It is very hard to make that request right now.' Israel on Friday launched fresh strikes against dozens of targets in Iran, including missile production facilities. 'If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do that than if somebody is losing,' Trump said, referring to Israel's battlefield advantage. Advertisement 'But we're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens,' he added. 'We'll see what happens.'
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump reiterates ‘maximum' two weeks for US to decide whether to join Israel against Iran
US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his two-week timeline for deciding whether America would join Israel 's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it the 'maximum' window for action in an apparent bid to pressure Tehran to negotiate. Asked by a reporter whether the US could launch a strike before the two-week deadline, Trump on Friday replied: 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.' The American leader also on Friday declined Iran 's call for him to urge Israel to stop its air strikes, saying, 'It is very hard to make that request right now.' Israel on Friday launched fresh strikes against dozens of targets in Iran, including missile production facilities. 'If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do that than if somebody is losing,' Trump said, referring to Israel's battlefield advantage. 'But we're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens,' he added. 'We'll see what happens.'
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran's Missile Arsenal: What It Has Used and What It Could Deploy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran launched a significant missile barrage on major cities across Israel on Friday. Nationwide alerts have been issued, with residents urged to seek shelter immediately, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. "At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat," the IDF added. The missile attacks come amid an escalating war that began last week after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Since then, Tehran has fired over 400 missiles into Israel, marking one of the largest missile campaigns in recent regional history. This raises urgent questions about how many missiles Iran has left and what lies ahead in the conflict. Newsweek has reached out to the foreign of Iran and Israel for comment. Why It Matters Missiles are central to Iran's strategy against Israel, shaping the conflict's scale and duration. Tracking how many missiles Iran has launched—and how many remain—offers critical insight into the war's future intensity and the effectiveness of missile defenses. While Iran's missile threat deters wider regional escalation, the size and condition of its missile reserves remain unclear, leaving uncertainty about Tehran's ability to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, increased U.S. military support for Israel and warnings of possible intervention raise the stakes, complicating Iran's missile strategy and broader regional stability. A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with... A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with Iraq, known as the "Holy Defense Week", in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran on September 26, 2024. MoreWhat To Know Since the start of the Israel conflict, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities and military sites. These include older models like the Ghadr and Emad, as well as the Kheibar Shekan, a medium-range, solid-fuel missile with improved maneuverability. Crucially, Tehran has also used the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, which travels at speeds up to Mach 15, making interception extremely difficult. Advanced Missiles While Iran has launched many missile types, some advanced systems remain largely unused in the current conflict. These include the Khorramshahr, a liquid-fueled missile capable of striking up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) with a payload around 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Earlier, Iranian media outlets linked to the country's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) did share a video showing the launch of a Khorramshahr but footage that is now circulating widely online is from a test in 2023, and there do not appear to be explicit claims from Iran about its use. Iran's MOD unveils Khoramshahr-4 missile Specs: - liquid-fuel propellant - Range: 2000Km - Warhead: 1500Kg This is a strong message to enemies, not to resort into any folly & to the allies that Iran is ready to aid them maintain peace in the region. — 𝐄𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐝 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@Safarnejad_IR) May 25, 2023 Missile Stockpile Before the conflict, multiple intelligence assessments—including those cited by experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)—estimated Iran's operational ballistic missile stockpile at around 2,000 missiles. However, no official or recent public figure confirms the exact number. Considering the volume of missiles launched and intercepted, some estimates suggest Tehran may now have fewer than 1,000 missiles left in its arsenal. This figure remains unverified and uncertain, especially as Iran reportedly relocates launchers and conceals stockpiles to maintain its operational capabilities. Israeli Response Israel's multi-layered defense system—including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3 interceptors—has stopped many incoming missiles. Still, some have breached defenses, striking urban areas, military bases, and key infrastructure, showing the limits of even advanced systems. Offensively, Israel has launched over 250 airstrikes and dropped more than 330 precision-guided bombs on Iranian targets. These strikes have mainly targeted missile production sites, storage depots, and launchers, but have also hit civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, according to local media. While Israel says the attacks aim to degrade Tehran's strike capacity, collateral damage on both sides has raised concern among international observers. A member of the Israeli security forces walks past a damaged building a day after of an Iranian missile strike in Ramat Gan, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025. A member of the Israeli security forces walks past a damaged building a day after of an Iranian missile strike in Ramat Gan, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025. Leo Correa/AP Photo What Happens Next As missile exchanges escalate, both Iran and Israel appear committed to continued strikes. The U.S. has urged restraint while increasing surveillance and regional deployments. International governments are calling for de-escalation amid rising civilian casualties, but so far, diplomatic efforts have failed to slow the pace of the conflict.
France 24
11 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Drone factories, camouflaged trucks: Iran releases images of Israel's covert operation
The Israeli drones successfully neutralised several of the Islamic Republic's anti-air defences deep inside its territory. What is particularly surprising is that some of these drones were manufactured in covert production facilities deep within Iran. Iranian state TV has broadcast images showing camouflaged lorries and vans that were used to transport the drones, as well as images of the makeshift FPV factories. The Israeli attack on Iran began on June 13. Its first targets were commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, nuclear scientists, and military and nuclear facilities. According to Israeli information, 16 IRGC commanders and 14 nuclear scientists were eliminated by the Israeli army in the first round of attacks on Iran. Eyewitnesses report that from the very first moments, small drones and FPVs were seen or heard in the skies of several Iranian cities, particularly Tehran. Videos released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) show these small drones attacking Iran's missile systems. Additional footage reveals the drones being launched from inside Iran, demonstrating their use against targets within the country. In response to the widespread use of this tactic by infiltrated Israeli agents on the ground in Iran, the Iranian regime's security forces on June 14 were compelled to publicly urge the people of Iran to stay vigilant and report any suspicious lorries, vans, or activities to the authorities. Images of these lorries and vans, converted to transport FPV drones and discovered by citizens or security forces, were widely shared on social media. State-run television and pro-regime outlets also aired videos showcasing hidden, makeshift drone production facilities discovered near Tehran and Isfahan. In one of the videos, the state TV presenter shows kits for small drones that are ready for production. According to the report, this makeshift facility was located covertly in a three-storey building near Tehran. But were Israeli agents able to establish drone-production sites right under the nose of Iran's intelligence services? 'Most of this system is designed for internal repression' Farzin Nadimi, a research fellow at the Washington Institute and an expert on Iranian weaponry, explains: We have known for many years about the deep infiltration of Israeli assets, almost at every level of the IRGC, the IRGC intelligence service, other intelligence services of Iran, the military and among politicians. In my opinion, the main cause could be corruption. But it's not only that. There is a lot at stake when working with Israel in Iran. With all the risks involved, money can't be the only motivation. When they see how corrupt the system is, they lose respect and loyalty for it, and the higher their rank, the better they understand how corrupt the whole system is. Multiple Iranian officials had issued warnings about the infiltration of Israeli agents within Iran, including at high-ranking levels of the IRGC and the broader power structure. In an unprecedented speech in 2021, Ali Younesi, former intelligence minister of Iran, stated: 'Over the past ten years, the Mossad [Israel's main intelligence agency] has infiltrated several of the regime's structures, to the point that every single Iranian official must now worry for their own life. Any attack is now possible.' On another occasion, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, claimed in a 2024 interview with CNN Türk: 'The head of Iran's counterintelligence, tasked with finding Mossad operatives, was himself an Israeli agent.' Nadimi continues: On the other hand the Iranian secret services have trained their apparatus for internal security risks. Most of this system is designed for internal repression and internal protests, and they have seen these protests as the more urgent threat than a foreign attack. Nadimi emphasises that he's not surprised that Iranian intelligence services are caught off guard by these drones: In fact, it is not so complicated to smuggle them into Iran. These drones consist of small parts that are easy to smuggle into Iran. Many parts are easy to manufacture in Iran, such as fibreglass parts. The controls and other electronic parts would be easy to smuggle into Iran via the Persian Gulf region, e.g., Dubai and other borders. For a complex mission like this, however, you can't rely entirely on locals and local assets, you need to have agents on the ground. They had planned this for a long time. They claim to have been working on this plan for many years. The Iranian authorities have cut the internet connection since June 18, and claim this has significantly curbed FPV and small drone attacks since then. Nadimi explains: Drone technology has made enormous progress in recent years, particularly in the Russia-Ukraine war. In this war, we have seen drones or FPVs use different types of technologies. We have seen that the Ukrainians use mobile phone networks to guide their drones deep into Russian territory. Thanks to the mobile network, they send information and users can also send them commands. This is quite useful and practical. So these drones could have relied on the 5G, mobile and LTE networks, so a disruption of the network at this level could theoretically have a partial impact on them. This is not the first time Israeli agents have infiltrated Iran in recent years. In July 2024, Israel successfully targeted and killed Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, during a visit to Tehran. He was killed by a precise strike on his room in a protected compound in northern Iran. On November 27, 2020, Israel also succeeded in eliminating Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the scientist whom Western intelligence agencies and Israel believed to be the mastermind behind "Project Amad", Iran's covert effort to build a nuclear bomb in the early 2000s. He was killed on his way home when he came under fire from a machine gun mounted on a parked truck, which was remotely controlled via satellite.
