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First Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
One week into Israel-Iran conflict, which country holds the advantage?
Almost 500 missiles fired. More than 250 people killed and countless buildings destroyed. The Israel-Iran conflict has completed seven days and there's no signs of hostilities abating. The escalating war raises all sorts of questions — but none more pertinent than — who's winning? read more A woman holding a dog takes a photo of a damaged residential building at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, in Be'er Sheva, Israel. Reuters The decades-old conflict between Israel and Iran that was never quite 'cold', intensified last Friday (June 13) when the Jewish nation launched Operation Rising Lion, a wide-ranging aerial offensive that targeted nuclear and military sites deep within Iranian territory. Today, seven days later (June 20), the hostilities continue and there's fear that the United States will join in — though we shall only now know in two weeks' time after Donald Trump gave a new deadline to Tehran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The question that people are now asking a week into the hostilities is — who has the upper hand in this conflict? Has Iran run out of options in this battle? Damage inflicted by Israel and Iran An assessment of the destruction of military and civilian site is one of the ways to gauge who has the edge in this conflict. And both sides have caused significant damage to one another. However, it seems that Israel holds the edge — causing significant damage to Tehran's nuclear facilities as well as military sites. On Thursday, Israel attacked Iran's Arak heavy water reactor , one of the country's largest nuclear facilities, located 250 kilometres southwest of the capital Tehran. In addition to Arak, Israel has also struck Natanz — Iran's largest uranium enrichment centre. The UN nuclear watchdog initially reported that the strikes had damaged only the aboveground part of the enrichment plant. It later revised its assessment to confirm 'direct impacts' on underground enrichment halls. A satellite image shows infrastructure at the Arak facility, following Israelli airstrikes, in Iran. Reuters Israel also struck Iran's Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre. Furthermore, at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed since the attacks began, according to multiple sources in the region. The Israeli military said nine of them were a 'key element' in Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. However, Fordow and Bushehr have remained largely unaffected by Israel's strikes. Israel's strikes have also degraded Iran's missile capabilities. Several Israeli strikes targeted a missile base in Kermanshah, where missile storage buildings can be seen with damage in a satellite image taken on June 15. On Thursday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Kan public broadcaster that at least half of Iran's missile launchers have been destroyed. The Israel Defense Forces also echoed similar comments saying 40 per cent of Iran's launchers had been destroyed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition to military targets, Israel has also targeted Iran's energy infrastructure. The Jewish nation has struck Tehran's main gas depot and its central oil refinery, according to a statement from Iran's oil ministry. The ministry said Israel had also targeted a section of one of the world's largest gas fields. Video posted to social media even showed a large fire burning at the Shahran oil depot, north of Tehran. Vehicles jam a highway as a fire blazes nearby in the oil depots of Shahran, northwest of Tehran, on June 15. AFP Israeli aircraft also struck the headquarters of Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran causing a live broadcast to be briefly interrupted. The Israeli military said it targeted a 'communications centre of the Iranian regime'. In return, Iran has also extracted its pound of flesh; it has hit residential areas in the Jewish nation, decimated Israel's 'crown jewel of science', the Weizmann Institute of Science, and even struck the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba . According to Iranian media, on Saturday, Iranian missiles landed just 300 metres (984ft) from the Israeli Ministry of Defence headquarters (the Kirya) in Tel Aviv. Also, another strike hit the Weizmann Institute of Science, one of Israel's leading research centres, located in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv. The institute is reported to have collaborated with the Israeli military, making it a significant target. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Several metropolitan areas have also been damaged by Iranian strikes. In Ramat Gan, a city adjacent to Tel Aviv, missiles struck several towers and residential complexes, causing significant damage and forcing evacuations. Local authorities reported that nine buildings were destroyed. The nearby city of Petah Tikva was also hit by missile strikes that damaged both residential and commercial areas while in Bnei Brak, a religious school was destroyed. Bat Yam, which is south of Tel Aviv, has also witnessed significant damage. Damaged buildings are seen following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Bat Yam, Israel. Reuters In northern Israel, Iranian missiles struck Haifa's Bazan petrochemical complex, the country's largest oil refinery, forcing a shutdown of operations. Haifa suffered a second missile strike, which hit several residential buildings in the Neve Sha'anan neighbourhood. And on Thursday, Iran also took aim at a hospital in the Israeli town of Beersheba, forcing the staff of Soroka Medical Centre to move most of its patients to other hospitals. The strike shattered windows, hurling glass across the hospital, brought ceilings crashing down, destroyed medical equipment and left corridors in disarray. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It's so sad, I never thought something like this could happen. Never. It's only medical professionals here, and patients… and look what happened to us,' Wasim Hin, an ophthalmologist at Soroka Medical Centre, told AFP. 'Here we have new equipment, everything was destroyed.' A general view of Soroka Medical Centre, the city's general hospital, at an impact site following a missile strike from Iran on Israel, in Beersheba, Israel. Reuters Deaths keep mounting On Thursday, a body of an Ukrainian woman was recovered from a building struck by an Iranian missile four days earlier, Israeli officials said. Maria Peshkarova, 31, is the ninth victim of the Sunday hit in the city of Bat Yam, taking the overall death toll in Israel to 25 since the war began, according to authorities. Meanwhile, Iran said Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Authorities have not issued an updated toll since. Iran has lost several high-ranking officials including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and Ali Shadmani , Iran's wartime Chief of Staff during Israel's Operation Rising Lion. In fact, Shadmani was appointed to the chief of staff position after the death of Mohammad Bagheri on Friday. A man reacts as relatives and friends attend the funeral of Manar Khatib and her two daughters, Hala, 20, and Shada, 13, and their relative, Manar Khatib who were killed during a missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Tamra, north Israel. Reuters In addition to Shadmani and Bagheri, Israel has also eliminated commander-in-chief of the IRGC, Hossein Salami, deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the head of the IRGC's Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters Gholamali Rashid and commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force Ali Hajizadeh to name a few. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel has also threatened to eliminate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei with Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, declaring on Thursday that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 'can no longer be allowed to exist'. Israel takes control of Iranian skies The other aspect where Israel seems have an edge over Iran is that it has declared aerial supremacy over Tehran . Four days into its ferocious air campaign, the Israeli military said that it could now fly over the country's capital, Tehran, without facing major resistance after crippling Iran's air defences in recent strikes, enabling Israel to hit an expanding range of targets with relative ease. According to military analysts, such control over Iran's skies is not just a tactical advantage but also a strategic turning point. Air supremacy gives Israel the freedom to escalate its bombing campaign, look for additional targets, and possibly redraw the rules of deterrence in a region where missile salvos and proxy wars have long defined the limits of conflict. Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel. Reuters But how did Israel achieve this aim? By using US-supplied planes such as the F-15 and F-16 as well as the customised F-35 stealth fighter jet. Moreover, Israel has also the Iron Dome and Iron Shield systems, with an interception success of over 90 per cent for short-range rockets and missiles. But there are reports that Israel is depleting its supply of long-range missile interceptors . The Wall Street Journal citing a source said that Israel can maintain its missile defence for 10 or 12 more days if Iran maintains a steady tempo of attacks. 'The system is already overwhelmed. Soon, they may have to choose which missiles to intercept,' the source said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Iran could still turn the tide While Israel awaits Donald Trump's response to joining the strikes, all isn't lost for Iran. As Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who specialises in Iranian security affairs, told TIME, 'Iran has turned out to be much weaker than we had assumed, and yet it's still standing.' Interestingly, Iran's proxies — which include Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Shiite militias — haven't waded into the conflict yet. On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem pledged 'all forms of support' to Iran in its fight against Israel and the United States, saying Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful and aims to serve its people. In a speech on Thursday night, Qassem said, 'It does not harm anyone in the slightest way; rather, it represents a great scientific contribution to the advancement of Iran and the region, relying on its own capabilities without foreign tutelage.' Residents leave the area where residential building was impacted following missile attack from Iran on Israel, central Israel. Reuters He also accused the world of opposing Iran not because of its nuclear programme, but because it stands for 'faith, knowledge, and freedom' and benefits 'the oppressed'. Reaffirming Hezbollah's alignment with Tehran, Qassem urged support for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. 'We call on all free people, the oppressed, the resistance fighters, scholars, and those with sound opinions to raise their voices loudly and demonstrate strength, courage, and support by rallying around the noblest and most honourable leadership of Imam Khamenei,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, Yemen-based Houthis also said that the group will intervene to support Iran against Israel like it did in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi movement's political bureau, also reiterated to Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that the group is coordinating with Tehran during its ongoing military escalation with Israel. Besides Iran's proxies, Iran could also call on its international allies , namely Russia and China, to put pressure on Israel. Russia has already called on the US to not enter the war, saying such a move would be 'extremely dangerous' and could lead to 'unpredictable negative consequences.' The Kremlin has already called for a ceasefire in the hostilities, saying that diplomacy, not force, should be used to end the violence. China has also condemned Israel's attack and has called on both sides to de-escalate. A wider, regional conflict would raise China's risk-to-benefit calculus as it would threaten its regional economic, namely energy, interests. With inputs from agencies
Gulf Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Israel retrieves Thai hostage body as 95 more Palestinians killed in Gaza
Israel said on Saturday it retrieved the body of a Thai hostage abducted into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led attack that sparked the war, as Israel's military continued its offensive, killing at least 95 people in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Hamas-run Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. Nattapong Pinta had come to Israel to work in agriculture. Israel's government said he was seized from Kibbutz Nir Oz and killed early in the war, which began on Oct. 7, 2023. Thailand's foreign ministry said the bodies of two other citizens were yet to be retrieved. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive. Many lived on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, the first places overrun in the attack. Forty-six Thais have been killed during the war, according to the foreign ministry. Mouners pray during the funeral of a Palestinian killed in Rafah, Gaza, on Sunday. Reuters Israel's defence minister said Pinta's body was retrieved from the Rafah area in southern Gaza. The army said he was seized by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that also took two Israeli-American hostages, Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai, whose bodies were retrieved on Thursday. Israel's military later said it killed the head of the Mujahideen Brigades, As'ad Aby Sharaiya, in Gaza City on Saturday. Fifty-five hostages remain in Gaza. Israel says more than half are dead. Families rallied again Saturday evening in Israel, calling for a ceasefire deal to bring everyone home. Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel's military had surrounded the area where he's held and that any harm that came to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel's responsibility. Israel's military didn't immediately comment. "The decision to expand the (military) ground maneuver is at the cost of Matan's life and the lives of all the hostages,' Zangauker's mother, Einav, told the rally in Tel Aviv. A strike in Gaza City killed six members of a family, including two children, according to the Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals. Israel's military said the strike targeted the Mujahideen Brigades leader. "This is the real destruction,' a man said as he carried the body of a small boy from the scene. Four Israeli strikes hit the Muwasi area in southern Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, a strike hit an apartment, killing seven people including a mother and five children. Their bodies were taken to Shifa hospital. "Stand up, my love,' one weeping woman said, touching the shrouded bodies. Israel said it was responding to Hamas' "barbaric attacks' and dismantling its capabilities. It said it takes all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. Staff at Nasser hospital, which received the bodies of six people over the past 24 hours, said they were killed while on their way to get food aid. Much of Gaza's population of over 2 million relies on aid after widespread destruction of agriculture as well as a recent Israeli blockade. Experts have warned of famine. Israel's army has warned that the aid distribution area is an active combat zone during nighttime hours. It said several suspects attempted to approach troops operating in the Tel al-Sultan area overnight "in a manner that posed a threat." The army said troops called out, then fired warning shots as the suspects advanced. An army official who couldn't be named in line with military procedures said the shots were fired about a kilometer (half-mile) from the distribution site. Associated Press
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First Post
17-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Israel slams UN official for urging action to ‘prevent genocide' in Gaza, UN says it's doing its job
Under international law, genocide is an intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. This includes through killings, serious bodily or mental harm and inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction read more Smoke rises from Gaza following an explosion, as seen from Israel. Reuters Israel on Friday blasted the United Nations aid chief for asking the U.N. Security Council if it would act to 'prevent genocide' in the Gaza Strip, where experts say famine looms after Israel blocked aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave 75 days ago. While briefing the 15-member body earlier this week, U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said: 'Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a letter to Fletcher on Friday, Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon accused him of delivering 'a political sermon' and weaponizing the word genocide against Israel, questioning under what authority he made what Israel viewed as an accusation. 'You had the audacity, in your capacity as a senior U.N. official, to stand before the Security Council and invoke the charge of genocide without evidence, mandate, or restraint,' he wrote. 'It was an utterly inappropriate and deeply irresponsible statement that shattered any notion of neutrality.' Under international law, genocide is an intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. This includes through killings, serious bodily or mental harm and inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction. 'Let us do our work' In a letter to Danon on Friday, Fletcher responded: 'I fervently believe in the U.N. Charter, and in our obligation to act with humanity, independence, impartiality and neutrality. And of course, honesty about what we observe, and are mandated to report.' The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies, and has blocked all aid to Gaza since March 2, demanding Hamas release all remaining hostages. A global hunger monitor warned on Monday that half a million people face starvation - about a quarter of the population in the enclave. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that 'a lot of people are starving in Gaza.' Fletcher appealed to Israel to lift the aid block, telling Danon there are 9,000 trucks - half of them carrying food - which had all been cleared by COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, and were ready to enter Gaza. 'We have solid plans to distribute to civilians, with verification measures to ensure that aid does not get stolen by Hamas. We showed during the ceasefire that we can deliver at scale,' he wrote. 'Please let us do our work.'
