Latest news with #cyberAttacks
Sky News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel-Iran live: 'The game is not over', Khamenei aide warns - as US officials raise terror threat alert
18:40:12 US officials raise terror threat alert The Department of Homeland Security has warned of a "heightened threat environment" in the US following Donald Trump's strikes against Iran. The National Terrorism Advisory System's bulletin says "low-level cyber attacks" against US networks by "pro-Iranian hacktivists" are likely. It adds there is a heightened threat that "the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could motivate violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators seeking to attack targets". 18:30:01 Analysis: Iraq has a delicate balancing act in the middle of this conflict By Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent, in northern Iraq Iraq is no different to any other country in the region - anxiously waiting to see what happens next after America's multiple bomb strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Where it differs is that Iraq - caught bang in the middle of the war between Israel and Iran, and now the United States - has to juggle its relationships with both Tehran and Washington DC. The Shia Muslim dominated government of Iraq is close to Iran, and its influence on Iraq cannot be underestimated. Shia militia groups in Iraq, while nominally answering to Baghdad, take much of their guidance from Tehran, so their positions must be taken into consideration by the Iraqi government. At the same time, Iraq needs the US because it provides stability and support in the region, and the US military remains the most potent force in stopping terror organisations like Islamic State rejuvenating themselves. There are at least 2,500 American personnel stationed in Iraq, and the US has major interests here - as it does across the Middle East and Gulf states. That US presence itself poses problems - Iran has threatened to attack American interests and personnel across the region. 18:13:32 'The game is not over', Khamenei aide says A political advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the "game is not over" following US strikes on its nuclear sites. Ali Shamkhani said existing "enriched materials, local expertise and political will" all remain despite the physical damage done. He adds that the "operational initiative" is now in the "hands of the party that plays smart". 17:58:01 Iran warns of 'everlasting consequences' Despite international calls for Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East, Tehran is furious following US strikes. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the US strikes "will have everlasting consequences" and that Tehran "reserves all options" to retaliate. Speaking today, he said the US and Israel had "blown up" any chance of nuclear negotiations and asked: "How can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?" He's also called for condemnation of the attacks from the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting. Levels of retaliation Iran's Revolutionary Guard has already said it launched 40 missiles at Israel this morning, including its biggest ballistic missile, the Khorramshahr-4. Missile hits were reported at sites in northern and central Israel, including in Haifa, Ness Ziona, Rishon LeZion and Tel Aviv. The Iranian parliament is also moving to close the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state-owned media. This move that would have global ramifications by disrupting the flow of large amounts of oil and gas, as well as other trade. Direct retaliation against the US could include attacks on US bases, warships and aircraft in the region, though Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones has been severely degraded by Israeli strikes over the last two weeks. 17:41:03 E3 leaders urge Iran not to 'destabilise the region' The leaders of the E3 group have urged Iran not to "destabilise the region" in its response to US strikes. Sir Keir Starmer, Germany's Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron discussed the latest developments in the Middle East earlier today, according to a statement. "We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program," the leaders say. "We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties. We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region." 17:25:01 What you need to know in five bullet points If you're just joining us, here's the story at a glance: The US joined Israel's conflict with Iran last night by bombing nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan; Donald Trump said the strikes were a "spectacular military success" and warned Iran further attacks would follow if it didn't now move towards peace; The UN's nuclear watchdog said it was unclear what damage had been done at Fordow, but the Natanz site was now "completely destroyed" and Isfahan suffered "very significant damage"; Iran has branded the attacks "outrageous" and "criminal", while its parliament has reportedly suggested closing the Strait of Hormuz in response; Israel has continued its strikes in Iran following the US attacks, targeting dozens of sites across the country. 17:08:32 Before and after images show impact of US strikes at Natanz and Isfahan Before and after satellite images of Iran's Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites show the damage after US strikes. Earlier, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said the Natanz facility had been "completely destroyed", while its underground halls "suffered a lot" (see 16.15 post). Israeli strikes in the last two weeks had already damaged Iran's largest uranium enrichment centre there. As you can see below, US strikes have now completely reshaped the terrain at Natanz, leaving a giant crater over the site's underground facility. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi also said the Isfahan site had suffered "very significant damage". General Dan Caine, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said a US submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Isfahan site. The images below show the damage at the site today, with blackened scorch marks left in place where buildings stood yesterday. To see before and after comparisons of the third site struck by US bombers - Fordow - see our 14.10 post. 16:45:01 'Great unity' in Republican Party, Trump says Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social this evening to proclaim his Republican Party is united in a way "never seen before". The US president has received plenty of support from within his own party following his decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. But there has also been at least two GOP politicians suggesting it was unconstitutional for him to bomb Iran without approval from Congress. Ohio representative Warren Davidson said it was "hard to conceive a rationale" that the strikes were constitutional, while Kentucky representative Thomas Massie made similar comments. Some Democrats have called for Trump to be impeached over the unapproved military action. 16:30:01 IDF hits 'furthest target to date' in Iran The Israeli military says it's struck storage facilities deep into Iran containing its long-range Khorramshahr missiles. The air force said the attack was launched "in broad daylight" and was the "furthest target we've struck to date" in Iran. It said the storage facilities were located in the Yazd area of central Iran. "We destroyed Khorramshahr missiles before they were launched at Israel and struck tunnels used to store the missiles," the update says. 16:15:53 Underground damage at Fordow site unclear - but Natanz 'completely destroyed', watchdog says The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog says he doesn't know the extent of damage at Iran's Fordow nuclear facility after US strikes. "There are clear indications of impacts," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi tells CNN, "but as for the assessment for the degree of damage underground, on this we cannot pronounce ourselves." "No one could tell you how much it has been damaged," he says, adding that because of observed changes in the shape of the sites, "one cannot exclude that there is significant damage there." Grossi says that the Natanz facility has been "completely destroyed," while its underground halls "suffered a lot" because of cuts to electricity as the result of Israeli attacks. The Isfahan site has also suffered "very significant damage," he adds. Grossi will convene an emergency meeting between the IAEA's governors tomorrow "in light of the urgent situation in Iran".
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Nightmare of how Putin would flatten Britain: Ports and airfields bombarded, oil rigs and satellites sabotaged and waves of cyber attacks feared if Russia pounces
Putin could overwhelm Britain's defences with swarms of explosive kamikaze drones, long-range missiles and crippling cyber hacks if the UK had to fight a war this year. That's the chilling warning issued by the landmark Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which exposed the vulnerabilities the UK needs to urgently fix to prepare for war. In a comprehensive 144-page document, revealed yesterday, defence chiefs outlined the five terrifying 'methods of attack' Britain should brace itself for if it was forced into a major conflict with the likes of Russia. Military bases, ports and airfields in the UK and around the world would be the first to come under siege, blasted by waves of drones and long-range cruise, ballistic or hypersonic missiles. Oil rigs, subsea cables, satellite communications and merchant vessels would also find themselves in the crosshairs of any onslaught by Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, with saboteurs seeking to damage or destroy them. And a shadowy digital army of hackers would also launch a devastating barrage of cyber attacks, targeting government bodies, stock exchanges, communications and other critical infrastructure in a bid to paralyse Britain. The SDR warned: 'Based on the current way of war, if the UK were to fight a state-on-state war as part of Nato in 2025, it could expect to be subject to some or all of the following methods of attack: Attacks on the armed forces in the UK and on overseas bases Air and missile strikes from long range drones, cruise and ballistic missiles targeting military infrastructure and critical national infrastructure Increased sabotage and cyber attacks Attempts to disrupt the UK economy - especially the industry that supports the armed forces - through cyber attacks, intercepting shipping trade and attacks on space-based infrastructure Efforts to manipulate information and undermine social cohesion and political will The dossier warned major attacks could target military bases and outposts in the UK and across the globe. Among the key targets would be the Royal Navy's three main bases in Portsmouth, Plymouth and Clyde, as well as overseas HQs like RAF Akoritiri in Cyprus, the RAF's new base in the Middle East at Al Minhad Air Base and the Diego Garcia outpost in the Indian Ocean. Describing the threat faced by Britain, the review continued: 'The UK and its allies are once again directly threatened by other states with advanced military forces. 'The UK is already under daily attack, with aggressive acts - from espionage to cyber-attack and information manipulation - causing harm to society and the economy. 'State conflict has returned to Europe, with Russia demonstrating its willingness to use military force, inflict harm on civilians, and threaten the use of nuclear weapons to achieve its goals. 'More broadly, the West's long-held military advantage is being eroded as other countries modernise and expand their armed forces at speed, while the United States' (US) security priorities are changing, as its focus turns to the Indo-Pacific and to the protection of its homeland.' The defence dossier also warned of: 'Air and missile attack from long-rage drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, targeting military infrastructure and critical national infrastructure in the UK.' Currently, Britain has a limited air defence capability - with military chiefs and experts previously warning the nation would be overwhelmed if it faced a drone and missile onslaught on the scale of those seen in Ukraine, Russia and Israel. Britain's new defence drive - at a glance Britain's new weapons drive review made a list of more than 60 recommendations to enable the UK to 'pivot to a new way of war'. They include: Increasing the size of the army by 3,000 soldiers to 76,000 troops in the next parliament. The review also aims to boost the 'lethality' of the army ten-fold, using drones and other technology. A 20 per cent expansion in volunteer reserve forces. However, this is only when funding is available and will not likely happen until the 2030s Reviving a force of tens of thousands of veterans to fight in a crisis. A similar scheme dubbed the 'Strategic Reserve' was used during the Cold War before being axed. Investing more in new tech like AI, lasers and robots. The paper also warned Britain must develop new ways to counter biologic weapons. Opening up the possibility of the UK buying warplanes capable of carrying American-made nuclear missiles. Currently, Britain's nuke arsenal is the responsibility of the Royal Navy, who took over the role from the RAF decades ago. Boosting the size of the cadet force, made up of schoolchildren, by 30 per cent and offering a 'gap year' to people interested in sampling military life. New investment in long-range missiles, submarines, munitions factories and cyber warfare HQs. Over the weekend, the ease at which cheap drones strapped with explosives could deal a crippling blow to even the most powerful militaries was demonstrated. In one of its most audacious attacks of the war, Ukraine unleashed 'swarms' of kamikaze drones from the backs of trucks to obliterate two of Putin's key airfields deep inside Russia. Dubbed 'Operation Spiderweb', the co-ordinated strikes left Putin humiliated and seeking revenge - with dozens of his prized doomsday warplanes razed to the ground. Two remote military airfields, Olenya in the Arctic Murmansk region and Belaya in eastern Siberia, were rocked by massive explosions, with dramatic footage showing fires raging for hours. The bases, located thousands of miles from Ukraine, are critical to Russia's nuclear strike capability and were considered untouchable. Yet Ukraine's daring raid saw them struck with deadly precision, using first-person-view (FPV) drones launched from unmarked vans parked near the airfields. Ukraine's security service, the SBU, claimed to have hit $7billion (£5.2billion) worth of military equipment. Each of the drones used cost several hundred pounds by comparison. The ease of the barrage is likely to alarm defence planners in Britain, which would currently struggle to fend off such an assault. In a devastating verdict on the state of the UK's defences, the SDR said today's armed forces are 'not currently optimised for warfare', with inadequate stockpiles of weapons, poor recruitment and plummeting morale. 'The international chessboard has been tipped over,' a team of three experts that led the review wrote in a foreword to the document. 'In a world where the impossible today is becoming the inevitable tomorrow, there can be no complacency about defending our country.' The UK has limited ground-based defences, which includes the Sky Sabre missile system capable of blowing cruise missiles and fighter jets out of the sky. However, Britain would rely on the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers to take down faster ballistic or hypersonic missiles which Russia has used to blitz Ukraine. Defence Secretary John Healey has insisted more cash will be pumped into to bolstering the UK's air defences. Writing in a foreword to SDR, Mr Healey said 'up to' £1bn would be invested in 'homeland air and missile defence' as well as the creation of a new cyber and electromagnetic warfare command. The review also warned citizens to brace themselves for 'attempts to disrupt the UK economy, especially the industry that supports the armed forces, including through cyber attack, the interdiction of maritime trade, and attacks on space-based critical national infrastructure'. Finally, it warned the UK would face a huge propaganda onslaught designed 'to manipulate information and undermine social cohesion and political will'. As part of the new defence blueprint the Government is committing £1.5bn to set up at least six munitions factories, and will support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. Ministers unveiled plans to build six munitions factories in the UK and produce 7,000 long-range weapons, including attack drones and precision missiles The review has set out plans to grow the British Army, renew the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal and expand the UK's school-aged cadet force to up to 250,000 to get the country ready for 'whole of society approach' to defence and resilience. As part of the overhaul in military thinking, British fighter jets could soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time. Army units based in Estonia will be equipped with hundreds of fearsome HX-2 kamikaze drones. And more than £1.5billion in extra funding will go to military homes in response to the review. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned a 'step change in the threats we face demands a step-change in British defence to meet them'. Sir Keir called the review a 'radical blueprint' that would drive forward investments in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defences. 'The threats we face are no secret. War in Europe. New nuclear risk,' the premier wrote in the Sun on Sunday. 'The Kremlin is working hand in hand with its cronies in Iran and North Korea. We face daily cyber attacks. 'The Royal Navy has chased off Russian spy ships loitering in our waters. 'The RAF has scrambled to intercept Russian planes that menace our skies.' Speaking on Monday, the PM added: 'We need to see the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime to put security and defence front and centre – to make it the fundamental organising principle of government.' However, the Conservatives criticised Labour, saying investment in munitions factories has been too slow and that the Treasury had held back the funds to achieve the PM's defence vision. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Chancellor has used the SDR to put an 'effective freeze' on new orders for military kit. 'It's a bit rich of Labour to talk about 'always on' munitions production when procurement has been largely switched off for the past year,' he said. He added: 'Of course, we welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we don't know when they will be ready, only that these orders should have been placed months ago. 'Ultimately, we need to see greater ambition for the pace and scale of rearmament our armed forces require, given the threats we face and the need to replace inventory gifted to Ukraine. 'That means three per cent of GDP by the end of this parliament, and Labour properly prioritising defence spending – instead of seeking to outspend Reform on welfare.'
