Latest from Rudaw Net
Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Israel-Iran conflict intensifies on day seven with attacks on nuclear, civilian infrastructure
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Israel-Iran conflict entered its seventh day on Thursday, with the latest attack being an Iranian 'ballistic missile' strike that targeted Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel. In a statement on its official X account, the Israeli government said that 'the Iranian regime targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile - hitting a major medical center.' 'We will not stand by. We will continue doing what must be done to defend our people,' it added. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also noted on X that 'several hits were identified' in the Iranian missile barrage. Less than an hour prior, the IDF said that 'millions of Israelis across the country are currently running to shelter as sirens sound due to a missile launch from Iran.' According to Israel's National Emergency Service, the attack left 44 people injured, three critically. For its part, the state-run Iranian news agency (IRNA) said that 'the main target' of the attack was 'the Israeli army's leadership and intelligence headquarters' in Kaf Yam, a site located adjacent to Soroka Hospital. Hours earlier, the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) had reported that Israel struck the Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, previously known as Arak. The partially-constructed facility is part of Iran's nuclear program that has not yet been activated. Ahead of the Israeli strikes, the IDF issued an 'immediate warning' in Farsi to 'employees and all people' in Arak and Khondab, urging them to evacuate the area. It added that the Israeli forces were 'operating in this area' and that citizens should leave 'as soon as possible.' 'Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,' the IDF concluded. Over the night, Iranian missiles also caused fires in central Israel, including buses ablaze in Herzliya. Iranian media claimed a military target, while Fars News Agency named Meron Airbase in northern Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that its Fattah hypersonic missile penetrated Israeli air defenses, declaring "complete control over the country's skies." Iranian outlets reported explosions over Tel Aviv, along with a parking lot fire. Concurrently, explosions were reported in Tehran, where Israel said it targeted a centrifuge production site and several weapons manufacturing facilities. On Tuesday night, over 50 Israeli Air Force jets carried out what the IDF described as a 'massive attack,' striking facilities believed to produce missile raw materials. Iranian media reported attempts to intercept Israeli air raids over Tehran, Tabriz, and Bushehr. Israel also issued forced evacuation warnings for District 18 of Tehran and previously for the vicinity of Arak and Khondab. Iranian media also reported on internet outages in Iran which they claimed were caused by a cyberattack, complicating public access to evacuation information. Since the escalation began last Friday, Iran reports that approximately 224 people – mostly civilians - have been killed and 1,300 injured in Israeli strikes across the country. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say at least 24 civilians have been killed and 600 injured since the conflict began.
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Israel-Iran conflict enters sixth day as the world awaits US decision
10:23 Israel-Iran conflict enters sixth day as the world awaits US decision - ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The latest escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict continues despite a decrease in attacks compared to the initial days of the conflict. US President Donald Trump made inflammatory remarks against Tehran on Tuesday and his cabinet is expected to deliberate on whether Washington will become directly involved. Tensions between Iran and Israel reached a boiling point on Friday after the latter carried out an extensive operation in western Iran, killing several top commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran has carried out 11 waves of missile and drone attacks since. The devastating attacks have killed at least 24 civilians in Israel and 224 Iranians, according to latest official figures. Nearly 600 Israelis and 1,300 Iranians have been injured. Both warring sides have reduced their military activities in the last two days as US President Donald Trump has been considering an intervention. Iran and Israel warned the residents of parts of each other's capitals in the early hours of Wednesday to evacuate as attacks renewed. Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of strikes. Such missiles are five times faster than the speed of sound and are difficult to track and intercept. Trump on Tuesday cut his trip short to the G7 summit in Canada due to tensions in the Middle East, telling reporters that 'I have to be back.' The announcement came after he called on Iranians to evacuate Tehran, describing its failure to strike a deal as 'a shame, and waste of human life.' He also ordered a meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room before leaving Canada. The meeting took place late Tuesday and lasted for 80 minutes. There was no immediate public statement. However, after returning to Washington, he made inflammatory statements against Iran and its supreme leader, calling for Tehran's 'unconditional surrender.' He also claimed that they have gained full control of the skies of Iran despite his cabinet's claims that Washington is not involved in the latest escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel. He also said that Iran's Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is an 'easy target' but they have no plans to assassinate him 'for now.' Khamenei early Wednesday that the Islamic republic will 'never' compromise with Israel. 'We will never compromise with the Zionists,' Khamenei said on X. 'The terrorist Zionist entity must be dealt with forcefully.' Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian convened a cabinet meeting early Wednesday, reported semi-official media without publishing details of the meeting.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran, Israel conflict enters fifth day
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Israel and Iran continued to trade strikes for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump urging Iranians to evacuate Tehran after slamming the Islamic republic for failing to reach a nuclear deal with Washington. Trump on Tuesday cut his trip short to the G7 summit in Canada due to tensions in the Middle East, telling reporters that 'I have to be back.' The announcement came after he called on Iranians to evacuate Tehran, describing its failure to strike a deal as 'a shame, and waste of human life.' Tensions between Israel and Iran boiled over on Friday after Israel carried out extensive airstrikes in Iran, killing senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran launched missile salvos and deployed scores of drones against Israel. According to Israeli authorities, so far, at least 24 civilians have been killed and 592 injured. In Iran, authorities reported 224 people killed and 1,277 injured. On Monday, G7 leaders issued a joint statement calling for 'the resolution of the Iranian crisis' to begin 'a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.' The statement, released by Canada, said that Israel 'has a right to defend itself.' 'We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,' it stressed. Israel has launched around 380 ballistic missiles since the beginning of the conflict, according to Channel 12. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday called on the US to take a clear stance on the latest escalation between Iran and Israel, stressing that Washington is backing Israel.
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran, Israel exchange deadly strikes as conflict enters fourth day
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day on Monday as Tehran launched another wave of missile attacks on Israeli territory. Many civilians have been killed in both countries. The latest Iranian strikes have killed at least four in Israel, according to official figures. Israeli media have reported at least three more civilian deaths. The latest official death toll brings the total figure to at least 18, with nearly 400 injured since the start of the escalation on Friday. In Iran, authorities reported 224 people killed and 1,277 injured, though the government has not specified how many of the casualties were civilians or military personnel. Human rights groups, including the Washington-based Human Rights Activists, said the Iranian government's figures are likely understated. The group reported more than 400 deaths, including 197 civilians. The conflict escalated sharply after Israel launched a large-scale strike on Friday, killing several senior military commanders and key nuclear scientists. In response, Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israeli targets, escalating the conflict significantly. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday confirmed the deaths of its intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi, his deputy Hassan Mohaqiq, and another senior officer, Mohsen Bagheri. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reported the death of Kazemi and Mohaqiq during an interview with Fox News earlier in the day. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday called for national unity amid the Israeli attacks, urging Iranians to 'set aside their differences' in the face of what he described as 'genocidal criminal aggression.' He also condemned the United States, accusing it of enabling Israel's strikes. Mike Huckabee, American Ambassador to Israel, said on X that the US mission in the country remains closed. He added that the building of an embassy branch was damaged by an Iranian attack. 'Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in @TelAviv but no injuries to US personnel,' he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters on Monday that Israel's ongoing aggression is a clear and unprecedented violation of international law. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Kats hinted on Monday that there will be more civilian casualties in Iran. 'The arrogant dictator from Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who fires targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing its capabilities,' he said on X. 'The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon,' warned the minister. Stakes high for Iraq The stakes are high for Iraq, which hosts both US forces and powerful Iran-backed armed groups. Any retaliatory strike launched from its soil could provoke devastating responses which could undermine its sovereignty and threaten the country's fragile stability, as it is still recovering from decades of war. In Erbil, a loud blast was heard early Monday following the downing of a suspected drone, reportedly intercepted by aerial defenses at the new US consulate compound. A similar incident took place in the early hours of Sunday. An Iraqi politician and member of the ruling coalition warned on Sunday that Iraq is not well-equipped to confront potential Israeli or American strikes, citing limited military capabilities and economic vulnerabilities. "The messages are clear, Iraq cannot stay distant from this battle," Abd al-Rahman al-Jazairi, a senior Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) official, told Rudaw on Sunday, explaining that "the first and main reason is that the relationship between Iran and Iraq is a strategic relationship built on ideological grounds. "We are talking about geographical border connections and economic ties, and this leads to Iraq not being far from the signs of war or from the battlefield, considering that it is geographically adjacent to the Islamic Republic of Iran,' he added. The border between the two countries is roughly 1600 kilometers, with the sound of rockets and drones having been heard over the skies of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq since early Friday morning. He said that Iraq's current military capacity is insufficient to counter threats from either side, explaining that "if Iraq enters this battle, it will not be able to bear it, because we do not possess weapons resistant to Israeli and American aircraft, and our capabilities are limited.' Jazairi also raised concerns about the lack of Iraqi control over its airspace and the potential for provocation. PMF, a state-sanctioned paramilitary coalition with deep ties to Iran, although formally recognized as part of Iraq's armed forces in 2016, many of its factions remain closely tied to Iran. Some operate independently and have carried out attacks on US and Israeli targets in the region.
Rudaw Net
6 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Israel, Iran expand strikes on third day
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Israel and Iran continued exchanging strikes on the third day of the conflict, launching deadly attacks throughout the night despite calls for de-escalation. Israel on Friday conducted what it called a 'preemptive strike' targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military commanders, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the operation, dubbed Rising Lion, aimed to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival,' warning that it could continue for days. Iran responded with counter-strikes, firing barrages of ballistic missiles at Israel as the Iron Dome aerial defense system scrambled to destroy Iranian missiles. The attacks came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a speech, vowing to bring Israel 'to ruin.' The attacks have since intensified, and on early Sunday, Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Tel Aviv killed at least eight people and injured around 200, according to Israeli emergency services. In the latest Iranian toll, last updated after Israel's first wave of strikes, Iran's ambassador to the UN said 78 people were killed and 320 others wounded. US President Donald Trump said that Washington 'had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight,' warning Tehran against attacking US personnel. 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' Trump stressed, in a post on his Truth Social platform. 'However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!' he added. On Saturday, a sixth round of nuclear talks between Iran and Israel, scheduled for Sunday, was canceled.
