Latest news with #SPND
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel's multi-layered defense and strategic counteroffensive highlighted amid intensifying conflict with Iran
The recent hostilities between Israel and Iran on Friday have escalated into a complex military confrontation that underscores Israel's advanced multi-tiered air defense capabilities alongside strategic precision strikes deep inside Iranian territory. Israel has successfully intercepted a significant number of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles, while simultaneously conducting targeted airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers and nuclear-related infrastructure. The Israeli Air Force (IAF), supported by naval defense systems such as the Barak MX, intercepted over 15 Iranian UAVs in a single day, maintaining an overall interception rate exceeding 90% against hundreds of drones and missiles launched since the conflict's escalation. The lengthy flight time of Iranian drones—approximately nine hours—has allowed Israel to effectively deploy interceptors and scramble fighter jets to neutralize threats well before they reach populated areas. Despite the high interception rate, missile strikes caused injuries and damage in Haifa and Beersheba, with at least seven lightly wounded in Beersheba and two injured in Haifa, including a teenager in serious condition. In retaliation, Israel launched precision airstrikes involving over 60 aircraft targeting missile launch sites, storage facilities, and nuclear program-related sites across central and western Iran. Among the key targets was the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project , a critical component of Iran's advanced weapons development efforts. Israeli officials reported the elimination of key Iranian military commanders and disruption of planned missile barrages aimed at southern Israel. Live Events Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to intensify strikes against Iranian internal security institutions and regime symbols to destabilize the regime, with Iran continuing to expand its missile arsenal. However, Israel maintains sufficient interceptor missile stockpiles and is adapting its defense systems, including deploying new interceptors specifically designed to counter UAV threats. This conflict has evolved into a high-stakes tit-for-tat exchange, with both nations demonstrating advanced military technologies and a willingness to strike strategic targets beyond their borders. Recent intelligence has revealed covert Israeli drone manufacturing facilities inside Iran, while Iran's use of cluster warheads highlights the evolving and covert nature of this confrontation. Israel's ability to intercept the vast majority of Iranian UAVs and missiles while conducting deep strikes into Iranian territory reflects a blend of technological superiority and tactical planning that might shape this prolonged conflict. With current hostilities numbering at least 24 Israeli and over 600 Iranian deaths since June 13, with hundreds more wounded, authorities emphasize the importance of adhering strictly to safety protocols.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: Flight carrying Indian students from Iran reaches Delhi; Air India plane crash victims' families' long wait for closure
Good morning, The wait is finally over! India seems to have found its next big cricket star, as Shubman Gill took captaincy in his stride and hit the ground running on day one of India's English summer. Unbeaten on 127, a run short of his highest-ever Test score, Gill middled most balls during the match. Sandeep Dwivedi, describing Gill's game on the field, writes: 'Shubman at Headingley cracked that code, he had the right answer to that delicate question – What to defend and what to drive. That was the reason why close to half of his 16 fours on the off-side with his cover drives stood out for their fluency.' At 359/3, India had clearly nosed ahead in the Test series against England. The new era has had a dream start. With that, let's move on to the top 5 stories from today's edition: 🚨 Big Story Israel's strikes on Friday resulted in damage to key buildings at the partially constructed Khondab (formerly known as Arak) Heavy Water Production Plant, including its distillation unit, located in Iran. Just days earlier, Israel launched overnight airstrikes on several Iranian sites, including the headquarters of SPND, Iran's primary research organisation for nuclear weapons development. These strikes killed multiple Iranian nuclear scientists and top military officials, as per reports. It has, since then, hit prominent Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, Arak and Tehran. In retaliation, Iran hit the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science, causing heavy damage to multiple research facilities while signalling a chilling new front in the widening conflict. The most-awaited return: As the Israel-Iran war continued to rage amid indications that the United States could join the strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, Delhi managed to persuade Tehran to open Iranian airspace for the evacuation of around 1,000 Indians via the north-eastern town of Mashhad. As part of the latest efforts under Operation Sindhu, a flight from Mashhad, carrying 290 Indian students, mainly from Jammu and Kashmir, landed at Delhi airport late Friday. At least three Iranian airline Mahan Air flights are being operated to bring back Indians this weekend, with one expected to arrive from Ashgabat in Turkmenistan soon. Follow here as we bring to you latest updates on the Iran-Israel war! Breach: The Islamic Republic has said that its Parliament was preparing a Bill to potentially leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, the international treaty is aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, and promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as disarmament. Although Iran is a signatory of the Bill, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors (which includes the P5, India, Bangladesh, Japan and Ukraine), in its first such decision in almost 20 years, recently said that Iran breached its non-proliferation obligations. What does this mean? What happens if Iran leaves the NPT? We explain. ⚡ Only in Express The long wait: With most victims in the London-bound Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad charred beyond recognition, including 12 people at the crash site, confirming their identities correctly has been a formidable task. As of 11.50 am on June 20, 223 victims were identified and 204 remains were handed over to families. Officials said the final toll would be declared after the DNA profiling of all victims is complete. From following Interpol guidelines, DNA matching, to handling child victims, here's how Ahmedabad is helping crash victims' families find some closure. Diu's loss: Among those who died in the Ahmedabad-Gatwick flight crash were 14 with roots in Diu – four of them British (including Ajay, brother of Vishwas Kumar – the sole survivor of India's worst air disaster in three decades, out of 242 on board) and seven Portuguese. On this tiny island of about 51,000 people, many have lost someone they knew in the airplane crash – the white caps and dark saris, a mark of mourning, now dot the island. 💡 Express Explained Islamabad has extended strong rhetorical support to Tehran amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, calling Israel's actions a 'violation of all rules of civilised behaviour… and international humanitarian law'. Yet it has stopped short of making any tangible military commitments to Iran. Islamabad's tightrope walk vis-à-vis Tehran is apparent in statements during Army Chief General Asim Munir's visit to Washington this week, where he emphasised 'clear and strong' support for Iran. How do we understand this balancing act? Read our Explainer here. ✍️ Express Opinion In our Opinion section today, Jonah Blank delves into the latest escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, and what's in it for the leaders of these nations. He writes: 'Long-term planning requires trade-offs. If you're the leader of a powerful nation, you might have to forgo a flashy-but-transitory headline today in order to seal a boring-yet-substantial treaty that will benefit your successor. Neither Netanyahu nor Trump are that kind of leader. Which is why their decisions will make Iran's nuclearisation less immediate — but, eventually, more certain.' 🍿 Movie Review Wondering what to watch this weekend? Well, we've got your back! The Aamir Khan-starrer Sitaare Zameen Par has hit the theatres, and we can't wait for the magic to take over. It adopts the original's determinedly 'cheery vein to win its matches; in the process, it also wins our hearts,' writes Shubhra Gupta in her review. She further writes: 'Borrowing the tone from the original, 'Sitaare Zameen Par' chooses to stay on the side of laughter, and it's a wise decision, because what you can convey to the average person through laughs sometimes has more weight than wrung-out tears.' That's all for today. Have a lovely weekend! Until next time, Ariba
Al-Ahram Weekly
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iran launches fresh salvo of missiles on Friday as US to move third aircraft carrier closer to Mideast conflict - as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides waged deadly strikes against one another for the eighth day in a row. Related Trump says will decide whether to attack Iran 'within two weeks' - as it happened Israel expands assassination policy with threat to target Khamenei Israeli army says struck inactive nuclear reactor in Iran's Arak The face-off between Israel and Iran has continued to intensify overnight and into this morning. Overnight, the Israeli military reported carrying out dozens of strikes on military targets across Iran, including a significant attack on the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) headquarters in Tehran, which Israel claims is involved in Iran's nuclear weapons development project. Other targets included missile production sites in Tehran and the northern city of Rasht. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed that Israel's rockets had damaged Iran's Khondab Heavy Water Production Plant. In retaliation, Iran launched fresh barrages of missiles towards Israel. These missiles struck southern Israel, particularly the city of Beersheba for the second consecutive day, causing damage to residential buildings, including a six-story structure. Sirens were activated across southern Israel as missiles were detected, and while most were reportedly intercepted, some impacted areas. Casualty figures remain high, with an Iranian human rights group stating that Israeli strikes have now killed at least 657 people and wounded over 2,000 in Iran since the conflict began. Iran's retaliatory strikes have resulted in 24 deaths in Israel. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with the Iranian Foreign Minister expected to meet with top European diplomats in Geneva today, although Iran continues to reject direct negotiations with the US as long as Israeli attacks persist. Concerns are also rising regarding potential cyberattacks, with reports of Iranian hackers targeting Israeli home security cameras. 21:15 At least 19 people were injured in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa as Iran fired a fresh barrage of missiles on Friday afternoon, authorities said. Iran has been launching daily missile salvos at Israel for the past week since a wide-ranging Israeli attack on its nuclear and military facilities triggered war. One projectile slammed into an area by the docks in Haifa on Friday afternoon where it damaged a building and blew out windows, littering the ground with rubble, AFP images showed. The locations of missile strikes in Israel are subject to strict military censorship rules and are not always provided in detail to the public. A spokesman for Haifa's Rambam hospital said 19 people had been injured in the city, with one in a serious condition. A military official said that "approximately 20 missiles were launched towards Israel" in the latest Iranian salvo. 20:45 The USS Gerald R. Ford will depart for Europe next week, a Navy official said Friday, placing a third American aircraft carrier in closer proximity to the Middle East. "The Gerald Ford carrier strike group will depart Norfolk (Virginia) the morning of June 24 for a regularly scheduled deployment to the US European Command area of responsibility," the Navy official said. The US Carl Vinson carrier strike group has been operating in the Middle East since earlier this year, taking part in an air campaign against Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels. And a US defense official has confirmed that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered the Nimitz carrier strike group to the Middle East, saying it was "to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel." 20:00 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is currently holding an emergency meeting on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, convened at Iran's request. This marks the second time the Council has met to discuss the conflict since Israel launched its initial attacks a week ago. During the session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a grave warning, stating that the world is "racing toward" a major crisis and that the "expansion of this conflict could ignite a fire that no one can control." He urged both sides to "Give peace a chance" and for the Council to act with "unity and urgency for dialogue," emphasizing that diplomacy grounded in international law is the "sole path" to lasting peace. Guterres also specifically addressed the nuclear issue, acknowledging a "trust gap" regarding Iran's nuclear program and reiterating that it must be for peaceful purposes with full access for IAEA inspectors. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also briefed the Council, providing updates on the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities. He confirmed that while there was no immediate awareness of damage at Fordow, four buildings were impacted at the Isfahan nuclear site, and the Khondab heavy water research reactor was hit. Crucially, Grossi issued a dire warning about the Bushehr nuclear power plant, stating that a direct hit could result in a "very high release of radioactivity to the environment" and necessitate evacuations. He strongly reiterated that "Armed attack on nuclear facilities should never take place." Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon used his address to the Security Council to strongly defend Israel's actions and criticize the international community's approach to Iran. Danon emphasized that Israel is seeking a "genuine effort" to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, not merely "another session and debates." He asserted, "We have seen diplomatic talks for the last few decades, and look at the results. If there will be genuine effort to dismantle the capabilities of Iran, then that's something we can consider, but if it is going to be like another session and debates, that's not going to work." The UNSC meeting is ongoing, with members weighing the immediate threat of escalation against the long-term implications of the conflict. 19:00 Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, issued a forceful condemnation of Israel's ongoing actions against Iran. He notably delivered his message not only in Arabic and English but, for the first time, in Persian on social media. This unprecedented outreach directly targets Iranian audiences as tensions escalate, signaling a significant pan-Islamic appeal from Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning. In his tweet, El-Tayeb stated, "I strongly condemn the ongoing aggression by the occupying entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the systematic attacks and continued recklessness committed by this usurping aggressor and its backers, acts that risk dragging the region to the brink of explosion and igniting a full-scale war, from which only arms dealers and profiteers of bloodshed would benefit." El-Tayeb further criticized the international community's inaction, arguing that "The international community's silence in the face of this tyranny, and its failure to put an end to it, amounts to complicity in the crime. Such inaction yields nothing but a growing threat to global security. War cannot create peace!" 18:00 Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it targeted Israeli Channel 14's field broadcasting headquarters in Haifa on Friday with Sejil-3 long-range missiles, describing the strike as part of a wider operation involving 'long-range and very heavy missiles.' According to Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the strike formed part of 'Wave 17' of Operation True Promise 3. The news outlet said the attack followed a prior warning issued by the Guard. 17:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel is nearing 'the point of no return', as the United States weighs the possibility of direct military involvement. 'Unfortunately, the genocide in Gaza and the conflict with Iran are quickly reaching the point of no return. This madness must end as soon as possible,' he said, according to AFP. Erdoğan cautioned that the consequences of the war could extend far beyond the Middle East, affecting Europe and Asia 'for many years'. He made the comments during an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) youth forum in Istanbul, ahead of a meeting of OIC foreign ministers scheduled for the weekend. In a separate phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Erdoğan warned the war could trigger a surge in migration and the risk of nuclear contamination. "The spiral of violence triggered by Israel's attacks could harm the region and Europe in terms of migration and the possibility of nuclear leakage," he said, adding that the conflict had "raised the threat to regional security to the highest level". 16:30 Qatar held crisis talks with energy firms this week after Israeli strikes hit Iran's South Pars gas field, which it shares with Qatar, a regional diplomat and an industry source told Reuters. The South Pars/North Dome field, jointly owned by the two countries, is the world's largest known natural gas reserve. Iranian media reported a 'massive explosion' and fire on Saturday following an Israeli drone strike on one of the South Pars facilities. Qatar urged companies to raise the alarm with US, UK and European governments over mounting risks to global gas supplies, the source said. 16:00 Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the north and south, according to Israel's Home Front Command. Al Jazeera initially reported that the salvo involved around 30 projectiles. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Channel 12 confirmed a direct hit in Haifa that caused significant damage and injured 21 people, some seriously. Army radio cited strikes at multiple sites, while Channel 7 later said around 20 missiles were involved. Iran's Nour News said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Channel 14's field broadcast centre in Haifa with Sejil-3 long-range missiles after a prior warning. The IRGC called the barrage 'Wave 17' of Operation True Promise 3, describing it as a coordinated strike involving 'long-range and very heavy missiles'. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: 'The Zionist enemy is now receiving its punishment.' The attack marks one of the largest direct missile strikes by Iran since the war began on 13 June. The Israeli army later lifted nationwide shelter orders and confirmed impacts in Haifa, as well as central and southern regions. Earlier, Israeli forces said their air force was conducting renewed strikes on targets in western and central Iran. 15:15 Iran will not accept a demand for zero uranium enrichment, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, calling it unacceptable while Israeli strikes continue. However, the official said Tehran was open to negotiating limits on enrichment levels, provided its right to peaceful nuclear development is recognised. The remarks come ahead of talks in Geneva with the UK, France, and Germany, where efforts are underway to restore diplomatic engagement over Iran's nuclear programme. 14:45 Veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh warned that the United States is preparing for heavy bombing of Iran, possibly as early as this weekend, citing long-standing Israeli and American sources. Hersh said the Trump administration is fully backing Israel's campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme, while hoping for the collapse of the government in Tehran. In a Substack post published Thursday, titled 'What I Have Been Told Is Coming in Iran – The Initial Battle Plan for a New War,' Hersh wrote: 'It will entail heavy American bombing,' based on information confirmed by a senior US official. The official reportedly said the situation would remain 'under control' if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'departs.' 'Just how that might happen, short of his assassination, is not known,' Hersh added. He criticised the lack of a coherent US strategy: 'There has been a great deal of talk about American firepower and targets inside Iran, but little practical thinking… about how to remove a revered religious leader with an enormous following.' Hersh also warned of wider consequences: 'The most important unanswered question… will be the response of the world, including that of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president who has been an ally of Iran's leaders.' On continued US support for Israel, Hersh wrote: 'The United States remains Israel's most important ally, although many here and around the world abhor Israel's continuing murderous war in Gaza.' 14:30 Brent crude fell over 2 percent, dragging energy stocks lower, as fears of imminent US strikes on Iran eased. European markets rebounded, while Asian indices closed mixed and the dollar slipped. The shift followed President Donald Trump's comments that he would delay a decision on joining Israeli attacks for up to two weeks. His remarks came ahead of talks in Geneva between Iranian and European diplomats. 'Brent crude has dropped... as traders price out the worst-case scenario for geopolitics,' said Kathleen Brooks of trading firm XTB. Earlier concerns that the conflict could disrupt oil supplies had driven prices higher and global equities lower. 'While the immediate prospect of a US intervention may have diminished, it remains a live issue for markets,' said Dan Coatsworth of investment platform AJ Bell. The main US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), edged up on low post-holiday trading and a drop in US crude stockpiles. Markets are also watching Trump's trade war, as a 90-day pause on new tariffs nears its end. 'Until then... headlines could have an outsized impact,' said David Sekera of Morningstar. 14:00 Russia warned against any attempt to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, saying it would be 'unacceptable' and risk triggering uncontrollable escalation, Sky News reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would react 'very negatively' if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were killed, describing the situation as 'extremely tense and dangerous not only for the region but globally.' Speaking in Saint Petersburg, Peskov said regime change in Iran would 'open the Pandora's box' and warned that further escalation would only deepen the regional confrontation. He did not specify how Russia would respond, but said any such act would provoke a strong reaction 'from inside Iran.' 'It would lead to the birth of extremist moods inside Iran and those who are speaking about [killing Khamenei], they should keep it in mind. They will open the Pandora's box.' 13:30 European foreign ministers meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva are expected to relay that the US remains open to direct talks, Reuters reported, citing diplomats. Two diplomats said Araghchi would be urged to send a 'clear signal' by accepting tough restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly signalled willingness to engage directly with Tehran, though Washington has not formally confirmed this. CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supports European-led diplomacy aimed at reviving talks. The UK, France and Germany and the EU's foreign policy chief met in Geneva ahead of their meeting with Araghchi. The Swiss city hosted the early stages of talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Trump withdrew the US from that agreement on 8 May 2018, reimposing sanctions and triggering the collapse of follow-up negotiations. An EU diplomat said: 'The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can. We'll urge them to return to the table before the worst-case scenario.' Iran has repeatedly said it will not engage with the US while Israeli attacks continue. 'There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops,' Araghchi said on state television. 13:15 Thousands of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied in Baghdad and other cities against Israel's war with Iran, AFP correspondents said. "No to Israel! No to America!" chanted demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr's stronghold in the capital, holding umbrellas to shield themselves from Iraq's scorching summer sun. "It is an unjust war... Israel has no right" to hit Iran, said protester Abu Hussein. "Israel is not in it for the (Iranian) nuclear (program). What Israel and the Americans want is to dominate the Middle East," added the 54-year-old taxi driver. He said he hoped Iran would come out of the war victorious, and that Iraq should support its neighbour "with money, weapons and protests". In Iraq's southern city of Basra, around 2,000 people demonstrated after the prayers, according to an AFP correspondent. Cleric Qusai al-Assadi, 43, denounced Israel's use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. "It is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," he said, warning against "a third world war against Islam." Echoing the views of Sadr, Assadi said that Iraq should not be dragged into the conflict. Iraq has long attempted to balance ties between Iran and the US, and has only recently emerged from decades of instability following the 2003 US invasion. 13:00 Thousands of people joined a protest against Israel in the Iranian capital after weekly prayers, chanting slogans in support of their leaders, images on state television showed, AFP reported. "This is the Friday of the Iranian nation's solidarity and resistance across the country," the news anchor said. Footage showed protesters in Tehran holding up photographs of commanders killed since the start of the war with Israel, while others waved the flags of Iran and the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. "I will sacrifice my life for my leader," read a protester's banner, a reference to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to state television, protests took place in other cities around the country, including in Tabriz in northwestern Iran and Shiraz in the south. 12:45 French President Emmanuel Macron said European powers will present Iran with a 'comprehensive diplomatic and technical offer' to end the escalating conflict with Israel. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is expected to meet Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva later Friday, alongside UK and German officials. Macron said the proposal includes four points: full IAEA access and zero uranium enrichment; limits on ballistic capabilities; restrictions on financing regional proxies; and the release of foreign detainees. He warned that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an 'existential risk' to Israel, but criticised Israeli strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure, saying 'nothing justifies this'. He added that military action alone cannot eliminate Iran's nuclear programme. "No one seriously thinks that this risk (posed by the Iranian atomic drive) can be responded to only through the operations that are currently underway," he said. "There are facilities that are extremely well protected we do not know exactly where the uranium enriched to 60 percent is." 12:00 Several major US airlines have suspended flights to the Middle East, AP reported. United Airlines said it has indefinitely paused flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. American Airlines announced it is suspending service between Philadelphia and Doha, Qatar, at least through Sunday, and will make 'additional adjustments as needed'. Both airlines said they are monitoring the situation and working to rebook affected passengers. Last week, Delta Air Lines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, where Ben Gurion Airport remains closed to regular scheduled passenger traffic. 11:30 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ruled out any negotiations with the United States, calling it a 'partner to Israeli crime against Iran'. 'There is no room for negotiations with us until Israeli aggression stops,' Araqchi told Iranian state television, according to Reuters. 11:15 French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, according to the Guardian, held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the planned Geneva meeting with his UK, German, and Iranian counterparts. A French diplomatic source said Rubio conveyed that the United States is 'ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any moment.' 11:00 Seven people were injured during Iran's missile attack on the southern Israeli city of Beersheba earlier this morning. According to a spokesperson for Soroka Medical Centre, quoted by The Jerusalem Post, the individuals sustained minor injuries while rushing to shelters during the barrage. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iranian Ballistic Missiles Hit 'Strategic Points' In Israeli Port City Of Haifa (Updated)
Israel and Iran traded more blows overnight and on Friday, as the conflict continued into its eighth day. Among the most notable targets struck in Israel today was the port city of Haifa. Local mayor Yona Yahav confirmed that Iran had struck 'two strategic points' in the city. Visiting the impact site, he said: 'I am very depressed. To the residents of Haifa, I say — strictly follow the instructions.' There were reports of two people injured in Haifa, one of them seriously injured, according to Haaretz. The same source stated that at least 20 missiles were identified as part of this wave of strikes, with some hitting areas of Beersheba and others coming down in Haifa. Another angle of Iranian missile hitting Israel's Haifa. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2025 This is the moment an Iranian missile struck a building in Israel's Haifa, seriously injuring several people. Iran reportedly fired around 20 missiles at Israel on Friday, explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 20, 2025 #BREAKING: At least one Iranian ballistic missile impacted the port city of Haifa in northern Israel minutes 15 missiles were said to be launched by Iran in the latest barrage. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) June 20, 2025 Haifa is home to the main naval base of the Israel Defense Forces, home to submarines, corvettes, and other vessels. It remains unclear at this point whether this was the intended target and whether or not it was hit. IDF naval base is just across the harbor, you can see the berthing for the corvettes in the picture. Take a wild guess what the intended target may have been. — Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) June 20, 2025 Israeli Channel 12 TV reported today that the international shipping company Maersk has decided to suspend all of its shipping movements to the port until further notice. You can catch up on our coverage of Israel's Operation Rising Lion, designed to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons and dismantle its long-range weapons capabilities, here. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said more than 60 fighter jets using approximately 120 munitions hit dozens of Iranian military areas overnight, including targets inside the Iranian capital. In a post on X, the IDF said it struck several industrial sites in Tehran, which it claimed were used to manufacture missiles. 'During the night, several industrial sites used to manufacture missiles were struck in the Tehran area. These sites were developed over many years and served as a key industrial center for the Iranian Ministry of Defense,' it said. The IDF said it hit the headquarters of Iran's military research and development organization, the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), which it claims was involved in Iran's nuclear weapons development. The SPND was established in 2011 by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the founder of Iran's nuclear weapons program. What did the IDF accomplish in Iran overnight? 60+ fighter jets struck dozens of military targets in Iran using approximately 120 munitions. Several industrial sites used to manufacture missiles were struck in the Tehran area. These sites served as a key industrial center… — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 20, 2025 Other targets were said to be sites producing missile components and facilities manufacturing raw materials used in casting missile engines. Additionally, a site producing an undisclosed critical component of the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons program was targeted, the IDF said. Reportedly, a key Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in a strike on a building in Tehran. This was reported by Reuters, citing a story from Israel's national broadcaster, Kan, which quoted an Israeli source. They said there was evidence that a scientist was killed in a drone attack on an apartment in the Iranian capital. The IDF's focus on targets within Tehran reflects efforts by Israel to destabilize the Iranian regime. Today, Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said that he had offered the military to intensify attacks on 'symbols of the regime' in the Iranian capital. 'We must strike at all the symbols of the regime and the mechanisms of oppression of the population, such as the Basij, and the regime's power base, such as the Revolutionary Guard,' Katz said in a statement. A paramilitary volunteer militia, the Basij comes under the IRGC and is notorious for cracking down on public protests. Successive waves of unrest in Iran since the 1979 revolution have been dealt with by the Basij militia, serving as something like the shock troops of the Islamic regime. The IDF also said that more than 25 Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighters destroyed more than 35 missile storage and launch facilities in Iran on Friday morning. These targets were in the areas of Tabriz and Kermanshah in Iran, the Israeli military said. Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck several Iranian air defense batteries in Isfahan and Tehran in recent days, which the IDF says expands its air supremacy in military says the strikes hit the surface-to-air missile launchers and radars, "that were intended to… — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 20, 2025 Additionally, explosions were heard overnight in the Safidrood industrial town near the Iranian town of Kolesh Taleshan, in the northwest of the country, shortly after Israel told people in the area to evacuate. On social media, footage posted by eyewitnesses showed an apparent Israeli airstrike on Rasht, in northwest Iran, which may be related to the presence of a carbon-fiber plant close to the city. This followed another IDF order for civilians to evacuate from areas around the Sefidrud Industrial Park in Rasht. Israeli forces likely just hit and destroyed the half-billion-dollar Iranian carbon fiber plant in Rasht, a key link in the Iranian missile production chain. Reports and footage of a major explosion south of the city earlier tonight. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 20, 2025 After a week of Israeli strikes, it is estimated that at least 657 people have been killed and 2,037 others wounded. These figures come from the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. Of those dead, the group identifies 263 civilians and 164 security force personnel. The following video, posted on X by the IDF, provides an interview with an IAF pilot, named only as Maj. B, who has flown combat sorties over Iran. The pilot describes being aware that Iranian fighters were taking off during these missions, but says that they turned away rather than confront the Israeli jets. Maj. B also says the first 24 hours of the campaign focused on suppression and destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD) sorties to remove the threat posed by Iranian air defenses. What do pilots see 9,000 meters over Tehran? — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 20, 2025 Iran has ruled out — at least publicly — talks with the United States over ending its nuclear weapons program as long as Israeli 'aggression' continues. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled yesterday that he would decide on whether to order the U.S. military to strike Iranian nuclear facilities within the next two weeks and has demanded Iran return to the negotiating table. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the country's leadership will not hold talks with Washington as it is a 'partner to Israeli crimes against Iran.' Reuters reports that Araqchi had told Iranian state TV: 'There is no room for negotiations with us until Israeli aggression stops.' Among the targets that Iran struck in Israel overnight was the city of Beersheba in the south of the country. A hospital in the city was also hit yesterday, Iran claiming that the intended target in that instance was a nearby 'large [IDF] command and intelligence headquarters and [a] military intelligence camp.' A blaze was reported near a Microsoft office after a missile hit Beersheba early on Friday, emergency services reported. The Magen David Adom rescue service posted a photo of several vehicles on fire. Israeli media later reported that five people had sustained minor injuries. MDA Spokesperson: Following the Red Alert sirens that were heard in the past few minutes in southern Israel, no reports of casualties have been received at this stage. MDA teams are being dispatched to scan the areas where reports were received. Updates as required — Magen David Adom (@Mdais) June 20, 2025 Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Microsoft was the intended target. In a statement, it said it had targeted the company 'because of its close cooperation with the Israeli Army and its being part of the system supporting aggression, and not just a civilian entity. The cyber area that was attacked also includes the residences of people from the espionage and artificial intelligence fields, who operate in direct cooperation with the enemy army and its security apparatus.' An Israeli military official said that Iran had fired a single missile and that an interceptor that was fired in response had failed to intercept it. Reports out of Israel suggest that the missile that struck Beersheba may have been fitted with a cluster warhead, evidenced by multiple small impacts in footage of the impact. You can read more about Iranian ballistic missiles with warheads containing multiple submunitions in this previous story. Iran likely targeted Beersheba with a cluster bomb in its latest attack on Israel, footage and photos from the southern city show several impacts of small munitions at multiple locations in the city, indicating that a ballistic missile carrying a cluster bomb… — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 20, 2025 The IDF said that it intercepted four Iranian drones targeting Israel overnight. Footage has appeared on social media that purports to show an IAF F-16 shooting down a Shahed-series drone, said to be over Syria. Footage of an Israeli Air Force F-16 shooting down an Iranian Shahed-136 attack drone over southern Syria with an AIM-9/Python air to air missile. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 20, 2025 Meanwhile, there are reports that the Israeli Navy has, for the first time, used the Barak Magan surface-to-air missile system in combat to intercept a drone that crossed into Israeli territory. This is likely a reference to the Israeli version of the Rafael Barak-8 surface-to-air missile, which is launched from 32 vertical launch cells on the Sa'ar 6, the latest Israeli Navy corvette, which you can read more about here. The Barak-8 is intended to engage targets out to around 60 miles. IDF:"Barak" system, used for the first time in the Air Force's air defense system, intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2025 There have been more statements from Russian officials about the course of the conflict. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned of the risk of the Middle East more generally falling into an 'abyss of instability and war.' Peskov also told reporters that he didn't know when Russian President Vladimir Putin might meet President Trump. 'The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally,' he added. Peskov also told Sky News that Russia would react 'very negatively' if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were to be killed. 'The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally,' Peskov said. Regime change in Iran would be 'unacceptable,' Peskov added, and that the assassination of the country's supreme leader would 'open Pandora's box.' Iran regime change is 'unacceptable' and 'will open Pandora's Box' the Kremlin has a rare interview with foreign media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that Russia would react "very negatively" if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed — Sky News (@SkyNews) June 20, 2025 This came a day after the Israeli defense minister said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'can no longer be allowed to exist.' Peskov did not say how Russia would respond if Khamenei were assassinated, but warned that it would trigger a response 'from inside Iran.' He explained: 'It would lead to the birth of extremist moods inside Iran, and those who are speaking about [killing Khamenei], they should keep it in mind.' In related news, Russian specialists are still working at the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, according to the head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation. Alexei Likhachev said the situation at the plant in the southern port city was normal and under control amid Russia's warnings to Israel not to attack the site, according to a Reuters report. Russian nuclear energy chief Alexei Likhachev said that the situation at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, where hundreds of Russian specialists work, was "normal" and under — The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) June 20, 2025 The movement of U.S. Air Force aircraft into Europe, and then forward to bases in the Middle East, continues. In the past, we have reported specifically about the deployment of tankers and fighters to locations closer to the conflict zone. The departure of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from RAF Lakenheath in England has also been observed today, with the likely destinations being U.S. airbases in the Middle East, as evidenced by the movement of aerial refueling tankers to support them on their trip. Four F-22 heading out with GOLD13 from Lakenheath less than an hour ago. — Def Mon (@DefMon3) June 20, 2025 10:26 TABOR 71 flt x4 USAF F-22/A Raptor'sAfter Some Complications on the Ground: #F22's Now Airborne to head to the Middle East for a Declared MARSA.#TABOR71 and #GOLD23 Working 259.600 / Boom Frequency 268.300#GOLD23 Tail : 22-46101 — Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) June 20, 2025 Meanwhile, in the last couple of days, there has been extensive evidence of U.S. Air Force transport aircraft movements. Publicly available flight-tracking data reveals that at least 20 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters have been on the move from Europe to bases in the Middle East in the last 24 hours. Over the last 24 hours, at least 20 C-17A 'Globemaster III' and C-5M 'Galaxy' Strategic Heavy-Lift Transports with the U.S. Air Force have arrived at airbases in the Middle East from Europe, most originating from bases in the United States, carrying additional air-defense… — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 20, 2025 The arrival of a C-5 Galaxy strategic transport aircraft was also noted today at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. USAF C-5M Super Galaxy landing at Prince Sultan Air Base this morning, with a large amount of cargo in tow. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 20, 2025 Iranian aircraft are on the move, too. This follows the highly unusual movement of Iran's primary presidential plane and two other government airliners to the Omani capital Muscat, as we reported earlier in the week. The latest movements concern a pair of Boeing 737s from Saha Airlines and a single Airbus A320 from Meraj Airlines. Another 3 aircraft have left Iran for Muscat, Oman. — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 20, 2025 With President Trump yet to commit to a U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel now appears to be looking into the possibility of going it alone. According to Lucas Tomlinson of Fox News, options available to the IDF for the destruction of the deeply buried Iranian nuclear enrichment facility in Fordow include a commando raid, a possibility that TWZ has been discussing now for many years. 'One option could involve sending in elite Israeli Air Force commandos from Unit 5101 Shaldag, who launched a similar operation in September in Syria to destroy an underground missile site used by Iran. Another option would be to cut power to Fordow. Without power, the centrifuges enriching the uranium could become permanently disabled,' Tomlinson wrote. IDF has a number of options to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Fordow, buried deep underground two hours south of option could involve sending in elite Israeli Air Force commandos from Unit 5101 Shaldag, who launched a similar operation in September in… — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 20, 2025 This is a developing story. Stay with The War Zone for AH-64 Apaches have been something of an unsung hero of Israel's air defense architecture. They continue to shoot down long-range one-way attack drones. The Apache has come into its own as a counter-drone asset, which Israel largely pioneered. Overnight, the Israeli Air Force downed at least four drones launched by Iran against Israel, with footage showing the shoot down of two 'Arash-2' long-range attack drones by an AH-64 'Apache' with the IAF. — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 20, 2025 The IDF says Iran has fired 520 ballistic missile at Israel and 25 have impacted the ground, equaling roughly a 5% hit rate. That does not mean they stuck their intended targets though. That number would be significantly lower. Israeli Government Secretary Yossi Fox:520 missiles were fired from Iran, of which only 25 fell, less than five percent. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2025 The WSJ states that Israel's air defense operation is costing $200M a day. The Wall Street Journal reports that the cost of operating Israel's missile air defense systems could reach $200 million per day. — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 20, 2025 Hezbollah, severely weakened after its war with Israel, has still not defended its benefactor, Iran. That could change based on threats, which Israeli defense mintier Katz has responded to. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a post this morning's on X directed at Hezbollah:'The Hezbollah Secretary-General is not learning a lesson from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel in accordance with the Iranian dictator's orders.I suggest to the… — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 20, 2025 Israel's catalog of man-in-the-loop guided air-launched standoff munitions — which include Popeye and Delilah cruise missiles, and the Spice series of guided bombs, have been center-stage in this conflict. The ability for the controller — usually in the launching aircraft — to 'fly' the weapon right to impact has allowed for extremely accurate strikes, especially on opportunistic targets. The cruise missile and glide-bomb capabilities also allow for the launching aircraft to stay away from high-threat areas where air defenses are most likely to be. Most of the strike video coming from the IAF shows these weapons in action. Footage of an Israeli Air Force-launched Delilah loitering munition slamming into a Russian-supplied Tor-M1 surface to air missile system in Iranian service. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 20, 2025 There are multiple unconfirmed reports that the ballistic missile that impacted Haifa landed right next to a mosque. European-led talks with Iranian officials on their nuclear program and a way to stop the war have reportedly failed in making significant progress on either front. BREAKING: Talks with Iran in Geneva today have failed. Iran continues to REJECT giving up its ability to make nuclear weapons & the nuclear fuel cycle. Asked by WSJ if Iran will negotiate further with the U.S., Tehran's FM says 'NO.' — Josh Block (@JoshBlockDC) June 20, 2025 BREAKING Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi in Geneva: "Iran is ready to consider diplomatic paths, but Iran's defense capabilities are not negotiable. Its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and under the supervision of the IAEA. It will continue to exercise its… — Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 20, 2025 Israel's Channel 13 says Israeli officials who have been engaged with the U.S. on joining the conflict say that Trump is close to jumping in. BREAKING Ch 13: Senior Israeli officials who have been talking to US administration officials in the past 24 hours say that Trump is close to ordering the US military to join the war with the White House's statement that the president will decide within two… — Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 20, 2025 Contact the author: thomas@
Al-Ahram Weekly
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Iran launches fresh salvo of missiles on Friday as US to move third aircraft carrier closer to Mideast conflict - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides waged deadly strikes against one another for the eighth day in a row. Related Trump says will decide whether to attack Iran 'within two weeks' - as it happened Israel expands assassination policy with threat to target Khamenei Israeli army says struck inactive nuclear reactor in Iran's Arak The face-off between Israel and Iran has continued to intensify overnight and into this morning. Overnight, the Israeli military reported carrying out dozens of strikes on military targets across Iran, including a significant attack on the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) headquarters in Tehran, which Israel claims is involved in Iran's nuclear weapons development project. Other targets included missile production sites in Tehran and the northern city of Rasht. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed that Israel's rockets had damaged Iran's Khondab Heavy Water Production Plant. In retaliation, Iran launched fresh barrages of missiles towards Israel. These missiles struck southern Israel, particularly the city of Beersheba for the second consecutive day, causing damage to residential buildings, including a six-story structure. Sirens were activated across southern Israel as missiles were detected, and while most were reportedly intercepted, some impacted areas. Casualty figures remain high, with an Iranian human rights group stating that Israeli strikes have now killed at least 657 people and wounded over 2,000 in Iran since the conflict began. Iran's retaliatory strikes have resulted in 24 deaths in Israel. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with the Iranian Foreign Minister expected to meet with top European diplomats in Geneva today, although Iran continues to reject direct negotiations with the US as long as Israeli attacks persist. Concerns are also rising regarding potential cyberattacks, with reports of Iranian hackers targeting Israeli home security cameras. 21:15 At least 19 people were injured in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa as Iran fired a fresh barrage of missiles on Friday afternoon, authorities said. Iran has been launching daily missile salvos at Israel for the past week since a wide-ranging Israeli attack on its nuclear and military facilities triggered war. One projectile slammed into an area by the docks in Haifa on Friday afternoon where it damaged a building and blew out windows, littering the ground with rubble, AFP images showed. The locations of missile strikes in Israel are subject to strict military censorship rules and are not always provided in detail to the public. A spokesman for Haifa's Rambam hospital said 19 people had been injured in the city, with one in a serious condition. A military official said that "approximately 20 missiles were launched towards Israel" in the latest Iranian salvo. 20:45 The USS Gerald R. Ford will depart for Europe next week, a Navy official said Friday, placing a third American aircraft carrier in closer proximity to the Middle East. "The Gerald Ford carrier strike group will depart Norfolk (Virginia) the morning of June 24 for a regularly scheduled deployment to the US European Command area of responsibility," the Navy official said. The US Carl Vinson carrier strike group has been operating in the Middle East since earlier this year, taking part in an air campaign against Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels. And a US defense official has confirmed that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered the Nimitz carrier strike group to the Middle East, saying it was "to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel." 20:00 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is currently holding an emergency meeting on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, convened at Iran's request. This marks the second time the Council has met to discuss the conflict since Israel launched its initial attacks a week ago. During the session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a grave warning, stating that the world is "racing toward" a major crisis and that the "expansion of this conflict could ignite a fire that no one can control." He urged both sides to "Give peace a chance" and for the Council to act with "unity and urgency for dialogue," emphasizing that diplomacy grounded in international law is the "sole path" to lasting peace. Guterres also specifically addressed the nuclear issue, acknowledging a "trust gap" regarding Iran's nuclear program and reiterating that it must be for peaceful purposes with full access for IAEA inspectors. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also briefed the Council, providing updates on the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities. He confirmed that while there was no immediate awareness of damage at Fordow, four buildings were impacted at the Isfahan nuclear site, and the Khondab heavy water research reactor was hit. Crucially, Grossi issued a dire warning about the Bushehr nuclear power plant, stating that a direct hit could result in a "very high release of radioactivity to the environment" and necessitate evacuations. He strongly reiterated that "Armed attack on nuclear facilities should never take place." Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon used his address to the Security Council to strongly defend Israel's actions and criticize the international community's approach to Iran. Danon emphasized that Israel is seeking a "genuine effort" to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, not merely "another session and debates." He asserted, "We have seen diplomatic talks for the last few decades, and look at the results. If there will be genuine effort to dismantle the capabilities of Iran, then that's something we can consider, but if it is going to be like another session and debates, that's not going to work." The UNSC meeting is ongoing, with members weighing the immediate threat of escalation against the long-term implications of the conflict. 19:00 Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, issued a forceful condemnation of Israel's ongoing actions against Iran. He notably delivered his message not only in Arabic and English but, for the first time, in Persian on social media. This unprecedented outreach directly targets Iranian audiences as tensions escalate, signaling a significant pan-Islamic appeal from Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning. In his tweet, El-Tayeb stated, "I strongly condemn the ongoing aggression by the occupying entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the systematic attacks and continued recklessness committed by this usurping aggressor and its backers, acts that risk dragging the region to the brink of explosion and igniting a full-scale war, from which only arms dealers and profiteers of bloodshed would benefit." El-Tayeb further criticized the international community's inaction, arguing that "The international community's silence in the face of this tyranny, and its failure to put an end to it, amounts to complicity in the crime. Such inaction yields nothing but a growing threat to global security. War cannot create peace!" 18:00 Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it targeted Israeli Channel 14's field broadcasting headquarters in Haifa on Friday with Sejil-3 long-range missiles, describing the strike as part of a wider operation involving 'long-range and very heavy missiles.' According to Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the strike formed part of 'Wave 17' of Operation True Promise 3. The news outlet said the attack followed a prior warning issued by the Guard. 17:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel is nearing 'the point of no return', as the United States weighs the possibility of direct military involvement. 'Unfortunately, the genocide in Gaza and the conflict with Iran are quickly reaching the point of no return. This madness must end as soon as possible,' he said, according to AFP. Erdoğan cautioned that the consequences of the war could extend far beyond the Middle East, affecting Europe and Asia 'for many years'. He made the comments during an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) youth forum in Istanbul, ahead of a meeting of OIC foreign ministers scheduled for the weekend. In a separate phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Erdoğan warned the war could trigger a surge in migration and the risk of nuclear contamination. "The spiral of violence triggered by Israel's attacks could harm the region and Europe in terms of migration and the possibility of nuclear leakage," he said, adding that the conflict had "raised the threat to regional security to the highest level". 16:30 Qatar held crisis talks with energy firms this week after Israeli strikes hit Iran's South Pars gas field, which it shares with Qatar, a regional diplomat and an industry source told Reuters. The South Pars/North Dome field, jointly owned by the two countries, is the world's largest known natural gas reserve. Iranian media reported a 'massive explosion' and fire on Saturday following an Israeli drone strike on one of the South Pars facilities. Qatar urged companies to raise the alarm with US, UK and European governments over mounting risks to global gas supplies, the source said. 16:00 Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the north and south, according to Israel's Home Front Command. Al Jazeera initially reported that the salvo involved around 30 projectiles. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Channel 12 confirmed a direct hit in Haifa that caused significant damage and injured 21 people, some seriously. Army radio cited strikes at multiple sites, while Channel 7 later said around 20 missiles were involved. Iran's Nour News said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Channel 14's field broadcast centre in Haifa with Sejil-3 long-range missiles after a prior warning. The IRGC called the barrage 'Wave 17' of Operation True Promise 3, describing it as a coordinated strike involving 'long-range and very heavy missiles'. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: 'The Zionist enemy is now receiving its punishment.' The attack marks one of the largest direct missile strikes by Iran since the war began on 13 June. The Israeli army later lifted nationwide shelter orders and confirmed impacts in Haifa, as well as central and southern regions. Earlier, Israeli forces said their air force was conducting renewed strikes on targets in western and central Iran. 15:15 Iran will not accept a demand for zero uranium enrichment, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, calling it unacceptable while Israeli strikes continue. However, the official said Tehran was open to negotiating limits on enrichment levels, provided its right to peaceful nuclear development is recognised. The remarks come ahead of talks in Geneva with the UK, France, and Germany, where efforts are underway to restore diplomatic engagement over Iran's nuclear programme. 14:45 Veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh warned that the United States is preparing for heavy bombing of Iran, possibly as early as this weekend, citing long-standing Israeli and American sources. Hersh said the Trump administration is fully backing Israel's campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme, while hoping for the collapse of the government in Tehran. In a Substack post published Thursday, titled 'What I Have Been Told Is Coming in Iran – The Initial Battle Plan for a New War,' Hersh wrote: 'It will entail heavy American bombing,' based on information confirmed by a senior US official. The official reportedly said the situation would remain 'under control' if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'departs.' 'Just how that might happen, short of his assassination, is not known,' Hersh added. He criticised the lack of a coherent US strategy: 'There has been a great deal of talk about American firepower and targets inside Iran, but little practical thinking… about how to remove a revered religious leader with an enormous following.' Hersh also warned of wider consequences: 'The most important unanswered question… will be the response of the world, including that of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president who has been an ally of Iran's leaders.' On continued US support for Israel, Hersh wrote: 'The United States remains Israel's most important ally, although many here and around the world abhor Israel's continuing murderous war in Gaza.' 14:30 Brent crude fell over 2 percent, dragging energy stocks lower, as fears of imminent US strikes on Iran eased. European markets rebounded, while Asian indices closed mixed and the dollar slipped. The shift followed President Donald Trump's comments that he would delay a decision on joining Israeli attacks for up to two weeks. His remarks came ahead of talks in Geneva between Iranian and European diplomats. 'Brent crude has dropped... as traders price out the worst-case scenario for geopolitics,' said Kathleen Brooks of trading firm XTB. Earlier concerns that the conflict could disrupt oil supplies had driven prices higher and global equities lower. 'While the immediate prospect of a US intervention may have diminished, it remains a live issue for markets,' said Dan Coatsworth of investment platform AJ Bell. The main US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), edged up on low post-holiday trading and a drop in US crude stockpiles. Markets are also watching Trump's trade war, as a 90-day pause on new tariffs nears its end. 'Until then... headlines could have an outsized impact,' said David Sekera of Morningstar. 14:00 Russia warned against any attempt to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, saying it would be 'unacceptable' and risk triggering uncontrollable escalation, Sky News reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would react 'very negatively' if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were killed, describing the situation as 'extremely tense and dangerous not only for the region but globally.' Speaking in Saint Petersburg, Peskov said regime change in Iran would 'open the Pandora's box' and warned that further escalation would only deepen the regional confrontation. He did not specify how Russia would respond, but said any such act would provoke a strong reaction 'from inside Iran.' 'It would lead to the birth of extremist moods inside Iran and those who are speaking about [killing Khamenei], they should keep it in mind. They will open the Pandora's box.' 13:30 European foreign ministers meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva are expected to relay that the US remains open to direct talks, Reuters reported, citing diplomats. Two diplomats said Araghchi would be urged to send a 'clear signal' by accepting tough restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly signalled willingness to engage directly with Tehran, though Washington has not formally confirmed this. CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supports European-led diplomacy aimed at reviving talks. The UK, France and Germany and the EU's foreign policy chief met in Geneva ahead of their meeting with Araghchi. The Swiss city hosted the early stages of talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Trump withdrew the US from that agreement on 8 May 2018, reimposing sanctions and triggering the collapse of follow-up negotiations. An EU diplomat said: 'The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can. We'll urge them to return to the table before the worst-case scenario.' Iran has repeatedly said it will not engage with the US while Israeli attacks continue. 'There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops,' Araghchi said on state television. 13:15 Thousands of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied in Baghdad and other cities against Israel's war with Iran, AFP correspondents said. "No to Israel! No to America!" chanted demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr's stronghold in the capital, holding umbrellas to shield themselves from Iraq's scorching summer sun. "It is an unjust war... Israel has no right" to hit Iran, said protester Abu Hussein. "Israel is not in it for the (Iranian) nuclear (program). What Israel and the Americans want is to dominate the Middle East," added the 54-year-old taxi driver. He said he hoped Iran would come out of the war victorious, and that Iraq should support its neighbour "with money, weapons and protests". In Iraq's southern city of Basra, around 2,000 people demonstrated after the prayers, according to an AFP correspondent. Cleric Qusai al-Assadi, 43, denounced Israel's use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. "It is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," he said, warning against "a third world war against Islam." Echoing the views of Sadr, Assadi said that Iraq should not be dragged into the conflict. Iraq has long attempted to balance ties between Iran and the US, and has only recently emerged from decades of instability following the 2003 US invasion. 13:00 Thousands of people joined a protest against Israel in the Iranian capital after weekly prayers, chanting slogans in support of their leaders, images on state television showed, AFP reported. "This is the Friday of the Iranian nation's solidarity and resistance across the country," the news anchor said. Footage showed protesters in Tehran holding up photographs of commanders killed since the start of the war with Israel, while others waved the flags of Iran and the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. "I will sacrifice my life for my leader," read a protester's banner, a reference to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to state television, protests took place in other cities around the country, including in Tabriz in northwestern Iran and Shiraz in the south. 12:45 French President Emmanuel Macron said European powers will present Iran with a 'comprehensive diplomatic and technical offer' to end the escalating conflict with Israel. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is expected to meet Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva later Friday, alongside UK and German officials. Macron said the proposal includes four points: full IAEA access and zero uranium enrichment; limits on ballistic capabilities; restrictions on financing regional proxies; and the release of foreign detainees. He warned that a nuclear-armed Iran poses an 'existential risk' to Israel, but criticised Israeli strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure, saying 'nothing justifies this'. He added that military action alone cannot eliminate Iran's nuclear programme. "No one seriously thinks that this risk (posed by the Iranian atomic drive) can be responded to only through the operations that are currently underway," he said. "There are facilities that are extremely well protected we do not know exactly where the uranium enriched to 60 percent is." 12:00 Several major US airlines have suspended flights to the Middle East, AP reported. United Airlines said it has indefinitely paused flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. American Airlines announced it is suspending service between Philadelphia and Doha, Qatar, at least through Sunday, and will make 'additional adjustments as needed'. Both airlines said they are monitoring the situation and working to rebook affected passengers. Last week, Delta Air Lines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, where Ben Gurion Airport remains closed to regular scheduled passenger traffic. 11:30 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ruled out any negotiations with the United States, calling it a 'partner to Israeli crime against Iran'. 'There is no room for negotiations with us until Israeli aggression stops,' Araqchi told Iranian state television, according to Reuters. 11:15 French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, according to the Guardian, held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the planned Geneva meeting with his UK, German, and Iranian counterparts. A French diplomatic source said Rubio conveyed that the United States is 'ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any moment.' 11:00 Seven people were injured during Iran's missile attack on the southern Israeli city of Beersheba earlier this morning. According to a spokesperson for Soroka Medical Centre, quoted by The Jerusalem Post, the individuals sustained minor injuries while rushing to shelters during the barrage. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
