Israel and Iran trade deadly strikes for 3rd day - as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provided live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides waged deadly strikes against one another for a third day.
On Friday evening, Iran fired multiple waves of ballistic missiles towards Israel, hitting areas in central Israel, including Rishon Lezion, Bat Yam, and Tamra, in its retaliatory "Operation True Promise III" to Israeli attacks in the early hours Friday.
These operation resulted in at least 13 fatalities across Israel, and over 300 injuries. Damage to residential buildings and infrastructure was reported in cities like Tel Aviv, with rescue teams actively searching for missing persons under rubble.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said their missiles successfully hit Israeli military-industrial centers and fuel facilities, while Israel's defense systems intercepted many, but not all, incoming projectiles.
Simultaneously, Israel continued its "Operation Rising Lion" unleashing airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday with expanded airstrikes deep inside Iran. Israeli army indicated strikes on dozens of targets, including residential areas and what they claimed were Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran, an oil depot at Shahran, the Fajr Jam oil refinery, and a crucial part of the South Pars gas field, reportedly disrupting gas production.
Israel's attacks on Iran since Friday have killed over 200 Iranians, with over 1,000 wounded. 13 were killed in Israel and dozens injured.
Sunday 15 June
02:30 US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Iran and Israel -- who are locked in an exchange of military strikes -- to "make a deal," but suggested they might need to "fight it out" first.
"I think it's time for a deal. But sometimes they have to fight it out, but we're going to see what happens," Trump said, speaking at the White House before heading to Canada to take part in a G7 summit.
23:45 Iran's health ministry said Sunday that three days of Israeli strikes on the country had killed 224 people and injured more than 1,200.
Smoke billows from a site in the city of Haifa on June 16, 2025, following a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles. AFP
"After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured. Two hundred twenty-four women, men, and children have been martyred," the ministry's spokesman Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X, adding that 90 percent of those killed had been civilians.
22:25 Iran on Sunday accused Israel of deliberately targeting a foreign ministry building in Tehran, saying the "ruthless" strike wounded several civilians.
"The criminal regime of Israel launched a deliberate and ruthless strike on one of the buildings of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs," deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a post on X alongside a video showing blown-out windows and debris littering the floors. "Several civilians were injured in the attack."
The criminal regime of Israel launched a deliberate and ruthless strike on one of the buildings of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located directly across from the Institute for Political and International Studies.
Several civilians were injured in the attack, including a… pic.twitter.com/DLxlmvuvZe — Saeed Khatibzadeh | سعید خطیبزاده (@SKhatibzadeh) June 15, 2025
21:55 Iran's air defences were activated against "hostile targets" in the country's southwest on Sunday evening, the Mehr news agency reported.
"A few minutes ago, air defence systems were activated in Ahvaz at several locations to counter hostile targets," the agency reported.
21:45 A large fire has erupted in Kiryat Gat, Israel, following Iranian missile strikes, with ambulances and civil defence vehicles urgently responding to the scene.
حريق ضخم يندلع في كريات جات بإسرائيل بعد سقوط صواريخ إيرانية وسط تحرك عاجل لسيارات الإسعاف والدفاع المدني #إيران #إسرائيل #الحدث pic.twitter.com/I6lYXDLsOY — ا لـحـدث (@AlHadath) June 15, 2025
21:30 Israel's military said several sites were hit by the latest Iranian missile barrage on Sunday, with firefighters reporting a residential building struck on the country's Mediterranean coast.
"Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran," the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters. The fire services, meanwhile, said rescuers were heading to a building on the coast that sustained a "direct hit".
🎥 صور الدمار الكبير في حيفا بعد سقوط الصواريخ الإيرانية pic.twitter.com/jFm5ILLZy0 — وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 15, 2025
21:15 Air raid sirens and booms rang out in Jerusalem while missiles flew across the sky on Sunday evening, AFP journalists said, as Israel and Iran exchanged fire for a third day.
"Sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement.
21:00 At least four people have been injured in Haifa, northern Israel, following Iranian missile strikes, according to Israel's National Emergency Service, Al Jazeera reported.
Earlier, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said it was responding to several reported missile impacts across the area but had not received immediate reports of injuries. Reuters also reported explosions in Haifa following projectile impacts.
In tandem, the Israeli army said it had launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting what it claims are missile sites in western Iran.
The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority has also announced a complete closure of airspace and airports.
تصاعد أعمدة الدخان وألسنة اللهب من ميناء حيفا شمال إسرائيل بعد سقوط صاروخ أطلق عليه من إيران#إسرائيل #إيران #الحدث pic.twitter.com/o3dTJIcfvu — ا لـحـدث (@AlHadath) June 15, 2025
20:30 Russia said Sunday it had evacuated several of its citizens from Iran and halted activity at its Tehran consulate after Israeli attacks on the country sparked retaliatory missile fire towards Israel.
"Due to the current situation, the consular service of the embassy is temporarily suspending its activities. The resumption of consular services will be announced later," the Russian embassy in Tehran said on Telegram.
Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said musicians from the Tchaikovsky Grand Symphony Orchestra were evacuated from Iran.
"The musicians crossed the Azerbaijani border. Yesterday (Saturday), Fyodor Bondarchuk's film crew left Iran via the same route," she said on Telegram, referring to the Russian director and actor.
Russia's civil aviation authority ordered airlines to suspend flights to Iran and Israel and avoid their airspace—along with that of Jordan and Iraq—until at least 26 June, following official travel warnings issued Friday., along with that of Jordan and Iraq,
20:00 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday strongly suggested that Israel had killed Iran's intelligence chief, Mohammad Kazemi, in an aerial attack, as the arch-foes ramp up their conflict.
"Moments ago, we also got the chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran," Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview from an undisclosed location in Israel, adding, "our brave pilots are over the skies of Tehran, and we're targeting military sites, nuclear sites."
19:30 Israeli strikes across Iran have killed at least 406 people and wounded 654 others, the Associated Press reported, citing the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
The group stated it was working to identify how many of the dead were civilians or security personnel, cross-checking local reports against a network of sources within the country, according to AP.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Tehran would deliver a "more decisive and severe" response if Israel continued its "hostile actions", the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
19:00 US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, two US officials told Reuters.
"Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we're not even discussing going after the political leadership," one senior US administration official said.
Asked about the alleged plan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "I'm not going to get into that."
The remarks follow a statement from an Israeli official to the Wall Street Journal earlier on Sunday, saying Khamenei is "not off-limits" in Israel's war against Iran.
Israel has previously killed several senior Iranian figures, including the heads of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the armed forces, along with at least 14 nuclear scientists.
18:30 "Urgent action" must be taken to prevent the Iran-Israel conflict engulfing the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday in a call with US counterpart Donald Trump.
"President Erdogan hailed the recent comments by US President Trump concerning a resolution of the conflict between Israel and Iran... and stressed that urgent action is needed to prevent a catastrophe that could enflame the whole region," the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
18:00 Israeli strikes across Iran have killed at least 406 people and wounded 654 others, AP reported, citing the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
The group said it was working to identify how many of the dead were civilians or security personnel. According to AP, it cross-checks local reports against a network of sources within the country.
Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, warned that Tehran would deliver a 'more decisive and severe' response if Israel continued its 'hostile actions', according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
17:30 President Donald Trump told a news network Sunday it remains possible the United States will become involved in the Iran-Israel conflict and that he would be "open" to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin being a mediator.
Trump said in an interview, "It's possible we could get involved" in the ongoing battle between the Middle East arch-foes, according to ABC News. The Republican president stressed that the United States is "not at this moment" involved in the military action.
As for Putin being a potential mediator in the conflict, "he is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it," Trump told an ABC News reporter.
17:05 Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Iraq to block Israel from using its airspace and territory to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic, AFP reported.
'We emphasise that the Iraqi government must exercise greater vigilance and protection of its borders and airspace so that Iraqi territory is not misused against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' said Pezeshkian in a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, according to the Iranian presidency website.
17:00 According to Israeli media, the Israeli government is extending the state of emergency until 30 June.
16:50 Germany said it is reinforcing security around Israeli and Jewish sites on its territory against possible reprisal attacks by Iran, locked in a conflict with Israel, AFP reported.
"We are also preparing ourselves in Germany in case Iran targets Israeli or Jewish institutions," Chancellor Friedrich Merz said before flying out to attend a G7 summit in Canada.
He added that the conflict would figure at the top of the G7 agenda.
France has already ordered similar measures on its territory because of the Israel-Iran conflict, which on Sunday was in its third day.
16:45 The Israeli military has lifted shelter-in-place orders following a wave of Iranian missile attacks.
"Following the situational assessment, the Home Front Command published that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas across the country," the military said in a statement, according to AFP.
16:40 The Israeli military said missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel on Sunday evening, AFP reported.
Earlier, Iranian state media confirmed ballistic missiles were fired from multiple locations inside Iran.
Air raid sirens were heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and explosions were reported in the Tel Aviv area, according to Reuters.
Israeli media said the army was attempting to intercept incoming missiles and instructed civilians in affected areas to remain in bomb shelters.
16:30 Iran launched a new wave of retaliatory attacks on Israel, state television reported, as an intense exchange of fire raged between the two sides for a third day.
The official IRNA news agency also announced the beginning of "a new wave of missiles" launched towards Israel.
16:01 Israel attacked Tehran Police Headquarters, Tasnim news agency said.
"In a fresh act of aggression by the Zionist regime, a hostile micro-drone struck the Greater Tehran Police Command building, causing minor damage and injuring several personnel," it said.
The agency added that "the Zionist regime once again violated international humanitarian law by attacking a residential building in the Narmak neighborhood in the east of Tehran."
#WATCH | Footage of the Israeli aggression on a residential area in #Tehran, attacking civilians.#Iran pic.twitter.com/Dviy6dG7dj — Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) 15 June 2025
Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen's TV correspondent in Tehran reported a direct Israeli strike on Valiasr Street, one of the capital's busiest thoroughfares, during peak rush hour. He speaks about multiple civilians being injured.
Iran has said at least 138 people have been killed in Israel's onslaught since Friday, including 60 on Saturday, half of them children, when a missile brought down a 14-storey apartment block in Tehran.
16:00 Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Iraq to block Israel from using its airspace and territory to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic.
"We emphasise that the Iraqi government must exercise greater vigilance and protection of its borders and airspace so that Iraqi territory is not misused against the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Pezeshkian in a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
15:28 Iran did not send any message to Israel via a third country, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said earlier that Tehran had asked Nicosia to convey 'some messages' to Israel, adding he expected to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Christodoulides also expressed his dissatisfaction with the European Union's slow reaction to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.
He said Cyprus had asked for an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
15:20 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stated its earlier attacks on Israel, saying it targeted military fuel infrastructure and warning of an escalation 'if Israeli hostilities persist'.
'In response to the Israeli aggression, the IRGC launched a large-scale drone and missile operation targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres,' Iran's elite force said.
'Iranian air defence systems intercepted three cruise missiles, 10 drones, and dozens of small hostile micro air vehicles in the affected regions,' the statement added.
15:15 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Iran must "never have nuclear weapons", his government spokesman said, as Israel continued massive strikes targeting Tehran's nuclear programme and army facilities.
German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement that the comment came in a conversation with the sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik al Said, in which both leaders agreed on the need to "prevent the conflict from spreading."
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot claimed on RTL Radio that 'the Iranian nuclear programme is an existential threat for the security of Israel and beyond the security of Europe. We always say diplomacy is the best way to prevent and contain that threat.
However, none of them mentioned Israel's nuclear programme. Israel, which refuses to sign the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and possesses nuclear weapons, says it aims to stop Iran from developing atomic weapons and eliminate its ballistic missile capability.
14:52 Iranians can seek shelter in mosques and schools during Israeli attacks, as well as subway systems, which will be open at all times from tonight, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told state TV on Sunday. 'There is no problem providing food, medicine, fuel,' she added.
14:42 Fresh blasts were heard on Sunday in the Iranian capital, an AFP journalist said, as Israeli attacks continued for the third day. Iranian news outlets Khabar Online and Ham Mihan reported that air defence systems over west and northwest Tehran were activated "to counter new attacks". At the same time, Shargh daily shared a video of columns of smoke in the city's east.
Israel's army said its air force had targeted "more than 80" positions in Iran's capital, Tehran, including the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Defence, the headquarters of the nuclear project (SPND), and additional sites of the atomic archive. The strikes were conducted "throughout the night", the army said in a statement.
14:36 UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said that Britain could potentially support Israel in its conflict with Iran, but the decision to send additional military jets to the Middle East was made mainly to protect British bases and personnel, Reuters reports.
Asked if Britain would come to Israel's aid if asked, Reeves told Sky News: 'We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in". 'We're sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.' The UK's prime minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed on Saturday that more RAF planes are being deployed amid the recent escalation.
13:24 Israel's EL AL Airlines has cancelled flights to and from many European cities as well as Tokyo and Moscow until 23 June, it said on Sunday, according to Reuters.
Israel has said its airspace was closed Sunday for a third consecutive day, AFP said.
'Due to the security situation and by the instructions of security authorities, Israeli airspace is currently closed to civilian aviation - no incoming or outgoing flights are operating,' the transport and foreign ministries said in a joint statement.
12:42 Iran has fired some 280 ballistic missiles at Israel in several barrages since Israel started its military escalation against Iran on Friday, according to the Israeli army.
The army admitted that dozens of missiles were not intercepted, as several hit residential areas in central and northern Israel, causing casualties and damage.
In all, 13 people have been killed and hundreds have been wounded in missile impacts.
Tel Aviv estimates that Iran's ballistic missiles have a 500-kilogram (1,100-lb) warhead, the same kind it fired at Israel in April and October 2024.
12:40 Iran said it arrested two individuals it accused of being members of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad in Alborz province, west of Tehran, while they were preparing explosives and electronic devices, Reuters reports, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
12:39 Iran's Oil Ministry said all units and facilities at the Isfahan refinery are stable and production continues without interruption.
Earlier, Iranian media said that Israel attacked a facility affiliated with the defence ministry in the central city of Isfahan.
"One of the centres affiliated with the Ministry of Defence in Isfahan was attacked, and possible damages are under investigation," ISNA news agency reported, quoting deputy provincial governor Akbar Salehi.
12:00 International air travel was widely disrupted amid the escalation between Israel and Iran, prompting several airlines to cancel or divert thousands of flights away from the tension zones.
Commercial air traffic vanished from the skies over Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq on Friday, with flights directed towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.
EgyptAir cancelled its flights to Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, and Erbil on Sunday.
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran through Sunday.
Qatar Airways also temporarily suspended its services to Iran and Iraq, noting that three major airports in Iran, including Tehran, and five in Iraq, including Baghdad, had been affected.
Germany's Lufthansa suspended flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv through 31 July. Its flights to Amman, Beirut, and Erbil were also paused until 20 June.
11:00 Israel's Oil Refineries said its pipelines and transmission lines in Haifa had been damaged by missile strikes by Iran, according to a regulatory filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, as reported by Reuters.
It said that no injuries or casualties were reported at the sites, with refining facilities continuing to operate despite a shutdown of some downstream operations.
It added that it is examining the impact of the damage on its operations and implications for its financial results.
A senior official from the Zionist regime's Bazan Oil Company has confirmed that Iran's missile strikes last night caused damage to the oil refinery complex in the Haifa Gulf. https://t.co/cYVDHZpZdu — Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) 15 June 2025
Meanwhile, Iranian media said that Israel attacked a facility affiliated with the defence ministry in the central city of Isfahan.
"One of the centres affiliated with the Ministry of Defence in Isfahan was attacked, and possible damages are under investigation," ISNA news agency reported, quoting deputy provincial governor Akbar Salehi.
10:23 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the United Nations Security Council, accusing it of "indifference" over Israel's deadly attacks on the country.
In a meeting with foreign diplomats broadcast on state TV, Araghchi said the Israeli attack "is being met with indifference at the Security Council", adding that Western governments have "condemned Iran instead of Israel despite it being the side that was violated."
10:21 Israel issued an evacuation warning to Iranians residing near reactors in Iran, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a post on X, Reuters reports.
The Israeli defence minister has issued new threats against Iran's leadership and weapons arsenal. The army 'will strike the sites and continue to peel the skin off the Iranian snake in Tehran and everywhere, stripping it of nuclear capabilities and weapons systems', Israel Katz was quoted as saying by local media.
10:00 Israel's airspace remains closed for landings and takeoffs at Ben Gurion Airport, the airport authority said.
The Israel Airport Authority said that it is collaborating with Israeli airlines on a systematic plan to bring back Israelis stranded abroad.
09:55 Germany, France, and Britain said they are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over its nuclear programme to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul noted, as reported by Reuters.
'I hope that's still possible,' Wadephul, who is visiting the Middle East, tells German public broadcaster ARD. 'Germany, together with France and Britain, is ready. We're offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear program. I hope the offer is accepted.'
'This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict — that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the State of Israel or to Europe.'
09:50 Iran FM Abbas Araghchi says Israel 'crossed a new red line' by attacking nuclear sites.
"The Zionist regime crossed a new red line in international law, and it was attacking nuclear facilities," said Araghchi during a meeting with foreign diplomats broadcast on state TV.
Tehran's response was based on 'self-defence', stressed Araghchi.
'If the aggression stops, our responses will also stop,' he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Israel aims to undermine the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US, which he believes had the potential to lead to an agreement.
Tehran was scheduled to submit a proposal during the sixth round of talks this… pic.twitter.com/dyrqYBTMQC — TRT World (@trtworld) 15 June 2025
He also noted that an Israeli attack on Asaluyeh, a port city on the Persian Gulf, 'brings the conflict to the Gulf'.
"Dragging the conflict into the Persian Gulf region is a major strategic mistake, likely deliberate and intended to extend the war beyond Iranian territory," he said, adding that that attack was "an extremely dangerous move."
Araghchi's appearance came on a day he was initially scheduled to negotiate with the United States in Oman. But the negotiations fell apart amid the Israeli attacks. He has previously said the Oman talks could not take place while Iran was being subjected to Israel's "barbarous" attacks.
Araghchi said that the Israeli attack could not have happened without a US green light and support. He noted that the next round of nuclear talks with the US, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, could have 'opened the way for an agreement', but Israel was against a nuclear deal.
Israel's goal, he said, was to 'sabotage' the talks. The US decision to back Israel was 'regrettable,' and Washington needed to condemn the Israeli strikes on Iran.
US President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Israel's attacks while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.
09:30 Iran's Student News Network has dismissed reports of an attack on the oil refinery at Shahr Rey in southern Tehran, saying operations continue without interruption.
The network, however, said that a fire had broken out at a fuel tank outside the refinery and was unrelated to it.
Iran's oil ministry earlier said that an Israeli attack targeted the Shahran oil depot, which is also located in Tehran, igniting a fire there. The ministry said the situation there was under control.
09:25 Iran's civil aviation authorities announced the country's airspace will remain closed until 3:00 pm Sunday.
It urged passengers to monitor the website for updates rather than go to airports in person.
Meanwhile, Jordan's Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority decided to reopen Jordan's airspace after closing it overnight.
09:14 Yemen's Houthi rebels said they had "carried out a military operation targeting sensitive targets of the Israeli enemy" in central Israel.
The group said it had targeted the area "at different times over the past 24 hours" with "a number of Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missiles".
They said their attacks were "coordinated with the operations carried out by the Iranian military".
Israel has carried out numerous attacks on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including on ports and the airport in Sanaa.
09:12 First responders were looking for survivors and clearing the remnants of an Iranian missile that hit a neighborhood outside of Tel Aviv early Sunday morning.
An AP reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed-out cars, and shards of glass. Some people were fleeing the area with their belongings in suitcases.
Israel police recovered two bodies after an Iranian strike, bringing the overnight death toll in the central and northern areas to 10 and 180 injured, AFP says.
Footage from Beit Yam, South of Tel Aviv, shared by Kan Hebrew shows part of the aftermath of Iran's recent response. pic.twitter.com/BhOAJ9pkaC — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 15, 2025
09:10 Donald Trump said the US had 'nothing to do with the attack on Iran' and warned Tehran against targeting US interests in retaliation.
'If we are attacked in any way, shape, or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
US and Israeli officials, quoted by CNN, said conflict with Iran will take 'weeks, not days.'
The officials said the operation has the White House's implicit approval, with an Israeli official citing the US president as being on board with the weeks-long timeframe.
'The Trump administration firmly believes this can be solved by continuing negotiations with the US,' with the exact length of the conflict dependent on Iran's actions, a US official is quoted as saying.
09:00 The Israeli defence force said that in the last hour, it has conducted 'another wave of attacks' in western Iran.
02:00 Iranian news agency Tasnim reported early Sunday that an Israeli strike had targeted the country's defence ministry headquarters in Tehran and damaged one of its buildings.
In "an attack on Tehran this evening by the air force of the Zionist regime, the headquarters of the defence ministry was targeted. One of the headquarters' buildings was lightly damaged," the agency said.
The defence ministry did not comment.
00:25 Jordan announced the closure of its airspace late Saturday for a second time since the start of the most intense confrontation between arch-foes Israel and Iran.
The civil aviation authority in Jordan, which borders Israel, announced in a statement that the country's airspace will be closed until further notice, and all takeoffs, landings, and transit will be suspended.
00:22 Israeli strikes hit two fuel depots in Tehran, the Iranian oil ministry said Sunday, shortly after Iran announced the launch of a new wave of strikes against Israel.
According to the oil ministry, the oil depots at Shahran, northwest of Tehran, and another reservoir south of the city were hit.
An AFP journalist saw the depot at Shahran on fire.
00:10 Israeli intelligence has confirmed that another wave of Iranian missiles is expected to target Israel as the night progresses.
TV footage showed a series of massive explosions at unidentified installations in the port of Haifa as the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system failed to intercept some Iranian missiles.
Some military analysts said Iran has used hypersonic missiles in the attack on Israel on Saturday night.
Breaking| Fires continue to rage in the occupied city of Haifa following a direct hit by Iranian missiles. pic.twitter.com/oT8Wb54Sf0 — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 14, 2025
00:05 The Israeli air force has launched intensive airstrikes on fuel depots in and around Tehran.
TV footage showed a series of massive fires in and around the capital.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim said the Iranian army has activated air defences in the capital to repel the Israeli attack on the city.
اشتعال حرائق ضخمة في مواقع إيرانية بعد استهدافها من الطيران الحربي الإسرائيلي ووسائل إعلام إسرائيلية تتحدث عن قصف منشآت نفطية إيرانية#الحدث #قناة_الحدث pic.twitter.com/FLsspGytgF — ا لـحـدث (@AlHadath) June 14, 2025
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Saturday 14 June
23:55 Israel's firefighting service said Saturday that residential buildings were hit and a fire started in the country's coastal and northern districts after Iran launched a new barrage of missiles.
"Several incidents have been reported to the Israel Fire and Rescue Services command centres in the Coastal and Northern Districts, with hits on residential buildings and a fire in an open area," Israel Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Tal Volbovitz said in a statement.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services reported that at least 14 Israelis have been injured - one critically - when an Iranian missile struck a building.
23:30 Israeli media reported that some of the Iranian missiles struck near the port of Haifa. TV footage showed a massive blaze in an unidentified strategic installation in the Haifa bay.
Breaking | Fires erupt in Haifa following the impact of Iranian missiles. pic.twitter.com/3d6b1OT9kC — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 14, 2025
23:15 Iran has launched an attack using ballistic missiles and drones on Haifa and Tamra in northern Israel and Tel Aviv in central Israel on Saturday evening.
Live footage on Al Jazeera and social media platforms depicted Israeli air defenses under the Iron Dome system attempting to intercept missiles in the skies over Israeli cities.
Earlier, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that the Iranian air forces had launched a complex attack on Israeli targets in retaliation for the Israeli aggression on Iran.
In tandem, the Israeli military said that it is carrying out air strikes in Tehran while simultaneously working to intercept missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.
As the Iranian missiles and sirens blurred over the skies in Israel, sending Israelis into shelters, Israel's Channel 13 reported that the Israeli army had assassinated a high-level Houthi leader in Yemen.
Breaking | Iron Dome attempts to intercept Iranian missiles over the skies of Nablus. pic.twitter.com/bVxR49i6vo — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 14, 2025
22:00 Iran's defence network has started operating in Tehran, Hormozgan, Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan, Lorestan, and Khuzestan, according to the country's Tasnim news agency.
The agency also reports that many drones were identified and destroyed during the day in the western provinces and Qom.
Footage shared by the agency, which the BBC has not verified, appears to show flashes and explosions in the sky.
Bandar Abbas is under attack https://t.co/2BNIQZMnlp — kev joon (@never_oppressed) June 14, 2025
Earlier, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief spokesperson, Effie Defrin, said, "Even at this hour, the Air Force pilots continue to attack and carry out extensive strikes in various areas of Iran."
"A series of attacks that has not stopped for nearly 40 hours and includes more than 150 targets. The focus of the attacks in the past 24 hours was on Tehran," he added.
In a televised briefing, Defrin says Israel targeted an underground site in western Iran "used for storing and launching surface-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles."
"This site was attacked and the senior figures who visited it in the past were also eliminated," he said.
Defrin added that the missiles stored there were supposed to be launched "against Israeli citizens or even against forces of other Western countries in the Middle East," according to the BBC.
21:30 Azerbaijan on Saturday reassured neighbouring Iran that it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks against Tehran, following unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Iran has long expressed concern that Israel -- a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier -- could use Azerbaijani territory to stage attacks.
"Azerbaijan will never allow its territory to be used for attacks on third countries, including friendly Iran," Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
In a phone call with Araghchi, Bayramov warned that the "conflict risked engulfing the broader region", and called for " diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation", the Azerbaijani foreign ministry press service told AFP.
The ministry added that Azerbaijan had facilitated land transit across its border after Iran closed its airspace in response to the Israeli strikes.
21:05 Iranian state television said air defences were activated Saturday to respond to a drone attack at the strategic port of Bandar Abbas on the second day of Israel's strikes on the country.
"The air defence of Bandar Abbas was activated to combat micro-drones," state TV reported without elaborating. Citing an air defence commander, it also said that "over the past hour, 10 hostile Israeli aircraft were shot down in different areas" of the country.
21:00 Britain is deploying assets, including fighter jets, to the Middle East amid tensions between Iran and Israel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday, heading to Canada for G7 talks.
"We are moving assets to the region, including jets, for contingency support," Starmer told reporters travelling with him on his plane to Ottawa.
The UK leader said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Israel launched its first attacks on Iran early Friday, hitting military and nuclear sites.
According to officials, dozens have been killed, including top army and Revolutionary Guards commanders as well as civilians.
Iran has responded with barrages of drones and missiles fired at Israel overnight Friday into Saturday.
Starmer said the situation was "fast-moving" and "intense".
"We're having ongoing discussions with our allies all of the time, both I and (foreign minister) David Lammy... who also spoke to the Iranians," he said.
"Our constant message is de-escalation, and therefore everything we're doing, all discussions we're having are to do with de-escalation."
The UK leader said his talk with Netanyahu on Friday was "good and constructive" and "included discussions about Israel's safety and security."
Foreign Secretary Lammy said earlier Saturday that he was "alarmed" by further strikes overnight.
"We must urgently de-escalate and prevent any further harm to civilians," Lammy said in a social media post, adding he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi "to urge calm."
20:45 Ali Shamkhani, Iran's top advisor to its supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, has died in the hospital a day after Israel launched airstrikes across the country, Iranian media reports.
Shamkhani had previously served as Iran's top national security official for a decade and had represented Iran in the China-facilitated rapprochement talks with Saudi Arabia.
20:00 Iran's Ministry of Oil stated that Israel attacked two major gas fields in Iran's southern Bushehr province.
Quoting eyewitnesses, Iranian outlets said a drone attacked Phase 14 of the South Pars Gas field.
Another gas company, Fajr Jam Gas Refining Company, has also been targeted in the same province.
19:30 The next round of US-Iran nuclear talks set for Sunday will not go ahead, mediator Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi says.
"The Iran-US talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place," he wrote on X. "But diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace."
Iran's foreign minister said continuing talks with the US is 'unjustifiable' given the current situation.
19:20 Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as efforts towards a Ukraine settlement, in a phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian state media reported Saturday.
"The dangerous escalation in the Middle East was, of course, at the centre of the exchange," the agencies cited the Kremlin as saying.
On Friday, Putin condemned Israel's wave of strikes on Iran, the Kremlin said, following separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Putin "stressed that Russia condemns Israel's actions, which violate the UN Charter and law," the Kremlin said in a statement.
He also told Netanyahu he was " ready to provide mediation services to prevent further escalation of tensions."
19:15 Iranian media reported a "massive explosion" on Saturday following an Israeli drone strike on the South Pars refinery in the southern port city of Kangan.
"An hour ago, an Israeli drone hit one of the South Pars Phase 14 refineries, causing a massive explosion and fire in the refinery," the Tasnim news agency said.
The Fars agency reported firefighters were working to extinguish a blaze that had erupted due to the attack.
BREAKING: Fire Erupts After Israeli Strike on South Pars, the World's Largest Gas Field
An Israeli drone strike reportedly hit Phase 14 of Iran's South Pars Gas Field on Saturday, sparking a fire at one of the world's most critical energy sites, according to FARS News Agency.… pic.twitter.com/ddaaFUwXw3 — Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) June 14, 2025
19:00 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Saturday that there would be a "more severe and powerful response" if Israel continued to strike his country.
"The continuation of Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces," Pezeshkian said in a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Iranian presidency.
Iranian authorities said that Israel's airstrikes on Friday killed at least 30 military personnel in East Azerbaijan province, according to the news agency ISNA.
'Following the Zionist regime's aggression against this province since Friday morning, 30 military personnel and one Red Crescent member have been martyred in defence of the Islamic homeland, and 55 people have been injured,' ISNA reported on Saturday, quoting East Azerbaijan provincial authorities.
An anti-Israel poster, which reads in Persian "look for shelters among the debris", hangs on the side of a building in Tehran's Enghlab Square. AFP
18:15 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will strike "every site and every target of the ayatollah regime" in Iran.
"We have dealt a very severe blow to Iran's main enrichment site, and if necessary, we will also hit it again," he says in a newly-released video message.
"There is a huge threat from ballistic missiles; we have taken action to destroy Iran's ballistic missile production capabilities," he adds.
Netanyahu added that Israel's air strikes on Iran had the "clear support" of US President Donald Trump.
"Our enemy is your enemy... We're dealing with something that will threaten all of us sooner or later. Our victory will be your victory," Netanyahu said in a video statement addressed to Trump on the US leader's birthday.
"This is what Israel is doing with the support, the clear support of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the American people and many others in the world."
17:30 Iranian media reported a police chief and another officer were killed in a drone strike Saturday, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) west of Tehran, as Israel kept up its air campaign against the Islamic Republic for a second day.
"This morning, police chief Major Habibollah Akbarian, along with second lieutenant Amir Hossein Seifi, were martyred by a drone strike in Asadabad city in the western province of Hamedan," the ISNA press agency reported.
17:00 Iran's foreign minister says continuing nuclear talks with the US is 'unjustifiable'.
Abbas Araqchi tells Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, that given the current situation and what he calls the 'savagery' of Israel, talks can't be justified, as reported by the BBC.
16:30 "The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing about a reality in which they -- especially the residents of Tehran -- will pay a heavy price because of the criminal harm to Israeli civilians," said Defence Minister Israel Katz.
"If (Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles toward the Israeli home front -- Tehran will burn."
The Israeli military claimed its raids had cleared its path to the capital.
"We have created aerial freedom of action from west Iran all the way to Tehran... Tehran is no longer immune," said spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
16:00 Continuing Iran-US nuclear talks is unjustifiable while 'barbarous' Israeli attacks persist on the country, Iranian state media cited Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi as saying on Saturday.
On Friday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the dialogue with the US over Tehran's nuclear programme is 'meaningless' after Israel's biggest-ever military strike against Iran, accusing Washington of supporting the attack.
15:44 Russia strongly criticized Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, labeling the assault as unjustified and illegal. Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitri Polyansky, said that Israel's attack 'totally' violated the UN Charter and international law. He called the strike an act of aggression and said Moscow fully supports Iran's stance.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed Moscow's readiness to mediate between Israel and Iran, according to Russian media.
In separate phone calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Putin engaged in separate phone calls. During these discussions, Putin condemned Israel's recent strikes.
A statement from the Kremlin also affirmed that Moscow 'strongly condemns' Israel's aggression.
15:41 The Israeli army said that its ongoing air campaign in Iran had now given it an "aerial freedom" for actions from western Iran to Tehran.
"Tehran is no longer immune," the army spokesman claimed, adding that the Israeli air force "launched a massive strike involving more than 70 fighter jets, targeting objectives in Tehran" overnight.
15:30 Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran, saying they represent a dangerous escalation that jeopardizes regional peace and security, in separate phone calls with his Italian and Spanish counterparts, Antonio Tajani and José Manuel Albares.
He rejected any state sovereignty or territorial integrity violation and urged efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding.
15:12 A China-led 10-state regional group said it strongly condemns Israel's strikes on Iran.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian security and political group, said Israel's act targeted civilian facilities and nuclear facilities, causing civilian casualties, Reuters reported.
'This seriously violated the principles of international law and the UN Charter, undermined Iran's sovereignty, undermined regional and international security, and had a serious impact on global peace and stability,' the SCO said in a statement.
15:00 The Israeli army said that its fighter jets 'were set to resume striking targets in Tehran.
Footage shared by an affiliate of Iran's state TV showed a fire after an Israeli strike at Zagros Khodro, a former car manufacturing plant in Borujerd, AP said.
The state-run IRNA news agency also reported an Israeli strike on Saturday around Abadan in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province. Other strikes appeared to be happening in Kermanshah near a military barracks.
14:50 The UK's foreign secretary, David Lammy, spoke to Iran's foreign minister to 'urge calm'.
"We must urgently de-escalate and prevent any further harm to civilians," he posted on X. "Following the prime minister's call with Netanyahu, I spoke to Iranian FM Araghchi to urge calm." Lammy is expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East.
14:23 Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded by an Iranian ballistic missile strike in central Israel last night, the Israeli army said, according to AFP.
Footage documenting the extent of the destruction in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, after it was targeted by Iranian missiles, in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli attacks.
"مشهد غير مسبوق في إسرائيل".. لقطات توثق حجم الدمار في مدينة رمات غان قرب تل أبيب بعد تعرضها للقصف بصواريخ إيرانية pic.twitter.com/u8Z4OSo8Ot — الجزيرة مصر (@AJA_Egypt) June 14, 2025
13:34 Three Revolutionary Guards were killed in an Israeli attack on the northwestern Iranian city of Zanjan, Tansnim news agency reported Saturday.
This comes following the assassination of General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the head of the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), by Israel's series of airstrikes in Iran's capital.
Israel has also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, state television reported Saturday, bringing to nine the total figure.
"Three of the country's nuclear scientists -- Ali Bekaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji -- were martyred during the Zionist regime's terrorist attacks," the broadcaster said.
Iranian media had said earlier that six others were killed in the Israeli attack.
13:22 Iran has warned the US, UK, and France that their military bases and ships will be targeted if they help block the Iranian missile and drone retaliation for Israel's attack.
13:21 Israel's Ben Gurion international airport is closed until further notice, a spokeswoman said on Saturday."There is no date or day set to reopen the airport," airport spokeswoman Lisa Diver told AFP.
13:12 In a major military leadership reshuffle, following the Israeli attacks, Major General Amir Hatami has been appointed Chief Commander of Iran's army by order of Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, IRNA news agency reported.
Hatami has previously served as Defense Minister from 2013 to 2021.
Khamenei also appointed a new head of the Revolutionary Guards' air arm on Saturday to replace the one killed by an Israeli strike.
Majid Mousavi will replace Amirali Hajizadeh as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace force.
13:00 Following Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon reopened their airspace on Saturday, a day after imposing closures as Israel and Iran traded fire. The escalation has led to airspace closures across Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria.
Global airlines cancelled or rerouted flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, and other regional destinations amid the shutdown.
12:15 Around 60 people, including 20 children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a housing complex in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Iran's state TV reported.
Iranian Red Crescent volunteers working in a Tehran neighbourhood hit by a reported Israeli strike. AFP
12:05 The UN nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — confirmed in a post on X that the Isfahan nuclear site in Iran was targeted several times on Friday.
'No increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of now,' the agency said.
Esfahan nuclear facilities were targeted several times on June 13. No increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of now. The IAEA remains in close contact with Iran. https://t.co/zXIqSwCmzC — IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 14, 2025
12:00 Jordan's civil aviation authority said it reopened its airspace on Saturday, a day after suspending it as Israel and Iran traded fire.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men look on at a site in Tel Aviv hit by a missile fired from Iran. AFP
11:25 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized the urgent need for the United Nations to take swift steps in response to Israel's aggression.
In a telephone conversation on Friday with the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Araqchi provided details about Israel's strikes on multiple sites inside Iran, including military bases, nuclear facilities, and residential buildings, Iran's official news agency, IRNA, said.
The top diplomat noted that Iran preserves its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and called on the U.N. to act immediately in line with its duties as per the UN Charter to condemn the Israeli strikes and take necessary measures to hold the regime accountable.
11:10 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel and Iran to halt their military attacks, warning against further escalation and urging a return to diplomacy.
'Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv. Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail,' Guterres wrote on X on Saturday.
Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites.
Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv.
Enough escalation.
Time to stop.
Peace and diplomacy must prevail. — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 13, 2025
10:45 Iran's ambassador to the United Nations has warned that Tehran will respond 'decisively and proportionately' to Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, describing them as 'acts of terrorism," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session late Friday, Saeed Iravani said Iran reserves the right to respond 'at a time, in a place, and by means of its choosing.' The news agency added that the attacks violated international law and Iranian sovereignty.
10:00 Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman called further nuclear talks with the United States 'meaningless' after Israeli strikes on the country, state television said.
'The U.S. did a job that made the talks become meaningless,' Baghaei was quoted as saying. He added that Israel has passed all Iran's red lines by committing a 'criminal act' through its strikes.
However, he stopped short of saying the talks were cancelled.
09:50 Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel on Saturday morning, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, after a series of blistering Israeli attacks on the heart of Iran.
Sirens and the boom of explosions, possibly from Israeli interceptors, could be heard in the sky over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early Saturday.
AP journalists in Tel Aviv could see what appeared to be at least two Iranian missiles hit the ground, but there was no immediate word of casualties.
Damaged buildings at a site hit by a missile fired from Iran in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv on June 14, 2025. AFP
This photo shows rocket trails and intercepts in the sky over the Israeli city of Netanya on June 14, 2025. AFP
02:30 Fire and heavy smoke billowed from Mehrabad airport in the Iranian capital early Saturday, an AFP journalist said, as local media reported a blast in the area.
The local ISNA news agency shared a video showing columns of heavy smoke rising from the area of the airport in western Tehran, while Mehr news agency reported a "blast" there.
01:24 Iran has launched a third wave of missiles at Israel.
01:00 One woman died and at least 60 were injured in Israel, according to Israeli media.
Members of the Israeli security forces inspect a site hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan on the outskirts of Tel Aviv on 13 June 2025. AFP
Friday 13 June
23:10 Iran's airspace will remain closed until Saturday after Israel launched a large-scale attack that hit multiple cities, state media reported.
"The Civil Aviation Organization... has announced in aviation notices (NOTAM) that the country's airspace will be closed until tomorrow, Saturday," the official IRNA news agency reported.
22:45 The US military is helping intercept missiles that Iran fired in retaliation at Israel, a US official says. The US has been moving assets nearer to Israel to assist in missile intercepts and to provide better protection of US bases in the region.
22:00 Israeli rescuers said that seven people were injured on Friday in the centre of the country, shortly after Iran fired a salvo of missiles at Israel.
Speaking on Israel's Channel 12, Eli Bin, the spokesman for the Magen David Adom rescue service, said that seven people were lightly injured in central Israel. Images on Channel 12 showed what appeared to be a building hit by a missile.
21:30 The Israeli army says that dozens of additional missiles were launched toward Israel.
21:25 Iran's state news agency reported that Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel as part of its retaliation for Israel's Friday attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites.
21:19 The Israeli army says the country is under fire as Iran fires projectiles
🚨All of Israel is under fire as Iran fires projectiles🚨 pic.twitter.com/eqEGzQMiCc — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 13, 2025
20:44 The Israeli military said it struck on Friday Iran's nuclear facility in Isfahan as it pressed on with its strikes on the Islamic Republic.
"I can now confirm that we struck the nuclear facility in Isfahan. The operation is still ongoing," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told journalists.
19:50 Israel's army chief on Friday said the military was keeping up "full force" to achieve its goals after launching a wave of strikes on military and nuclear sites in Iran.
18:30 Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources activated its pre-prepared emergency plan regarding priorities for natural gas supply following the escalating regional tensions and the halt in gas supplies from the East.
17:20 Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority affirmed that the radiological situation at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility remains under control, with no signs of radioactive leakage reported so far.
17:00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he ordered the airstrikes on Iran six months ago, on 24 November, with the operation initially planned for late April but delayed for 'operational reasons.'
'Today's strike was no coincidence,' Netanyahu said in a televised address in Hebrew, claiming that Israel destroyed the Natanz nuclear facility and describing Iran's ballistic missiles as a 'strategic threat.'
Netanyahu said Israel acted without US military backing but had briefed Washington beforehand. 'What the United States chooses to do now is up to them,' he said.
He did not give a timeline for the operation's end but warned of further strikes, claiming Iran was 'in disarray' and expected to retaliate in 'severe waves.'
16:00 The Israeli spy agency, the Mossad, alleges that the video below captures two agents inside Iran setting up precision-guided attack systems "developed to target and dismantle Iranian air defenses."
The videos' authenticity, date, and location remain unverified by independent sources.
Last night, Israeli statements indicated that Mossad was working on the ground inside Iran while the Israeli air force was striking Nuclear facilities and leadership.
Turns out, they were. Mossad built a secret drone base inside Iran near Tehran, using it to target Iran's… pic.twitter.com/qGxzxkxwJT — FUNKER530 (@FunkerActual) June 13, 2025
15:45 Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation has confirmed a radiation leak inside the Natanz nuclear facility following Israeli airstrikes on the site.
'There is internal radioactive contamination at Natanz, but no external radiation has been detected and there is no cause for concern,' the agency said in a statement by Al Jazeera on Friday. It said decontamination was underway and damage would be assessed once cleanup was complete.
The Natanz site is central to Iran's uranium enrichment programme and has been repeatedly targeted in sabotage operations widely attributed to Israel.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said he was ready to travel to Iran to assess the situation. He confirmed that Iran's Fordow enrichment plant and another atomic site in Esfahan were not hit.
'There are no elevated radiation levels,' Grossi said, likely referring to external emissions. He urged all sides to avoid further escalation and return to dialogue.
File photo: A satellite image shows the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran.
15:30 A loud blast was heard Friday afternoon near a military airbase in Iran's western Hamedan province, Iran's state media reported, following a major Israeli attack on the country.
"A few hours ago, a loud blast was heard near Hamedan," more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the capital Tehran, the IRNA state news agency said, adding that "it was heard near the Nojeh airbase".
14:15 President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran will make Israel "regret" its deadly attack, which targeted multiple areas, including nuclear sites.
"The Iranian nation and the country's officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish act," Pezeshkian said in a video statement aired on state TV.
13:55 Israeli forces sealed off Palestinian cities across the occupied West Bank and forcibly cleared worshippers from Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, hours after launching airstrikes on Iranian targets.
Witnesses told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa compound after dawn prayers on Friday, expelled worshippers, and sealed the mosque's gates. Local sources said it was the first time the site had been fully emptied and closed by Israeli forces since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taking advantage of the world's focus on its attack on Iran, Israeli occupation authorities closed the gates leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, blocking any presence of Muslim worshipers. pic.twitter.com/Cy02ilpBD2 — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 13, 2025
13:45 A Hezbollah official said the Lebanese armed group would not unilaterally launch its attack on Israel in response to Israeli strikes on Iran.
'Hezbollah will not initiate its own attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel's strikes,' the official told Reuters. A public statement from Hezbollah condemned Israel's strikes and expressed full solidarity with Iran.
Earlier, Lebanon's government reportedly informed Hezbollah that it would not tolerate the group joining any Iranian retaliation against Israel.
According to Saudi outlet Al Arabiya, officials warned Hezbollah that it would bear full responsibility for dragging the country into war.
'The time when the organisation bypassed the state in deciding to go to war is over,' Lebanese authorities were quoted as saying.
13:30 Airlines in the Gulf cancelled flights to many Middle East destinations on Friday as some governments closed their airspace following Israeli strikes on Iran.
Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran after Israel launched the strikes.
The airline's website listed several flights scheduled for Friday and one Tehran flight on Saturday as cancelled.
Qatar Airways, the country's national carrier and one of the Middle East's largest, said it had "temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to the current situation in the region".
UAE airports warned of disruption, with Dubai posting on X that "some flights at @DXB and DWC - Al Maktoum International have been cancelled or delayed due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria".
Abu Dhabi airport warned that "flight disruptions are expected through today (Friday)" due to the Israeli strikes.
Kuwait's civil aviation authority posted on X that "some flights at Kuwait International Airport have been diverted, cancelled and rescheduled."
Earlier Friday, Jordan and Iraq, which both lie between Israel and Iran, announced they had closed their airspace and grounded all flights after Israel's strikes.
Jordan's military said it intercepted drones and missiles that had violated the kingdom's airspace, after Iran vowed there would be "no limits" in its response to Israeli attacks.
13:20 US President Donald Trump urged Iran to "make a deal", warning that there will be more "death and destruction."
"There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
"Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left... JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," he said.
13:10 Israeli warplanes have reportedly destroyed Tabriz airport in north-west Iran in a fresh wave of strikes targeting Iranian air force assets, according to Israel's Channel 12.
13:00 A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was wounded during Israel's deadly attack, state media reported.
"Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to the supreme leader... was injured in today's attack by the Zionist regime," according to state TV.
12:55 A fresh round of explosions was heard in northwestern Iran, state television reported.
"A few minutes ago, new explosions were heard in East Azerbaijan," the broadcaster said, as the Tasnim news agency said an earlier wave of strikes had hit 10 sites in the province, killing at least three people.
A building damaged in an Israeli strike on Tehran on 13 June 2025. AFP
12:45 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for all sides to "exercise restraint."
"The situation in the Middle East is dangerous. I urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. Diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation," Kallas wrote on X.
EU officials said Kallas spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in the "early hours" of Friday following the strikes.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined the calls for calm, urging "all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately and refrain from retaliation."
"A diplomatic resolution is now more urgent than ever, for the sake of the region's stability and global security," von der Leyen wrote on X.
12:35 Iran says Israel's deadly strikes on its military and nuclear facilities were a "declaration of war" and called on the UN Security Council to act.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as a "declaration of war" and called on the Security Council to immediately address this issue, the ministry said in a letter to the United Nations.
12:25 Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, swiftly appointed new Revolutionary Guards and armed forces chiefs to replace those killed in targeted Israeli strikes on Friday.
In separate decrees, Khamenei named Mohammad Pakpour to replace Hossein Salami as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Abdolrahim Mousavi to replace Mohammad Bagheri as chief of the armed forces general staff.
11:45 'Avoid escalation': World reacts to Israel strike on Iran
World leaders urged restraint on Friday after Israel pounded Iran, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites, and killing senior figures, including atomic scientists and the armed forces chief of staff.
Here is a roundup of key reactions:
'Cannot have nuclear bomb': United States.
US President Donald Trump told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before it happened and said: "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see."
Fox News also reported that "Trump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates."
'Maximum restraint': UN
UN chief Antonio Guterres asked "both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford," according to a spokesperson.
Guterres was "particularly concerned" by Israel's strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
'Deeply worried': China
"The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling on relevant parties to promote regional peace and stability and avoid further escalation of tensions.
'Reasonable reaction': Czech Republic
Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Iran "is supporting so many players, including the Hezbollah and Hamas movements, to destroy the state of Israel, and also seeking a nuclear bomb", that "I see that this was a reasonable reaction from the state of Israel towards a possible threat of a nuclear bomb".
'Avoid any escalation': France -
"We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability," France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.
'Dangerous escalation': Hamas
"This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.
No 'battleground': Jordan
"Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace.
'Dangerous approach': Oman
Nuclear talks mediator Oman said "calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardise the security and stability of the region".
'Strong condemnation': Qatar
Gaza mediator Qatar expressed "its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said, adding that the "dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions".
'Aggressive actions': Turkey
"Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement.
'Reduce tensions urgently': UK
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region."
'Legitimate right to defend itself': Yemen's Houthi rebels
Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said on Telegram they backed "Iran's full and legitimate right to... develop its nuclear programme" and that "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means".
11:20 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday said it was "crucial" for allies of Israel to work to de-escalate tensions, after Israel struck some 100 targets in Iran, including Tehran's nuclear and military sites.
"I think it is now crucial for many allies, including the United States, to work, as we speak, to de-escalate. I know that they are doing that and I think that is now the first order of the day," Rutte told reporters at a press conference in Stockholm.
"This was a unilateral action by Israel," Rutte said, speaking alongside Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, while noting it was "obviously a rapidly evolving situation".
11:10 UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said on Friday that atomic facilities "must never be attacked" and called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran.
"This development is deeply concerning... I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond," Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement to board members.
11:00 Iran sharply criticised the UN nuclear watchdog on Friday, accusing it of "silence" over Israel's strikes on its nuclear facilities and scientists.
In a statement, Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said it considers the "silence" from the International Atomic Energy Agency as a form of cooperation with the Zionist regime, adding that the Israeli attack was a "defeat for the IAEA resulting from its unjustifiable shortcomings".
Shortly afterwards, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi issued a statement saying nuclear facilities "must never be attacked".
What We Know So Far:
In the early hours of Friday, 13 June, Israel launched a large-scale military operation, "Operation Rising Lion," targeting various sites across Iran.
Targets: Confirmed targets include Iran's central uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, as well as other military installations and residential areas in Tehran and other cities like Tabriz and Isfahan.
Scale: The Israeli military reported using over 200 aircraft, dropping more than 330 munitions on approximately 100 targets. Israeli operations were confirmed to be ongoing throughout the morning.
Justification: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes were preemptive, aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and removing an "existential threat."
Iranian Casualties: Top Military Officials Killed: Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri. Nuclear Scientists Killed: At least six Iranian atomic scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were reported killed.
Civilian Casualties: Reports from Iran indicate civilian casualties, including women and children, in residential areas struck in Tehran, with dozens injured.
Iranian Response: Drone Launches: Iran launched over 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation.
Interim Leadership: Iran quickly appointed interim replacements for its fallen military leaders: Habibollah Sayyari as the temporary commander of the Armed Forces and Ahmad Vahidi as the temporary commander of the IRGC.
Vowed Retaliation: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned Israel of a "bitter and painful fate" and promised a "harsh response."Airspace Closures and Travel Disruptions:
Nuclear Talks Halted: Iran has declared it will not participate in scheduled atomic negotiations with the United States or any future talks "until further notice."
Regional Closure: Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan have all closed their airspace to commercial flights.
Flight Cancellations/Diverted: Major international airlines have canceled or rerouted flights, causing widespread travel disruptions.
Drone Interceptions: Both Israeli and Jordanian air forces are actively intercepting incoming Iranian drones, with some interceptions occurring outside Israeli territory.
International Reactions: IAEA Monitoring: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed the Natanz site was hit but reported no increase in radiation levels. It also confirmed that the Fordo and Isfahan nuclear sites were not impacted.
US Stance: The United States confirmed it had advance notice of the strikes but stated it was not directly involved in the operation. President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran "cannot have a nuclear bomb."
Calls for Restraint: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, the UK, and other nations have condemned the escalation and urged immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.
Economic Impact: Global oil prices have surged by as much as 13% due to heightened tensions in the critical oil-producing region.
Codenamed "Operation Rising Lion" by Tel Aviv, these audacious strikes, which commenced in the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, have profoundly reshaped the decades-long covert conflict between the two regional adversaries.
The ramifications are already stark and immediate. Iranian state media has confirmed the tragic loss of top military figures, including the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri. Additionally, at least six prominent nuclear scientists are reported among the dead, alongside confirmed civilian casualties in residential districts of Tehran.
In a swift and direct response, Iran launched over 100 drones towards Israel, prompting widespread airspace closures across the region, including Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan, causing significant global air travel disruptions. While Israeli air defense systems are actively intercepting these drones, some reportedly outside Israeli territory, Jordan's air force is also engaged in downing threats in its airspace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the offensive as a preemptive strike, vital to neutralize an "imminent threat" of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, vowing to continue the operation "as long as it takes." Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised a "harsh response" and a "bitter and painful fate" for Israel, with Tehran quickly appointing interim military leaders and formally halting scheduled nuclear negotiations with the United States.
The international community is gripped by alarm, with urgent calls for de-escalation from global powers and regional players alike. While the IAEA confirms the Natanz facility was hit, it reports no increase in radiation levels and states other key Iranian nuclear sites remain untouched. The United States, while acknowledging advance notice, has distanced itself from direct involvement, reiterating its stance against an Iranian nuclear bomb.
As the world watches with bated breath, fears of a broader, more devastating conflict are mounting. Oil prices have surged, and both nations are on heightened alert, bracing for further retaliation. Ahram Online begins its live coverage now, bringing real-time updates as this critical situation unfolds. Stay with us for the latest developments, analyses, and reactions from across the globe.
International air travel was widely disrupted amid the escalation between Israel and Iran, prompting several airlines to cancel or divert thousands of flights away from the tension zones.
Commercial air traffic vanished from the skies over Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq on Friday, with flights directed towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.
Similarly, Syria's Civil Aviation Authority declared its airspace fully open to civil aviation, stating it was safe and compliant with international aviation standards.
In Lebanon, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni confirmed the reopening of Lebanese airspace on Saturday at 10am, according to the National News Agency.
Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's flag carrier, said it would reschedule its flights accordingly and issue a detailed statement soon.
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran through Sunday.
Dubai Airports confirmed that airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria had led to delays and cancellations at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, urging travellers to check with their airlines for updates and rebooking options.
Qatar Airways also temporarily suspended its services to Iran and Iraq, noting that three major airports in Iran, including Tehran, and five in Iraq, including Baghdad, had been affected.
Germany's Lufthansa suspended flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv through 31 July. Its flights to Amman, Beirut, and Erbil were also paused until 20 June.
On Sunday, EgyptAir cancelled its flights to Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, and Erbil due to ongoing developments in the region and for passenger safety.
In a statement on Friday, Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that Egyptian airspace remained open and fully operational, with flights running normally under internationally recognized safety standards.
Iran said it has arrested two individuals it accused of being members of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad in Alborz province, west of Tehran, while they were preparing explosives and electronic devices, Reuters reports, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
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Iran has fired some 280 ballistic missiles at Israel in several barrages since Israel started its military escalation against Iran on Friday, according to the military.
The military admitted that dozens of missiles were not intercepted, as several hit residential areas in central and northern Israel, causing casualties and damage.
In all, 13 people have been killed and hundreds have been wounded in missile impacts.
The scenes of devastation at the sites of impact are primarily attributed to the large explosive warheads that the missiles carry. The military estimates that Iran's ballistic missiles have a 500-kilogram (1,100-lb) warhead, the same kind it fired at Israel in April and October 2024.
======================
Iran's Oil Ministry said all units and facilities at the Isfahan refinery are stable and production continues without interruption.
Earlier, Iranian media said that Israel attacked a facility affiliated with the defence ministry in the central city of Isfahan.
"One of the centres affiliated with the Ministry of Defence in Isfahan was attacked, and possible damages are under investigation," ISNA news agency reported, quoting deputy provincial governor Akbar Salehi.
----------------------
Israel's Oil Refineries said its pipelines and transmission lines in Haifa had been damaged by missile strikes by Iran, according to a regulatory filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
It said that no injuries or casualties were reported at the sites, with refining facilities continuing to operate despite a shutdown of some downstream operations, Reuters reports.
It added that it is examining the impact of the damage on its operations and implications on its financial results.
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LIVE UPDATES: Trump says Iran should re-enter negotiations as Tel Aviv-Tehran conflict unfolding - 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 a fourth day. On Friday evening, Iran fired multiple waves of ballistic missiles towards Israel, hitting areas in central Israel, including Rishon Lezion, Bat Yam, and Tamra, in its retaliatory "Operation True Promise III" to Israeli attacks in the early hours Friday. These operation resulted in at least 13 fatalities across Israel, and over 300 injuries. Damage to residential buildings and infrastructure was reported in cities like Tel Aviv, with rescue teams actively searching for missing persons under rubble. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said their missiles successfully hit Israeli military-industrial centers and fuel facilities, while Israel's defense systems intercepted many, but not all, incoming projectiles. Simultaneously, Israel continued its "Operation Rising Lion" unleashing airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday with expanded airstrikes deep inside Iran. Israeli army indicated strikes on dozens of targets, including residential areas and what they claimed were Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran, an oil depot at Shahran, the Fajr Jam oil refinery, and a crucial part of the South Pars gas field, reportedly disrupting gas production. Israel's attacks on Iran since Friday have killed over 220 Iranians, with over 1,000 wounded. 24 were killed in Israel and dozens were injured. 19:20 An Iranian ballistic missile reportedly landed near Safad, close to an Israeli military site, according to Israeli media. Earlier reports said around four missiles were fired at northern Israel in the latest barrage, with most intercepted. Video footage circulated by news outlets showed a fire at the site of the strike, caused by shrapnel from the missiles launched toward the area. Israeli media said no direct impacts had been reported, adding that fire and rescue services were working to extinguish a blaze that broke out in an open area in a northern city due to falling interceptor debris. Iran said its next wave of attacks on Israel would be directed 'only toward military targets and related infrastructure,' according to the ISNA news agency. 21:15 The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran's armed forces air defence network shot down another US-made F-35 stealth fighter jet over the city of Tabriz, marking the fourth such aircraft brought down by Iranian defences. The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter supplied to Israel by the United States and forms a key part of its air fleet in long-range operations and precision strikes. 21: 00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was open to the idea of targeting Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in an interview with ABC News. Dismissing fears of escalation between both sides, he claimed the assassination would "end the conflict." Netanyahu was responding to a question about US President Donald Trump's reported veto of an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei. 'We've had half a century of conflict spread by this regime,' he said. 'The forever war is what Iran wants.' Netanyahu dismissed Iranian statements suggesting a willingness to end the fighting and return to nuclear negotiations. 'They want to continue to have these fake talks in which they lie, they cheat, they string the US along,' he said. 'And, you know, we have very solid intel on that.' In response to questions about reported plans to assassinate Khamenei, an Israeli army spokesperson said in a televised interview: 'We will reach all who threaten Israel.' 19:30 Israeli emergency services said on Monday that 400 people have been injured since the start of hostilities, up from 300 reported earlier. Al Jazeera correspondent Elias Karam reported a higher figure, saying some 740 Israelis have been wounded. 19:30 Two Iranian and three regional sources told Reuters that Tehran had asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire with Iran. It would be in return for Tehran's flexibility in nuclear negotiations, the sources added. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal, citing officials, reported that Iran has been signalling that it seeks an end to hostilities and resumption of talks over its nuclear programs. It added that Iran has been sending the messages to Israel and the United States via Arab intermediaries. 19:00 US President Donald Trump said Iran was not winning its conflict with Israel and should re-enter negotiations "before it's too late," AFP reported him as saying. "They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late," Trump told reporters at a G7 summit in Canada. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if the US does not "rein in the Israeli regime, Iran's responses will be more painful," Iranian state media reported. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Tel Aviv was 'on the path to victory'. 'We are on our way to achieve our two main objectives, eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat, Netanyahu said, claiming the Israeli air force was "in control" of Tehran's skies. 'We are telling the citizens of Tehran: 'Evacuate', and we are taking action.' Smoke billows from an explosion at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building in Tehran. AFP 18:30 Iranian state TV is now back to broadcasting live after going off air for a few minutes following Israel's attack. The broadcaster says in text being displayed on screen that all its programmes 'are resuming live without any interruptions.' Another news ticker says Israel 'in a brutal violation targeted one of the buildings of Iran's state TV.' The broadcaster says that Israel was trying to "silence the voice of truth" by attacking it. The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, part of Iran's state TV broadcaster, says it has been attacked by Israel, according to reports in Reuters. It follows threats earlier today from the Israeli defence minister, who said the state broadcaster was "about to disappear". 18:30 The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building was struck in an Israeli attack on Monday, cutting live coverage immediately, according to media reports. The blast occurred as the presenter was live on TV, lambasting Israel before she was seen leaving the live broadcast, Iranian media reported, sharing a video of the incident. شاهد | اللحظات الأولى بعد قصف طيران الاحتـ....لال الإسرائيـ....لي لمبنى هيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون الإيرانية في #طهران. — وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 16, 2025 18:30 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Iran's state television and radio were "about to disappear", after an evacuation warning was issued for the district in Tehran where the broadcaster is based. "The Iranian propaganda and incitement megaphone is about to disappear," he said in a statement. "Evacuation of nearby residents has begun." Israel's military urged residents in a portion of the capital's northern District 3 to evacuate "immediately" on Monday, saying it intended to carry out air strikes there. "In the coming hours, the (Israeli military) will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime," the military said in a post on X in Persian. The area marked for evacuation is an upmarket part of the Iranian capital home to at least four hospitals and medical centres, a major police building and state broadcaster IRIB. It also houses several embassies, including those of Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, as well as UN offices and the Agence France-Presse bureau. Earlier Monday, the Israeli army said that it had achieved "total air superiority in the skies over Tehran". 18:25 The Iranian Revolutionary Guards issued an urgent warning to the residents of Tel Aviv, urging them to leave "immediately" for their safety and never return. The Revolutionary Guards said in a statement reported by the Iranian Al-Alam channel on Monday, "We have studied all possibilities and prepared ourselves for any situation in war. Our modern equipment will enter the field when we deem it appropriate." They added, "We are working with great force to destroy the missile launch sites in Tel Aviv." 17:55 Iran has been urgently signalling that it seeks an end to hostilities and resumption of talks over its nuclear programs, sending messages to Israel and the United States via Arab intermediaries, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing officials. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. 17:50 Iran's education ministry has designated schools as bomb shelters amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the country, according to state-affiliated media reports. Semi-official news agency ISNA quoted Iran's education minister, Alireza Kazemi, calling for people to help the ministry so schools can provide services as emergency bases. He said the schools already have water, electricity, gas and necessary school equipment. The deadly escalation in the conflict between Iran and Israel entered its fourth day today. 17:45 Israel's military urged residents of a northern district of Tehran to evacuate "immediately" on Monday, saying it intended to carry out air strikes there. "In the coming hours, the (Israeli miliary) will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime", the military said in a post on X in Persian, indicating a part of Tehran's District 3 on a map and telling citizens to "evacuate the marked area" for safety. 16:05 Iranian Nobel laureates and filmmakers on Monday called for an end to hostilities between Iran and Israel, urging Tehran to stop the conflict by halting its enrichment of uranium. "We demand the immediate halt of uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic, the cessation of military hostilities, an end to attacks on vital infrastructure in both Iran and Israel, and the stopping of massacres of civilians in both countries," said the activists in an op-ed in French newspaper Le Monde. The signatories included Nobel Peace Prize winners Shirin Ebadi and Narges Mohammadi, as well as the winner of the top prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Jafar Panahi and his fellow director Mohammad Rassoulof. 16:00 Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, says that Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah was targeted and, in a post on X, called the attack a "grave violation of international law" and a "war crime". International humanitarian law states that hospitals should not be attacked during armed conflicts, with some exceptions, and a violation of this can constitute a war crime. The BBC has verified footage of damage to the hospital. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) did not report any casualties, but said rescue teams had been sent to the hospital. The ICU ward is thought to have been the worst affected. Farabi Hospital is the main neurology centre in Kermanshah province and also has a psychiatry department. 15:30 Israeli messages asking people to evacuate cities are part of the "enemy's psychological operations," an Iranian government spokesperson has said. Fatemeh Mohajerani also confirms that Iran's internet has been "slowed down" for "combating cyber-attacks" on the country. Israel's defence minister has warned that Tehran's residents will "pay the price" for Iranian attacks on Israeli citizens and asked residents to evacuate. Yesterday, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning asking Iranians living near weapons production facilities to leave the area. Meanwhile, from what I'm hearing from people in Tehran, there's still heavy traffic on roads leading out of the city, and people have been queuing up for fuel like yesterday. A resident told me that they would be staying in Tehran because they have 'no friends or family in other provinces and no other place to go'. A general view of Iran's capital Tehran. AFP 14:45 Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with neighbouring Iran for an indefinite period, provincial officials said on Monday, as Israel and Iran trade intense strikes and threaten further attacks. "Border facilities in all five districts -- Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar -- have been suspended," Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, which borders Iran, told AFP. Crossing into Iran "has been suspended until further notice", said Atta ul Munim, an official at one of the crossings in Chaghi district. However, there was "no ban on trade" activities at the border and Pakistani nationals needing to return to their country from Iran can cross, he added. "We're expecting around 200 Pakistani students coming today," Atta said. On Sunday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said 450 Pakistani pilgrims were evacuated from Iran, with more to follow, as well as from Iraq -- the two countries hosting the holiest sites in Shia Islam. Pakistan, the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear weapons, said on Friday it "stands in solidarity with the Government and the people of Iran" against strikes by Israel, which both Islamabad and Tehran do not recognise. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday warned that the world "should be wary and apprehensive about Israel's nuclear prowess" and accused it of lacking "any international nuclear discipline". Israel is the Middle East's only undeclared nuclear power. File Photo: Flags of Iran and Pakistan at a closed border crossing in Taftan. AFP 13:45 Tehran's Grand Bazaar, the city's largest and most prominent marketplace, was closed as fighting between Israel and Iran entered a fourth day, an AFP journalist reported. The journalist added that the main gate of the bazaar was fully shut, and the streets were largely deserted. Most shops across the capital were closed except for a few grocery stores. Shops remain shuttered Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar. AP 13:30 Israel's military claimed it had destroyed one-third of Iran's surface-to-surface missile launchers. Since the start of Israeli escalation against Iran on Friday, "more than 120 missile launchers -- constituting one third of the Iranian regime's total launchers -- have been destroyed," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a statement. 13:20 Turkey is ready to play a "facilitating role" to end the conflict between arch foes Israel and Iran, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call, his office said. During the call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Erdogan said, according to his office, "Turkey is ready to play a facilitating role for the immediate end of the conflict and return to nuclear negotiations. " Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that Russia remains ready to act as a mediator in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and Moscow's previous proposals to store Iranian uranium in Russia remain on the table. Russia's previous proposals to resolve the conflict are still on the table, but the outbreak of hostilities has complicated the situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, AFP reported. 13:00 Iranian media said that a hospital in the country's west suffered serious damage after an Israeli strike in the area. "Following the Zionist criminal regime's attack on a nearby workshop in Kermanshah city, Farabi Hospital also suffered serious damage," the Tasnim news agency reported. Fars news agency carried a video of the hospital showing shattered glass, collapsed ceilings, and extensive damage in patient rooms. This morning, Israeli occupation forces targeted Al-Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah amid the ongoing assault on Iran. — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 16, 2025 Video courtesy of Quds News Network 12:40 The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said there was "no indication of a physical attack" on the underground section of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment site following Israeli strikes that reportedly destroyed the plant's above-ground section. "There has been no indication of a physical attack on the underground cascade hall containing part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the main Fuel Enrichment Plant," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement to an extraordinary board session. "However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there," he added. 12:00 Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters on Monday that the Iranian parliament is preparing a bill to leave the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), adding that Tehran remains opposed to the development of weapons of mass destruction, according to Reuters. 'Germany, France, and England should have very clearly condemned the Zionist regime's crimes, especially against the Natanz nuclear facility,' said Baqaei, adding that European powers should focus on 'stopping the aggression' and holding Israel 'accountable'. "The Israeli regime has killed many children during the past 3 days of its war of aggression on Iran and has also targeted a children's hospital (Hakim Children's Hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences). They're "killing children as a hobby", as admitted once by Yair Golan, the former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army. 11:50 Poland is ready to start evacuating around 200 of its citizens who were on visits to Israel via Jordan's capital Amman, a deputy foreign minister said on Monday, Reuters reports. 'We assume we will be ready in the next few dozen hours, [the evacuation] will concern those who are stuck as tourists and those staying for a short stay,' Henryka Moscicka-Dendys told reporters. 11:30 Israel's military said a missile launched from Yemen fell before entering Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in several areas of the country. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen fell prior to crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement. On Sunday, Yemen's Houthi group said it carried out 'a military operation targeting sensitive targets of the Israeli enemy" in central Israel. The group said it had targeted the area "at different times over the past 24 hours" with "a number of Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missiles." They said their attacks were "coordinated with the operations carried out by the Iranian military". 11:10 Oil prices extended gains Monday as Israel and Iran pounded each other with missiles for a fourth day and threatened further attacks, stoking fears of a lengthy conflict that could reignite inflation. Gold prices also rose back towards a record high thanks to a rush into safe havens, but while most equity markets dropped further into the red the losses were limited on hopes that the conflict does not spread through the Middle East. Key figures at around 0230 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.2 percent at $73.88 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.1 percent at $75.02 per barrel. Gold rose to around $3,450 an ounce and close to its all-time high of $3,500. 10:50 Iranian missiles have killed at least 24 people in Israel since Friday, the Israeli prime minister's office said in an updated toll following the latest attacks. The toll issued on Monday includes 11 deaths recorded since midnight, the office said, including four in Petakh Tikva near Tel Aviv, three in Haifa and one in the Bnei Brak suburb of Tel Aviv. It also includes two bodies retrieved following a previous strike on Bat Yam and one more killed in an unspecified location. Israeli rescuers search through the rubble at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak on June 16, 2025. AFP Israeli rescuers search through the rubble at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak on June 16, 2025. AFP 10:20 Israeli rescue teams have recovered three more bodies from the impact site after the overnight Iranian missile attacks in Haifa, Israel's Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed on Monday morning. The total number of those killed on Sunday night and the early hours has now reached eight, with 22 people having been killed since the start of the conflict. Damage was reportedly caused to a power plant in Haifa and in central Israel by an Iranian overnight and early morning attack, the Guardian reported. Fires were observed at the power plant in the vicinity of Israel's Haifa port, after Iranian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on port infrastructure amid escalations with Israel. The Guardian said it observed video footage of the Israeli military intercepting the attack, followed by impacts from two hypersonic missiles. The Israel Electric Corporation confirmed that Iran caused damage to the central power grid but insisted, 'Teams are working on the ground to neutralize safety hazards, in particular the risk of electrocution due to torn electrical wires,' the Israel Electric Corporation said. Israeli soldiers search through the rubble of residential buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, Israel, on Sunday. AP 10:00 The Iranian president urged all citizens to put aside differences and unite against Israel as conflict rages between the two countries. "Every difference, issue, and problem that has existed must be put aside today, and we must stand strong against this genocidal criminal aggression with unity and coherence," Masoud Pezeshkian said, addressing parliament. Flames rise from an oil storage facility after it was struck by an Israeli missile in Tehran early Sunday. AP 09:45 Iran's judiciary said it has hanged a man arrested in 2023 and convicted of being an agent for Israel's Mossad spy agency. "Esmaeil Fekri, a Mossad agent convicted of the capital offences of 'corruption on earth' and 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) was hanged after going through the full process of criminal procedure," the judiciary's Mizan Online news website said. 09:40 The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is reporting minor damage from a concussion after an Iranian missile hit near its embassy branch in Tel Aviv, but said in a post on X that no US personnel were injured. He added that the US embassy and consulate in Israel will remain closed on Monday. 09:30 Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said five people were killed and 92 wounded Monday in Iran's latest missile strikes on the country, raising the previous toll of four deaths. The casualties were from strikes on four sites in central Israel, the MDA said in a statement, adding those killed included "two women and two men around the age of 70, as well as one additional fatality". "So far, MDA teams have evacuated 92 injured individuals to hospitals, including a 30-year-old woman in serious condition with facial injuries, six in moderate condition, and 85 in mild condition," it added. The MDA said search and rescue operations were ongoing at two of the four sites. Iran unleashed a barrage of missile strikes on Israeli cities early Monday, after Israel struck military targets deep inside Iran, with both sides threatening further devastation. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had warned on Monday that Tehran's residents would "pay the price" for Iranian strikes on Israeli civilians. A picture shows Iranian rocket trails in the sky over Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West bank, late on June 15, 2025. AFP 09:00 Israel's military said it struck command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Israeli air force "struck command centres belonging to the Quds Force of the IRGC and the Iranian military, with precise direction from the (Israeli military) Intelligence Directorate," an army statement said, specifying the targets were located in the Iranian capital. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
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Video: Israel Strikes Iranian TV
Rana Atef Israeli missiles targeted the Iranian state television facility in Tehran, after the Israel Defense Forces issued an evacuation order to civilians in this region. The strike temporarily disturbed a broadcast. The host left the studio while airing the news as the studio was filled with smoke and ashes. The broadcast connection was cut off for several minutes, and wireless communications were also disrupted. Shortly afterward, things relatively returned to normal. The main program of Iranian television switched to be aired from other studios. ⚡️🇮🇷🇮🇱BREAKING: In a brazen act of aggression, Israel bombed Iran State TV IRIB's building during live news coverage. Minutes after the Israeli bombing of the Iranian radio and television building, the Iranian news channel resumed normal live broadcasting including Sahar Emami… — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 16, 2025 Anchor Sahar Emami returned to the screen of Iranian radio and television and appeared on the live broadcast of the news network. Media reports indicate that the glass building housing the administration and the political deputy of Iranian television was targeted by Israeli forces. The Public Relations Department of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) announced: 'In the event of any disruption in receiving the signal of any regional or national IRIB network, please follow the broadcast via television.'" read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
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Iran Says Majority of Victims in Israeli Strikes Are Civilians, Hospital Hit in Kermanshah
Ahmed Emam Iranian officials have accused Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure in a series of strikes that have left hundreds dead, including patients and medical staff at a hospital in western Iran. According to Iranian state media, an Israeli airstrike hit a hospital in the city of Kermanshah, resulting in multiple casualties and severe damage to the facility. This latest attack is part of an escalating campaign of Israeli military action that began on Friday and has since claimed the lives of at least 224 people across Iran, according to official figures released by the Iranian Health Ministry. Iranian authorities said the vast majority of those killed are civilians, including women and children, and accused Israel of deliberately striking non-military sites. 'This is a clear violation of international humanitarian law,' said a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry. 'Hospitals, schools, and residential areas have no place in military operations. The Israeli regime must be held accountable for these war crimes.' Footage broadcast on Iranian news channels showed emergency workers sifting through rubble and treating survivors outside the Kermanshah hospital. Local officials reported a "catastrophic" situation on the ground, with many victims still trapped under debris. Israel has not officially commented on the strike in Kermanshah but has previously stated that its operations are aimed at dismantling Iranian military infrastructure and preventing further attacks on Israeli territory. The recent hostilities have further heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, as international calls for de-escalation continue to grow. The United Nations has urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid targeting civilians. As tensions persist, humanitarian agencies warn of a looming crisis in affected areas, with hospitals overwhelmed and medical supplies dwindling. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
