Iranian Air Defense Downs Two Israeli Warplanes, Captures Pilot
Taarek Refaat
Iranian air defense forces successfully shot down two Israeli warplanes on Friday evening, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. According to a report by the Tasnim News Agency, the attack took place in Iranian airspace, with one of the Israeli pilots, identified as a woman, captured following the downing of one of the planes.
The operation is described as a major success for Iran's air defense capabilities, showcasing its ability to confront and neutralize Israeli aerial threats. Iranian authorities have hailed the interception as a testament to the country's preparedness and the growing sophistication of its defense systems.
While further details regarding the incident are limited, the capture of the Israeli pilot adds a new dimension to the already volatile situation. The authorities have not yet disclosed the specific location of the engagement or the identity of the captured pilot.
This latest development further intensifies the ongoing military standoff between Israel and Iran, with both nations locked in a broader struggle for regional influence and security.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned of severe consequences for Israeli military actions in Iranian-controlled airspace, emphasizing that such incursions will be met with resolute responses.
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
News
Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Videos & Features
Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
Technology
50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
News
3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
33 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon reopen airspace as Israel, Iran trade fire - Region
Jordan, Syria and Lebanon reopened their airspace on Saturday, a day after imposing closures as Israel and Iran traded fire. On Friday, Israel launched strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, prompting retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli cities. The escalation led to airspace closures across Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Global airlines cancelled or rerouted flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other destinations in the region amid the shutdown. The US military has assisted Israel in intercepting incoming missiles. Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon share borders with Israel, but only Jordan has formal diplomatic relations with it. Syria was long ruled by Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran, but has since his ouster in December been led by Islamist former rebels. Following Assad's overthrow, Israel's forces occupied the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in the Golan Heights, and has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria. Lebanon hosts Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia group that was battered in a war with Israel that saw the latter escalate strikes and invade southern Lebanon. Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanon in violation of a ceasefire that came into effect in late 2024, and still occupies areas in the south of the country. "Jordan has reopened its airspace starting 7:30 am (0430 GMT)," the chairman of the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, Haitham Misto, said in a statement. Lebanon's Transport Minister Fayez Rassamni announced the reopening of the country's airspace from 10:00 am (0700 GMT) Saturday. In Syria, the aviation authority also announced the reopening of the country's airspace to civilian aircraft. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
33 minutes ago
- Egypt Today
Egypt, Tunisia discuss boosting religious cooperation
Egyptian (R) and Tunisian (L) flags - file CAIRO - 14 June 2025: Egypt's Ambassador to Tunisia Bassem Hassan had a meeting with Tunisia's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Hichem Ben Mahmoud to explore ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of religious edicts (fatwas), imam training, and exchange of scholarships in Islamic studies. The meeting underlined the depth of ties between Egypt and Tunisia, particularly the strong scholarly ties between Al Azhar University in Cairo and Ez-Zitouna University in Tunis. These ties were notably exemplified by the historic appointment of the esteemed Tunisian scholar Sheikh El-Khadr Hussein as Grand Imam of Al Azhar in 1952. Ambassador Hassan stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two leading Islamic institutions, recognizing them as beacons of moderate thought essential to fighting extremist and destructive ideologies. He also expressed Egypt's anticipation of hosting Sheikh Hichem Ben Mahmoud in Cairo in August to take part in an international conference organized by Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, titled "The Making of a Wise Mufti in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." The diplomat highlighted Egypt's continued support for the Palestinian cause, adding the Egyptian and Tunisian leaderships shared an identical vision on ending the aggression in Gaza and reaffirming their commitment to consolidating bilateral cooperation in all sectors. For his part, the Tunisian Grand Mufti voiced his deep appreciation for the strong ties with Egypt, commending Egypt's sincere efforts in defending the interests of the Islamic nation. He also called for enhancing the longstanding academic and historical ties between Ez-Zitouna and Al Azhar.
Egypt Independent
39 minutes ago
- Egypt Independent
How Israel's campaign to wipe out Iran's nuclear program unfolded
CNN — Israel launched a wave of unprecedented strikes on Iran shortly before sunrise Friday morning, hitting key sites in the nation's nuclear program as well as residential areas in upscale neighborhoods of Tehran and killing some of the country's highest-ranking military leaders. A CNN analysis of satellite imagery and dozens of videos shared on social media offers insight into how the wide-ranging operation unfolded across the country. The attacks landed hundreds of miles from Tel Aviv, with strikes continuing through the afternoon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the bombardment could go on for days. Israel's military said it used some 200 fighter jets in the operation, called 'Rising Lion.' Based on a review of strike targets, the attack had several prongs: Heavy strikes against at least one of Iran's uranium enrichment sites as well as its stockpiles of ballistic missiles, and more targeted strikes in Tehran to decapitate the regime's military leadership. It aimed to halt what Israel said was Tehran's rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons. Videos geolocated and verified by CNN reveal multiple residential neighborhoods were hit across Tehran, including in the north, west and east. Aftermath footage showed crowds and emergency workers surrounding collapsed buildings in densely populated areas. The Israeli operation came after years of threats and days of heightened speculation. Earlier in the week, the US had made efforts to withdraw non-essential personnel from locations around the Middle East, with one official citing 'developing tension' in the region. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump told reporters in the White House that he did not want Israel to target Iran while talks to reach a new agreement to limit Iranian nuclear enrichment were ongoing. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israeli territory on Friday evening local time. Here's what we know about how Israel's attack unfolded, minute by minute. All times are local to Iran. Pre-dawn: First strikes The first reports of explosions in Tehran came at around 3:30 a.m. local time Friday. Video geolocated by CNN showed a fire burning across several floors of an apartment block in northern Tehran, as emergency services arrived at the scene. Seven miles west of those buildings – still in the north of the city – another video showed damage from a strike on the upscale Chamran Town neighborhood. An entire wall had been stripped off one of the buildings, with people seen climbing through the rubble inside. One strike hit centrally near Laleh Park, the site of protests over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after Iran's morality police detained her for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Beyond the capital, a video showed a strike on the Piranshahr military base in western Iran, some 350 miles (about 560 kilometers) away from Tehran. The video showed the dark night sky being lit up by a series of rapid explosions, with smoke rising in the distance. revor Ball, a munitions researcher and former US Army senior explosive ordnance technician, told CNN the video indicated 'rocket motor burning,' which would be consistent with a strike on a ballistic missile storage facility. Strikes also hit the Natanz nuclear facility, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Tehran. Social media footage showed a huge fireball rising from the site. CNN obtained radar imagery from a space imaging company, Umbra, which captured damage to several areas of the facility. Other satellite imagery reviewed by CNN showed the same damage in more clarity; black plumes of smoke rising from multiple locations across the site. The Natanz nuclear facility includes two large underground halls believed to hold centrifuges for enriching uranium, according to a 2003 report from the Institute for Science and International Security, which includes satellite imagery of the site under construction in 2002. Based on that imagery, the latest attacks do not appear to have hit the underground buildings, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. Iran's atomic energy agency said its primary nuclear enrichment facility 'did not encounter serious damage' and there were 'no radiation leaks that would cause concern to the people' after Israel attacked it. The spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said on Iranian state media that the damage was on the ground level away from the underground facility at the plant. Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement that 'radiation levels outside the Natanz facility remained unchanged' but added that there was 'radioactive contamination present inside the facility,' which 'can be managed with appropriate protective measures.' 4:14 a.m.: IDF speaks Soon after the first explosions rocked Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it had launched preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear program. It said it used jets to strike 'dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.' The statement came at 3:44 a.m. in Israel, which is 30 minutes behind Iran's time zone. 4:35 a.m.: Rubio distances US Within minutes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the US was 'not involved' in Israel's strikes and that Israel's actions were 'unilateral.' 'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,' Rubio said in a statement on X, anticipating a potential Iranian response. Sunrise: Strikes continue Just one mile west of the strikes on Chamran Town, daylight video showed the aftermath of a strike on Tehran's Chizar neighborhood. A huge hole had been blown in the top two floors of a building, with twisted iron bars hanging from the concrete structure. Residents of Tehran later told CNN how they had been woken up by their homes 'shaking' from Israel's attack. A 17-year-old Iranian, who asked to remain anonymous, said people were 'screaming' in the streets. 'I didn't know what was happening. It was really scary,' the teenager said. 5:17 a.m.: Netanyahu announces Operation 'Rising Lion' As evidence of Israel's strikes began to pour in, Netanyahu gave a televised address, saying that Israel had acted to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.' He said the operation would continue for as long as it takes 'to remove these threats.' Netanyahu claimed Iran had produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine nuclear weapons. In a report sent to member states May 31, the IAEA had said that Iran possessed a quantity of uranium enriched to 60% purity – not yet weapons-grade, but sufficient to eventually make nine nuclear weapons if further enriched to 90%. 'Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months,' Netanyahu said. 'This is a clear and present danger to Israel's survival.' The prime minister claimed Israel had struck Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz, which was corroborated by video of the site. Past 6 a.m. As the sun rose, the full scope of Israel's attack became clearer. Videos published after 6 a.m. showed the aftermath of a strike on a military base and a cargo terminal in the western Kermanshah region, which borders Iraq, over 250 miles from Tehran and 167 miles from Baghdad. 6:26 a.m.: IAEA 'concerned' After Netanyahu claimed Israel had targeted the nuclear facility at Natanz, the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that Natanz had been hit. 'The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran,' it said. The agency said it was in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels in the area. In a later statement, it said it had not observed an increase in radiation. 8:35 a.m.: IDF announces killings The Israeli military said it had killed three of the most senior men in Iran's military and its nuclear program. Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the secretive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was the highest-profile of those killed. In its initial statement, Israel also said it killed Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, leader of Iran's emergency command. The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, attends a military parade in Tehran in April 2024. Atta Kenare/AFP/getty Images Later, the IDF said it had killed Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's air force. Many of the strikes on Tehran appear to have been targeting these senior officials. Last year, Israel demonstrated its ability to assassinate its adversaries in highly targeted attacks on Iranian soil. In July 2024, it killed Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas – the Iran-backed militia in Gaza – by remotely detonating a bomb that had been hidden in his room in Tehran. While Friday's strikes appeared extremely targeted, there have also been reports of civilian casualties. 8:48 a.m.: Iran responds The IDF said that Iran had launched more than 100 drones towards Israeli territory, and that Israel's air defenses were preparing to intercept them. 'We're expecting difficult hours,' it said. Around midday Early afternoon, Iranian media reported that Israel had launched a fresh strike on the northwestern city of Tabriz. Tamsin news agency said the Tabriz Airport had come under 'heavy Israeli attack.' 12:26 p.m.: Trump posts After learning the extent of Israel's attack, Trump urged Iran's leaders to agree to a new nuclear deal 'before there is nothing left' of their country. Trump said he had given Iran 'chance after chance' to make a deal. 'JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,' he wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. Under a 2015 nuclear deal struck by President Barack Obama, Iran agreed to drastically limit its number of centrifuges and cap uranium enrichment at levels far below those required to make weapons, in exchange for sanctions relief. But during his first term as president in 2018, Trump withdrew from the deal, saying the 'rotten structure' of the agreement was not enough to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. He ramped up sanctions on Iran and threatened to sanction any country that helped the regime obtain nuclear weapons. In his second term, Trump has revived efforts to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. Just hours before Israel's attack, the president on Thursday cautioned Israel against launching a strike while talks are ongoing. US officials have held several rounds of high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran in recent weeks, demanding that Tehran stop all uranium enrichment activity. Iran has long claimed that its nuclear program is peaceful. It has said it wants to keep enriching uranium for civilian purposes, like building a nuclear reactor, and not for weapons. 'Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an X post last month, setting out Tehran's red lines in the talks.
