Israel-Iran war: IDF strikes at least 20 military sites using fighter jets as conflict intensifies
In a post on X, the IDF said it hit key nuclear and missile sites across Tehran, including uranium enrichment and centrifuge sites, plus missile and air defence production facilities.
The IDF also confirmed it targeted research and development sites for Iran's nuclear weapons project.
'These sites fuel Iran's weapons program and attacks on Israeli civilians,' the IDF wrote.
'The IDF will continue targeting threats to defend Israeli civilians.'
In a separate statement, the IDF asserted that the sites struck were 'designated to allow the Iranian regime to expand the scale and pace of its uranium enrichment purpose of developing nuclear weapons.'
According to the IDF, the strikes specifically targeted 'factories producing raw materials and components for missile assembly, as well as sites for the production of Iran's air defense systems'.
The latest wave of attacks follows reports that Iran has downed its first Israeli aircraft since the conflict began, confirming the destruction of a Hermes 900 long-endurance tactical UAV over Isfahan Province earlier this week.
Video released by Iranian state media appears to corroborate the claim, showing debris consistent with the unique structure and markings of the Israeli-manufactured drone.
More to come...
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Qassem accused the government of implementing an "American-Israeli order to eliminate the resistance, even if that leads to civil war and internal strife". However, he said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi'ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests while there was still scope for talks. "There is still room for discussion, for adjustments, and for a political resolution before the situation escalates to a confrontation no one wants," Qassem said. "But if it is imposed on us, we are ready, and we have no other choice ... At that point, there will be a protest in the street, all across Lebanon, that will reach the American embassy." The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. 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The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. Hezbollah and Amal still retain influence politically, appointing Shi'ite ministers to cabinet and holding the Shi'ite seats in parliament. But for the first time in years, they do not hold a "blocking third" of cabinet, enabling them to veto government decisions in the past. Hezbollah retains strong support among the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, but calls for its disarmament across the rest of society have grown.
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The denial was backed by Hamas foreign relations chief, Istanbul-based Basem Naim on Thursday afternoon, who doubted the statement in an interview with AAP. By the evening, Hamas media director Ismail Al-Thawabta had clarified the group's position to ABC, saying the group did praise the PM's recognition move. 'We welcome Australia's decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it a positive step towards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,' Mr Al-Thawabta said. The PM seized on the confusion, accusing the media and the Opposition of feeding into Hamas 'propaganda'. But Opposition leader Sussan Ley had claimed the Hamas endorsement had shown Mr Albanese was the one who was 'making a real mess of this'. Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor on Friday added that being 'praised by a terrorist organisation' was 'not a good endorsement' of Australia's foreign policy. 'This is the wrong policy, the preconditions have not been met. We all want to see peace in the Middle East, but frankly, this is not the pathway to get there,' he told 2GB. Mr Huckabee also defended the Israeli Defence Force's military conduct as 'the most ethical' despite claims of mass starvation, displacement and people being killed while searching for aid. Instead, he claimed Hamas was putting 'its civilians in front of targets that the Israelis announced in advance they're going to hit'. It comes as deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel on Friday denied reports of starvation in Gaza, saying Palestinian funeral congregants were not 'looking as if they're starving' and 'actually look quite well'. 'When you look at those images . . . you see well-fed people. I'm not saying there isn't a humanitarian crisis, but there's a long way to go and describe it as a famine or starvation,' she told ABC radio. Ms Haskel went on to criticise the 'extreme' protesters and 'useful idiots' who protested Israel's military actions in Gaza during the Sydney Harbour Bridge March for Humanity.
