Trump to Shut Down US Diplomatic Missions in Europe
The Trump administration is preparing to close several US consulates, primarily in Western Europe, as part of a broader initiative to reduce the global diplomatic workforce, according to American officials.
The State Department is also considering consolidating multiple specialized offices in Washington, focusing on areas such as human rights, refugee affairs, global criminal justice, women's issues, and efforts to combat human trafficking.
In recent weeks, US diplomatic missions worldwide were instructed to evaluate staff reductions of at least 10 percent for both American and local employees.
This directive aligns with an aggressive cost-cutting strategy led by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, aimed at reducing the federal workforce across multiple sectors.
The administration is pushing for a comprehensive overhaul of the US Foreign Service to ensure complete adherence to its foreign policy objectives. Recent executive orders have reinforced this approach, restructuring the diplomatic corps to align with the government's strategic priorities.
The proposed reductions in diplomatic presence, combined with potential cuts to the US Agency for International Development, are raising concerns about diminishing American influence abroad.
Analysts warn that scaling back diplomatic efforts and international aid could create geopolitical vacuums, potentially allowing rivals such as China and Russia to expand their influence in critical regions.
Currently, the US State Department operates more than 270 diplomatic missions worldwide, with a workforce of approximately 70,000 employees. The planned closures and restructuring efforts represent one of the most significant shifts in American diplomatic strategy in recent history.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
6 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UN Security Council meets Friday to discuss Israel-Iran war, as Tel Aviv, Tehran conflict escalates - as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides wage deadly strikes against one another for a sixth day. Related The US role in the Iran-Israel confrontation A Gulf wary of escalation The Middle East in flames Israel escalated its attack, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion', on Tehran six days after bombing residential and military areas in Iran, killing over 200 people and wounding over 1,200. As US President Donald Trump urged residents to evacuate—echoing Israeli calls for 330,000 people to leave central Tehran—the capital began to empty, with shops shuttered and traffic clogging westbound roads. In retaliation, Iran intensified its 'Operation True Promise III,' launching multiple waves of missiles into central Israel, where large explosions were reported overnight and air raid sirens wailed throughout the night. Earlier Iranian strikes forced the shutdown of the Haifa oil refinery, other industrial facilities, and the local power plant. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel, with hundreds more wounded. Meanwhile, Israel has imposed a ban on live TV feed streaming, preventing networks from broadcasting images of incoming Iranian missiles and the damage caused by the strikes. As Trump weighs US involvement in the war, Iran says the Iranian nation 'is not one to surrender." 22:50 Iran's mission to the UN has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday morning to discuss the Israel attacks. The UN will discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, council president Guyana said. Diplomatic sources say Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria have backed Iran's call. 22:10 Trump says not yet made decision on whether to attack Iran. He said 'you may have to fight' to prevent Iran from getting nukes He has insisted that he doesn't want the US to get involved in a war with Iran, and he's insisted that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. He conceded that he may not be able to have it both ways. 'I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do,' he said. At another point, Trump said 'you may have to fight.' 22:12 Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents US interests in the Islamic republic, over recent remarks by President Donald Trump. "Following the irresponsible and threatening statements of the American president, the Swiss ambassador, as the guardian of this country's interests in Tehran, was summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs," state TV reported, without elaborating. 22:00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his "support in defending Israel's skies". The US has said it is not directly involved in Israel's campaign, but it is a key supplier of missiles and technology for its ally's sophisticated air defences systems. Reports have also said that American military assets Tel Aviv, including a Navy destroyer, have helped shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles. "I want to thank President Trump, a great friend of the state of Israel," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. 21:26 IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency says Iran today fired a Sajil MRBM for the first time. The missile has 2,500 kilometres range, and Iranians appear to be firing from further away as shorter-range bases in western Iran are pinned down. Sajil is also a good candidate for future nuclear weaponization. 20:19 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against "additional military interventions" in the Middle East. "Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved, but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large," Guterres said in a statement. 20:00 Egypt's foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in a phone call to discuss efforts to contain rising tensions. According to Egypt's foreign ministry, Abdelatty stressed the need to prevent further destabilization and warned of the broader risks to regional security. He reiterated Cairo's position that diplomatic and political solutions remain the only viable path forward, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to nuclear negotiations with Tehran. China's foreign ministry echoed the concern, with Wang reportedly describing the situation as nearing a tipping point. 'The [situation] may get out of control ... and the region could slide into an abyss,' he told Abdelatty, adding that Israel's actions in recent days had 'suddenly' intensified tensions. 19:41 Iran has fired a new missile salvo at Israel. Tehran said it launched hypersonic missiles. The Fattah hypersonic missiles "have successfully penetrated the Israeli regime's defenses," state TV reported. Israel's army said that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran and that defensive systems were operating to intercept the threat. A missile is fired from Iran toward Israel. AFP 19:37 Iran issued an evacuation warning for the residents of the Israeli city of Haifa, state television reported. "A few minutes ago, an evacuation notice was issued to Zionist settlers in Haifa to protect them from Iranian missile attacks," state TV said. It showed an image of the targeted area accompanied by Hebrew text saying: "Please leave the reported area immediately -- in the next few hours, armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will operate in this area... to attack the military infrastructure of the Zionist regime." 19:22 Iran's Foreign Ministry denied sending a delegation to Oman for new negotiations, contradicting reports that an Iranian government plane carrying negotiators had landed in Muscat. Reuters cited sources saying the aircraft departed from Tehran and arrived in Oman despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes and a regional airspace lockdown prompted by the conflict. The sixth round of US–Iran nuclear talks, initially scheduled for 15 June in Oman, has collapsed following the Israel attack on Iran on Friday. File Photo: The Foreign Ministry of Islamic Republic of Iran building. Photo courtesy of Isranian foreign ministry. 19:05 The US ambassador to Israel announced plans for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy is "working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures" for "American citizens wanting to leave Israel," Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on X. Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel @usembassyjlm is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures. You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) ( You will be alerted w/ updates. — Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 18, 2025 18:32 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 'Iran fulfilled the deal. The US tore it up. Trump walked away—yet Europe demanded Iran stay loyal. Why the hell should Iran comply with a deal the West abandoned?' US President Donald Trump said that he spoke with Putin over the phone and that he rejected Moscow's offer to mediate Israel-Iran talks. Putin "actually offered to help mediate. I said do me a favor, mediate your own.... I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later," Trump said. 🚨🚨⚡ President vladimir Putin drops the truth bomb: 'Iran fulfilled the deal. The U.S. tore it up. Trump walked away—yet Europe demanded Iran stay loyal. Why the hell should Iran comply with a deal the West abandoned?' -: A brutal reminder of who really broke the agreement. — RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) June 18, 2025 18:21 An Iranian negotiation delegation has landed in Oman, Reuters reported, as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to ease rising tensions amid the Israeli attacks. According to Iranian and regional sources, Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman to mediate with US President Donald Trump to pressure Tel Aviv into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, offering flexibility in nuclear talks in return. Sources revealed that Gulf leaders and diplomats held intense consultations over the weekend with Tehran, Washington, and other parties, aiming to contain the escalation and prevent the conflict between Iran and 'Israel' from spiraling further. One Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran is willing to show flexibility in its nuclear negotiations if a ceasefire is achieved. In contrast, a Gulf source expressed deep concern over the risk of the conflict spinning out of control. Trump claimed that Iran still wants to negotiate with the US and even proposed sending a delegation to the White House but that it was getting "very late" for talks and he might soon authorize strikes on Iran's nuclear program. 18:20 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the Pentagon was providing possible options to Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran but would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli attacks, according to AP news agency. Hegseth was on Capitol Hill for the last of his series of often combative hearings before lawmakers. In questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said 'maximum force protection" was being provided for US troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump's decision whether to provide Israel a 'bunker buster" bomb to strike at the core of Iran's nuclear program, which would require US pilots flying a B-2 stealth bomber. He would not indicate what the US may do next. The US has shifted significant numbers of refueling tankers and fighter aircraft to position them to respond to the escalating conflict, such as supporting possible evacuations or airstrikes. 18:13 As it has repeatedly been doing in Gaza, Israel targeted a humanitarian facility on Wednesday, striking a building belonging to the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. 18:00 'We did not have any proof of a systematic effort to move in Iran into a nuclear weapon,' the IAEA Director-General said in an interview with Christiane Amanpour on CNN. However, he drafted the Agency's recent report vaguely and questionably, helping Israel to use it as a pretext for its illegal aggression against Iran. 'We did not have any proof of a systematic effort to move into a nuclear weapon.' @iaeaorg Director General affirms his agency's findings about Iran's nuclear program. — Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 17, 2025 CNN has compiled a series of clips showing Israeli PM Netanyahu warning since 1996 that Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon within months. Iran: Weeks away from having nuclear weapons since 1995 — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 17, 2025 17:22 Asked if the US was moving closer to engaging in the Israeli attack on Iran and striking Iranian nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump said: 'I can't say that… You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question.' He has been speaking to reporters on the lawns of the White House. 'You don't know that I'm going to even do it. You don't know. I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do,' he said. 'I can tell you this – Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. And I said, 'Why didn't you negotiate with me before – all this death and destruction'. Why didn't you negotiate? I said to the people, 'why didn't you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country'.' 16:43 The Israeli army said public safety guidelines that have mandated school closures, among other restrictions, would ease in some areas from 6pm on Wednesday. Parts of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and West Bank, in addition to Israeli communities near Gaza and in Eilat in Israel's south, would be changed from "essential activity" to "limited activity" or "partial activity," the army said. 16:42 UK withdraws family members of its diplomatic staff in Israel have been withdrawn as Iran and Israel continue to exchange fire, Britain's foreign ministry said. The Foreign Office said relatives of staff working at the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate in Jerusalem were withdrawn "as a precautionary measure," adding that staff at the mission remain. 16:23 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that air force jets had destroyed Iran's "internal security headquarters" after the army announced it was striking Tehran. 16:15 Iran's state TV airs footage of an Israeli Hermes drone shot down in Iran's central Isfahan province. In the video, a reporter stands before a drone that crashed into the ground and sustained heavy damage. The Israel Defense Forces said that a surface-to-air missile had been fired towards an Israeli Air Force drone and that the drone then 'fell in Iran.' Iran's Army downs Israel's ultra-advanced Hermes drone over Isfahan — IRIB news footage — RT (@RT_com) June 18, 2025 16:07 US President Donald Trump is facing a critical decision between taking 'a diplomatic off ramp' or 'a war of choice,' Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNN. 'Leaders always have a choice in these moments,' she said. 'Trump has, in the past, stepped back from the brink of war with Iran, he has the ability to do so again.' Geranmayeh added that 'Iran will view this as a declaration of war,' if Trump decides to strike its nuclear facilities. 'Once you open up this Pandora's box, we have no idea where things go,' Geranmayeh said, adding that the conflict would 'most likely consume the rest of President Trump's presidency.' For Iran, she added, 'surrender is not an option.' 'It also knows it is not going to win militarily, but it's trying to ensure that there are only losers here,' Geranmayeh said. 15:55 The leaders of Russia and the United Arab Emirates warned of "extremely negative consequences" from the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, as President Vladimir Putin pushed himself as a possible mediator. In a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Putin "confirmed Russia's readiness to provide mediation assistance to promote dialogue between the parties to the conflict," the Kremlin said in a statement. The two leaders "expressed deep concern over the continuing escalation of the Iranian-Israeli conflict, which could have extremely negative consequences for the entire region," Moscow added. Putin has held phone calls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering his role as a peacemaker. 15:45 Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Iran to resume talks over its nuclear programme as the conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic raged. Wadephul said he had delivered the message to his Iranian counterpart in a phone call on Monday, together with the French and British foreign ministers and the European Union's chief diplomat. "We, the E3 states, remain ready to negotiate a solution," Wadephul said, with reference to the European grouping of Britain, France and Germany. "Iran must now act urgently," he said, calling for "verifiable and confidence-building measures", such as a commitment from the government in Tehran not to pursue nuclear weapons capabilities. "It is never too late to come to the negotiating table if you come with honest intentions," Wadephul said in a press conference alongside the Jordanian foreign minister. 15:30 Multiple explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday, AFP journalists said, and black smoke rose in the east. The series of blasts was heard shortly before 3:30 pm (1200 GMT), on the sixth day of the most intense exchange of fire between arch-foes Iran and Israel. 15:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Iran had the "legitimate" right to defend itself in the face of Israel's ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day. "It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel's thuggery and state terrorism," the Turkish leader said, a day after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "the biggest threat to the security of the region". The long-range blitz began early Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to hit back with missiles and drones, including hypersonic missiles. "These attacks were organised while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place," Erdogan said. "Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognise any international rules.. did not wait for the negotiations to end, but carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result," he added. "We are closely following Israel's terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on high alert regarding the possible effects of these attacks on Turkey," Erdogan said. "We are making preparations for every kind of scenario," he said. "Nobody should dare to test us." On Monday, Erdogan said he had ordered the defence industry to increase production of medium and long-range missiles to "increase its level of deterrence" in light of the air war between Israel and Iran. 14:20 Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, said the Iranian armed forces, backed by the people and the authorities in the state, are ready to defend the homeland. In a televised message to the nation on Wednesday, Khamenei said that "Iran would not forgive the Zionist entity for violating its airspace and would not forget the blood of our martyrs." In an address to the nation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected President Trump's call for surrender in the conflict with Israel, and warned any US strikes on Iran will have 'irreparable consequences.' — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 18, 2025 Khamenei stated that Iran would neither accept peace nor war imposed upon it, addressing the United States with the warning: 'They must know that Iran will not surrender, and any American attack will have dire, irreparable consequences.' He emphasized that the Iranian people remain steadfast in the face of the war being waged against them, reiterating that the country will not accept any externally imposed peace or conflict. He added that the Iranian people will not yield to diktats from any party. Referring to the US threats, Khamenei said, 'Those who know Iran's history understand that Iranians do not respond well to the language of threats.' He further cautioned Israel, stating that it had made a 'grave mistake' by attacking Iran and stressing that Tel Aviv 'will face the consequences of its actions.' 14:00 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in the Middle East. In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical, as reported by Reuters. Ryabkov warned the US against direct military assistance to Israel or even considering such "speculative options," according to Russia's Interfax news agency. "This would be a step that would radically destabilise the entire situation. " 13:10 The UN nuclear watchdog said Israeli strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran. The strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme in Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday. In another strike on a site in Tehran, "one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested", the agency added in a post on X. 12:45 Iranian state television says it will broadcast a message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a few minutes. 11:45 The airport authority said that the first aircraft bringing home Israelis stranded abroad by flight cancellations resulting from the conflict with Iran landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday. This picture shows the empty departure hall at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. AFP "Just a short while ago, the first flight of Operation Safe Return landed at Ben Gurion Airport," a statement said, adding that the flight had been operated by national carrier El Al and brought Israelis home from Larnaca in Cyprus. Transport Minister Miri Regev said Tuesday that between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis were stuck abroad, as Israel and Iran traded deadly fire in their most intense confrontation ever. The ministry said all of Israel's commercial aircraft had been sent abroad to avoid them during the air war with Iran. After suspending flights last week, El Al said it was "preparing rescue flights" starting Wednesday with planes departing from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan, and Paris. The low-cost Israeli airline Arkia also announced special flights this week to repatriate Israelis. A statement from the airport authority said Wednesday that the return operation "is being managed in stages based on the level of risk and current security assessments, with a strong emphasis on the safety of passengers, aircrew, and aircraft. " It urged the public not to go to Ben Gurion Airport to greet arriving passengers or order taxis to pick them up from the airport due to "the current security situation". After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched a surprise air campaign against Iran on Friday. 11:15 The foreign ministry said Wednesday that Greece has repatriated 105 of its citizens and foreign nationals from Israel. The people repatriated were transported to Athens from Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt, onboard C-130 and C-27 Greek air force planes,' it said in a statement, AFP reports. File Photo: Sharm El-Sheik International Airport terminal 2. Photo courtesy of Sharm El-Sheik Airport website. Along with Greek citizens and their families, other people on the flight included citizens of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States, it said. 10:50 Israeli authorities say no people have been reported killed or injured in Israel from the latest overnight volleys of missiles from Iran, despite some damage. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man inspects the damage at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv. AFP The Israeli government says that approximately 400 ballistic missiles have been fired by Iran since Israel began its attack last Friday, with hundreds of drones also launched. The Israeli authorities say that since last Friday, there have been around 40 impact sites across the country, 3,800 people evacuated, 24 people killed, and more than 800 injured, according to a BBC report. There have been nearly 16,000 claims related to structural damage and more than 1,000 for damage to vehicles. Israel's Iron Dome air defence shield costs $250m (£186m) daily. A report in the Washington Post quotes a source briefed on US and Israeli intelligence, who says that without resupplies or greater involvement by US forces, Israel may only be able to maintain it for another 10 or 12 days if Iran maintains steady attacks. 10:30 Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed on Wednesday that his country would show 'no mercy' towards Israel's rulers, AFP reports. 'We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,' Khamenei posted on X. On Tuesday, Donald Trump boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Khamenei if it wanted. U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters on board Air Force One after leaving early from the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Calgary. AFP 10:15 Many Iranians reacted with fear and dismay at Donald Trump's instruction to "immediately evacuate Tehran", according to a BBC report on Tuesday evening. The capital's almost 10 million residents have now been left to decide whether to shelter in their homes, bracing themselves for what could come next, or attempt to join the heavy traffic leaving the country's capital. Many who decide to leave Tehran post images of their homes online, a poignant trend in Persian-language social media for those leaving their city behind. BBC Persian and other BBC correspondents said they have received messages from affected people. They have also conducted interviews and monitored social media to gather people's stories. Some Iranians had already decided to leave well before Israel issued the first evacuation order for parts of Tehran on Monday. "Many more Iranians living in Tehran have decided to leave since Monday, braving traffic jams of up to 14 hours and fuel queues to flee - unsure if their homes will still be standing when they return." According to the BBC report, some residents have decided to stay put because of elderly parents, young children, pets, medical needs, or a lack of options. This handout picture released by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 17, 2025 shows members of their rescue teams searching the debris inside a buidling in Tehran, targeted by Israeli strikes. Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire for a fifth consecutive day on June 17, with the Israeli military saying in a statement it targeted multiple missile and drone sites in western Iran, including infrastructure, launchers, and storage facilities. AFP 09:45 The US Embassy in Jerusalem will be shut from Wednesday through Friday due to the security situation in the region and to comply with Israeli guidance, the US State Department said. A road sign shows the way towards the US embassy in Jerusalem on April 19, 2024. AFP 'Given the security situation and in compliance with Israel Home Front Command guidance, the US Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) through Friday (June 20). This includes the Consular Sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,' the State Department said on X. 09:30 Iran said it had detained five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency on charges of tarnishing the country's image online, Iranian news agencies reported. "These mercenaries sought to sow fear among the public and tarnish the image of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran through their calculated activities online," the Tasnim and ISNA news agencies quoted a statement from the Revolutionary Guards as saying. They added that the arrests had been made in western Iran. 09:15 Iran said early Wednesday to have fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the archfoes, hours after Donald Trump demanded the Islamic Republic's "unconditional surrender". The US president insists Washington has played no part in ally Israel's bombing attack, but also warned Iran that his patience is wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day. Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn Wednesday after the military issued a warning on social media for civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate. Iranian state media reported explosions ricocheting in Tehran's Piroozi, Sabalan, and Sayyad areas. In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv to prepare for an attack, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying its hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles were "repeatedly shaking the shelters" in the commercial hub. "The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles" was carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television. Hypersonic missiles travel more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. Iran also sent a "swarm of drones" towards Israel, where the army said it intercepted two over the Dead Sea area. 09:00 Israel's military said Wednesday it struck an Iranian centrifuge production facility and multiple weapons manufacturing sites, in the latest round of strikes between the archfoes. This handout satellite image released by Planet Labs on June 15, 2025, shows new vehicle tracks and dirt piles over underground centrifuge buildings at Natanz enrichment facility, southeast of Tehran after airstrikes on June 15, 2025. AFP "More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours," an Israeli army statement said. "As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development program, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted." "During the wave of attacks, several weapons manufacturing sites were struck, including facilities for producing raw materials and components used to assemble surface-to-surface missiles," it added. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
9 hours ago
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Trump Calls for De-escalation Btw Israel & Iran, Highlights U.S. Military Strength
Nada Mustafa U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his preference for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, stating, 'We have stealth aircraft and the best weapons in the world.' Trump added that he discussed the Iran issue with a senior Pakistani military official, noting, 'The Chief of Staff agrees with me and is closely monitoring the developments between Israel and Iran.' 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
Daily News Egypt
12 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
US firm VXI to create 4,000 jobs in Egypt in $135m expansion
American outsourcing firm VXI plans to create 4,000 new jobs in Egypt as part of a $135m expansion that aims to increase its local workforce to 5,000 specialists by the end of 2028, the company has announced. The expansion plans were detailed during a visit by Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, to VXI's Cairo headquarters. He was accompanied by company executives including Global Chief Operating Officer Ryan Collins and Global Chief People Officer Erika King. Talaat said the visit was part of the ministry's focus on supporting international outsourcing companies operating in Egypt. He stated that encouraging investment in the sector was a key pillar of the government's strategy to boost digital exports and solidify the country's status as a global hub for these services. 'We are encouraging investment in the outsourcing sector as one of the main pillars for strengthening Egypt's position as a preferred destination for international companies in this field,' Talaat said. He noted that Egypt is seeing continuous expansion in the number of outsourcing centres due to efforts in digital skills development and providing incentives. 'We are continuing to cooperate with companies in the outsourcing field to expand the base of human cadres trained in the matrix of skills these companies require.' VXI's global COO, Ryan Collins, said the company's growth in the country highlighted its strategic advantages. 'Our expansion in Egypt reflects the huge potential of the region, not just for the competitive cost of operations in Egypt, but as a centre teeming with multilingual talent and a strategic location that provides access to European, Middle Eastern, and African markets,' Collins said. 'The rapid growth we have achieved confirms the excellence and quality of Egyptian talent and its ability to provide distinguished and scalable customer experience solutions from Cairo.' The expansion was welcomed by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA). Its CEO, Ahmed El-Zaher, said the move demonstrated growing international confidence in the Egyptian economy and the strength of its outsourcing sector. He added that investments like those from VXI support the state's goals of increasing digital service exports and raising the digital economy's contribution to the gross domestic product by creating thousands of specialised jobs and transferring global operational expertise to the local market. During his tour of the facility, Talaat spoke with several young employees about their professional experiences and the skills they had acquired. He affirmed the state's commitment to enabling young people with digital skills for careers in the outsourcing sector, which he described as one of the most promising fields for professional growth. VXI was established in Egypt in December 2023 and became fully operational in March 2024. From its Cairo office, it provides services in six languages to clients in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. Ahmed Bahgat, VXI's Vice President of Operations for Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East, said: 'VXI Egypt appreciates the Egyptian government's support and its interest in the outsourcing industry, which has contributed to placing Egypt among the top three most attractive countries for foreign investment in this field.' VXI is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1998, it employs over 43,000 specialists in more than 43 locations across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
