Missiles hit Iranian nuclear reactor as Israel's Iron Dome penetrated
Iranian bombs have punctured Israel's Iron Dome defence system and Israel has pummelled a nuclear reactor in Iran as the gruelling conflict enters its seventh day.
Israeli civilians are in a state of terror as the renowned surface-to-air missile system - which has protected major population hubs from the worst of its enemy's missiles for years - appears to be struggling under the Iranian bombardment. Several areas were hit, with injuries being reported in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, as well as "extensive damage" and two people gravely injured at southern Israel's largest hospital.
It comes after Donald Trump reportedly approved attack plans against Iran. He is said to be holding off on giving the final order to see whether Tehran will be threatened into abandoning its nuclear programme.
Iraq's top Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has warned a strike on Iran's senior religious leadership could ignite uncontrollable chaos across the region.
He appeared to be referring to threats Israel or the U.S. might kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a statement, al-Sistani denounced the ongoing Israeli military campaign against Iran. He said that targeting the country's top leadership would be a "criminal act (that) would shatter regional stability, deepen human suffering, and inflict far-reaching harm on the interests of all nations."
He called on the international community - particularly Muslim countries - to increase diplomatic pressure, halt the aggression and broker a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.Widely seen as a voice of moderation, al-Sistani represents a school of thought in Shiism opposed to direct rule by clerics, the system in place in Iran, where Khamenei has the final word in all matters.
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Glasgow Times
7 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Israel threatens Iran's top leader after missiles damage hospital and wound 200
Meanwhile, Israel struck a heavy water reactor that is part of Iran's nuclear programme. At least 240 people were wounded by the Iranian missiles, four of them seriously, according to Israel's health ministry. The vast majority were lightly wounded, including more than 70 people from the Soroka Medical Centre in the southern city of Beersheba, where smoke rose as emergency teams evacuated patients. In the aftermath of the strikes, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz blamed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist'. US officials said this week that US president Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Mr Khamenei. Mr Trump later said there were no plans to kill him 'at least not for now'. Israel carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, in its latest attack on the country's sprawling nuclear programme, on the seventh day of a conflict that began with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists. A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded. In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds. The Israeli air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv (Leo Correa/AP) Meanwhile, an Israeli military official said that Iran used a missile with multiple warheads in an attack on Thursday, posing a new challenge to its defences. There was no immediate independent analysis that could be made of the claim, but Iran has hinted in the past that it was pursuing such weaponry. Instead of having to track one warhead, missiles with multiple warheads can pose a more difficult challenge for air defence systems, such as Israel's Iron Dome. Two doctors told The Associated Press that the missile struck almost immediately after air raid sirens went off, causing a loud explosion that could be heard from a safe room. The hospital said the main impact was on an old surgery building that had been evacuated in recent days. After the strike, the medical facility was closed to all patients except for life-threatening cases, it said. Soroka has more than 1,000 beds and provides services to around one million residents in the south of Israel. A firefighter walks past a damaged area at the Soroka hospital complex after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran (Leo Correa/AP) Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the strike on the hospital and vowed a response, saying: 'We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.' Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, although most have been shot down by Israel's multi-tiered air defences, which detect incoming fire and shoot down missiles heading towards population centres and critical infrastructure. Israeli officials acknowledge it is imperfect. Haim Bublil, a local police commander, told reporters that several people were lightly wounded in the strike. Many hospitals in Israel activated emergency plans in the past week, converting underground parking to hospital floors and moving patients underground, especially those who are on ventilators or are difficult to move quickly. Israel also boasts a fortified, subterranean blood bank that kicked into action after Hamas's October 7 2023 attack ignited the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium. Patients rest outdoors after the attack on the Soroka hospital complex (Leo Correa/AP) 'The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,' the military said. Israel separately claimed to have struck another site around Natanz it described as being related to Iran's nuclear programme. Iranian state TV said there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' from the attack on the Arak site. An Iranian state television reporter, speaking live in the nearby town of Khondab, said the facility had been evacuated and there was no damage to civilian areas around the reactor. Israel had warned earlier on Thursday morning that it would attack the facility and urged the public to flee the area. Iran has long maintained its programme is for peaceful purposes. But it also enriches uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich at that level. Israel is the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East but does not acknowledge having such weapons. Israeli security forces inspect a destroyed building in Holon, near Tel Aviv, that was hit by a missile (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The strikes came a day after Iran's supreme leader rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause 'irreparable damage to them'. Israel had lifted some restrictions on daily life on Wednesday, suggesting the missile threat from Iran on its territory was easing. Already, Israel's campaign has targeted Iran's enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran and a nuclear site in Isfahan. Its strikes have also killed top generals and nuclear scientists. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said he would travel to Geneva for meetings with his European counterparts on Friday, indicating that a new diplomatic initiative might be taking shape. Iran's official IRNA news agency said the meeting would include foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany and the European Union's top diplomat. Mr Trump has said he wants something 'much bigger' than a ceasefire and has not ruled out the US joining Israel's campaign. Iran has warned of dire consequences if the US deepens its involvement, without elaborating.
Telegraph
12 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Crane driver wakes up to find Donald Trump... and dozes off again
A crane operator was caught napping behind Donald Trump during an event at the White House on Wednesday. The worker appeared to briefly wake up, notice the US president below him, and go back to sleep. The moment was captured on video during the ceremonial installation of two 100ft (30.5m) flags on the White House lawn. One by one, a beaming Mr Trump posed for photos with the workers tasked with erecting the 'most magnificent poles made,' as he described them on his Truth Social platform. But while he shook hands with the workers wearing bright yellow t-shirts, the president appeared to be unaware that the crane operator, wearing sunglasses, a cap and sleeping just a few metres behind in the crane's cabin, was dozing off. Social media users were quick to make light of the faux pas, with one user on X noting the unidentified man had missed out on a handshake with 'the most important man in the world'. Another user joked the employee was 'emulating' Mr Trump's behaviour at 'any event where he is seated' while another asked: 'Did the guy in the crane pretend to be asleep to avoid the Trump selfie?' The new flag poles were erected on the North and South lawns of the White House. This is the first in a series of intended renovations to the White House lawn, with plans to pave over the grass of the famous Rose Garden apparently in the works. Mr Trump has also added his personal touches to the interior of the presidential home, hanging his own mugshot in the building and adding Mar-a-Lago-style gold accents in a large renovation of the Oval Office's decor. 'I bet they all voted for Trump' Mr Trump described the flags as 'the largest you'll ever see'. He told the press in front of the contractors tasked with the job: 'I don't know them but I love them,' and, 'I bet they all voted for Trump,' while criticising the federal reserve and hailing the success of his tariffs. The contractors were seen laughing awkwardly behind the president while the press asked him about the heightening tensions in the Middle East. Mr Trump looked for reassurance from the workers that they agreed the Russia-Ukraine war would've 'never happened' if he were president, and described the conflicts as 'stupid'.
Daily Mirror
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Have your say on whether the UK should get involved in the Iran-Israel conflict
As the Israel-Iran conflict rages on, we're asking: should the UK join the fighting? With tensions rising and Western involvement looming, is military action the right move - or should we continue pushing for diplomacy? As Keir Starmer continues to call for de-escalation between Israel and Iran - we're asking if you think the UK should join the fighting. The seventh day of conflict came 24hrs after Iran's supreme leader rejected U.S calls for surrender - and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them." There's little sign so far that either side is willing to back down, and with that comes mounting concern the conflict will draw Western powers into it - but would you want our country getting involved? Take our poll below. The Prime Minister has refused to rule out defending Israel against Iranian attacks, despite a warning from Tehran that this could lead to British bases in the region being targeted. However, a No. 10 spokesperson said the UK would not support efforts aimed at regime change in Iran, with Keir Starmer urging that Iran's nuclear program be addressed through negotiations rather than military action. Meanwhile, last night Donald Trump continued to consider whether to deploy American forces to assist Israel in targeting Iran's military facilities. This comes after days of Israeli airstrikes on Iran, followed by Tehran's missile attacks on Israeli towns and cities in response. Speaking to broadcasters this morning, the Prime Minister said: "Obviously all of us, the UK included, are very concerned about the nuclear programme that Iran is developing, long been concerned about that. "We also completely recognise Israel's right to self defence. But the principle is that we need to de-escalate this. There's a real risk of escalation here that will impact the region, possibly beyond the region, into Gaza and obviously It's already having an impact on the economy." Should the UK get involved in the Iran-Israel conflict? Take our poll below and if you can't see it, click here Mr Starmer went on: "I've been absolutely clear about this - yes the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with through negotiations than by way of conflict." When Donald Trump took office in 2018, he withdrew the US from the nuclear deal with Iran, which had restricted Iran's nuclear activities since its signing in 2015. While Britain has consistently called for de-escalation, it has deployed two refueling tankers and 14 Typhoon jets to Cyprus to safeguard British personnel and interests in the Middle East. The Foreign Office has evacuated family members of British Embassy staff from Israel but has not advised UK nationals to leave the country. Asked if Mr Starmer would prefer Mr Trump to go down the route of diplomacy rather than military action, a No 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that his priority is de-escalation. Clearly de-escalation is the priority, and we would not want to see anything that ramps up the situation. That is our priority. We have been clear on that for a number of days now. De-escalation remains this Government's priority." What do you think? Should the UK get involved in the Iran-Israel conflict? Take our poll above and expand on your feelings in the comments below.
