‘Prolonged campaign' could be on the cards for Israelis as Iranian nuclear research facility is hit
Iranians hit back with missile strikes, while US begins 'assisted departure flights' from Israel
Today at 21:30
Israel's military said yesterday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, and announced it struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight while also killing three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks.
The prospect of a wider war was also threatened. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on US vessels and warships in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joins Israel's military campaign against Iran. The Houthis paused such attacks last month under a deal with the US.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Keir Starmer calls on Iran to ‘return to negotiating table' as he issues response to US bombing nuclear sites
SIR Keir Starmer has said the US took action to 'alleviate' Iran's nuclear threat. The Prime Minister urged the Tehran 'to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis' as he responded to Trump's blitz. Advertisement In a statement, the Labour party leader said: "Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. "The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. "We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis." Advertisement This comes after the US military bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in an historic strike against the Islamic Republic. Iran has since threatened "everlasting consequences" as Houthis vowed to target US forces. In a statement posted on X, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi wrote: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive "In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people." Iran has lashed out with two rounds of missiles into Israel in the wake of America's strikes. The IDF announced about an hour ago that the second wave was on its way, and urged all Israelis to obey the instruction of the Home Front Command. Citizens were also instructed not to share information about locations or casualties. Advertisement At least 16 people are reported to have been injured. Meanwhile Yemen's Houthi's warned they will target US ships in the Red Sea if they are involved in any potential attack on Iran, the group announced on Saturday. The group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said: 'We will target US ships and battleships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in the Saree added how they consider any potential Israeli attack on Iran to be aimed at 'removing Tehran as an obstacle to an Israeli plan to dominate the region'. Advertisement In Washington, Trump said the The president added that Iran must now make peace or "we will go after" other targets in Iran after the US strikes. Trump said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: "Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." Advertisement But the president also said that if Iran didn't cut a peace deal now it would continue to face American military power. He said: 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." 'Remember there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. Advertisement 'But if peace does not come quickly we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. 'Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight." America has now directly joined Israel's campaign of bombing Iran as they both seek to obliterate Tehran's nuclear program. A response from Iran, or from the Ayatollah in hiding, has not yet come. Advertisement Ali Khamenei is believed to be cowering away in the secret lair as Israeli missile attacks rain down nearby. Two informed sources inside the country told Iran International the country's ageing dictator is holed up in the bunker in Lavizan, a neighbourhood in Tehran. Read more on the Irish Sun Posting on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said He said a full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. Advertisement 1 Sir Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiation table" Credit: PA
Irish Examiner
16 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
US strikes Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran warns of ‘everlasting consequences'
The United States has attacked three sites in Iran, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the country's nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a long-time foe which has prompted fears of a wider regional conflict. US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites had been 'completely and fully obliterated', in an address to the nation from the White House. There was no independent damage assessment. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted its nuclear programme will not be stopped. Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog said there are no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. It is not clear whether the US will continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a nine-day war with Iran. Mr Trump acted without congressional authorisation, and he warned there will be additional strikes if Tehran retaliates against US forces. 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,' he said. Iran's top diplomat, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, warned in a post on X that the US attacks 'will have everlasting consequences' and that Tehran 'reserves all options' to retaliate. Hours later, Iranian missiles struck areas in northern and central Israel, according to an Israeli rescue service. Initial reports suggested at least 16 people suffered minor injuries and several buildings were damaged. A satellite image of the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran, taken early this year (Maxar Technologies/AP) Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had 'swiftly neutralised' the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes towards military targets in western Iran. Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran is not actively pursuing a bomb. However, Mr Trump and Israeli leaders have argued Iran could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel that significantly degraded Iran's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities. But US and Israeli officials have said American B-2 stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb that only they have been configured to carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground. Mr Trump appears to have made the calculation – at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republicans – that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear programme, perhaps permanently. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Mr Trump said in a post on social media. 'All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.' Mr Trump later added: 'This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!' Israel announced on Sunday that it had closed its airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation but an update is expected on Sunday morning. But one US official said the attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant that is built deep into a mountain. The weapons are designed to penetrate the ground before exploding. In addition, US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles, according to another US official. The decision to attack was a risky one for Mr Trump, who won the White House partially on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism. But he has vowed he will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and he had initially hoped the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear programme peacefully.
Sunday World
20 minutes ago
- Sunday World
US strikes three nuclear sites in Iran
The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon arriving at the White House (Jose Luis Magana/AP) The US military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's effort to decapitating Iran's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But US and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb. bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that attacks targeted the country's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The agency did not elaborate. Iran's foreign minister said Iran reserves the right to retaliate. Here is the latest: We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Magen David Adom rescue service says one of those wounded was a 30-year-old man in moderate condition and the other 10 were lightly wounded. Shortly after the Iranian missile barrage, Israel announced its warplanes were conducting strikes on 'military targets' in western Iran, without immediately elaborating. The judiciary's Mizan news agency identified the man as Majid Mosayebi and said he was hanged on Sunday after charges of spying in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. The case wasn't previously reported. The development raises fears of Tehran stepping up executions in the country in retaliation for the US attacks. Iran is one of the world's top executioners. The International Atomic Energy Agency says in a message on X that there has been 'no increase in off-site radiation levels' after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. 'The IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,' it said. The 'IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available.' The Israeli rescue service United Hatzalah said it was dispatching first responders. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel since Israel launched a surprise attack on its military and nuclear facilities last week. Israel's sophisticated air defenses are able to shoot down most but not all of the missiles and drones. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded. US Sen. Chris Murphy posted on X that he and other senators received a classified briefing last week from intelligence officials who indicated that Iran did not pose an immediate threat through its nuclear program. 'Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon,' Murphy said. 'The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.' The Houthi rebels in Yemen are vowing to support Iran in its fight against 'the Zionist and American aggression.' Their statement called for the Muslim nations to join the holy war and act as 'one front against the Zionist-American arrogance.' The militant Palestinian group Hamas says the US aid strikers on Iran are a 'direct threat to international peace and security' and 'a blind pursuit of the rogue Zionist occupation's agenda.' Iran's ambassador to the United Nations called on Sunday for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America's 'heinous attacks and illegal use of force' against Iran. In a letter, obtained by the AP, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the UN's most powerful body must 'take all necessary measures' to hold the US accountable under international law and the UN charter. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on 13 June against Iran's peaceful nuclear sites and facilities," the letter continued. The Israeli military says it's identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of Israel and says its defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. The public has been asked to go to shelters and protected areas and remain there until further notice. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on X that Tehran 'reserves all options' to retaliate. He's the first ranking official to comment on the strikes on Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz by the Americans. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' Araghchi wrote. He added: 'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency has published an account by one of its reporters, saying flames could be seen after the bombs hit the Fordo facility. Fars, which is believed close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said its reporter heard anti-aircraft fire around 2:05 a.m. local time and explosions two minutes later. 'When I reached the vicinity ... the air defense system was operating intensely, and its activity was clearly visible in the sky,' the reporter said. Later on, the reporter said, "flames suddenly erupted from the direction of Fordo.' Simultaneously with the flames, a faint trail of smoke and a significant amount of dust rose in the area, Fars quoted the reporter. It offered no photos or video showing the attack Israeli officials lauded the strikes in sweeping and dramatic language. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, thanked Trump and said the strikes marked a 'decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.' Israel's defense minister congratulated Trump on what he described as a 'historic decision.' The US is stepping up evacuation flights for American citizens from Israel to Europe and continuing to draw down its staff at diplomatic missions in Iraq as fears of Iranian retaliation again US interests in the Middle East grow. Even before those airstrikes were announced by US President Donald Trump on Saturday evening in Washington, the US embassy in Jerusalem announced the start of evacuation flights for American civilians from Israel. Sixty-seven American citizens left Israel on two government flights bound for Athens, Greece on Saturday and four more evacuation flights to Athens were planned for Sunday, according to an internal State Department document seen by The Associated Press. In addition to the flights, a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 American citizens, including several hundred Jewish youngsters who had been visiting Israel on an organized tour, arrived in Cyprus, according to the document. — Matthew Lee President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon arriving at the White House (Jose Luis Magana/AP) News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd Israel's Airport Authority announced it was closing the country's airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. The agency said it was shutting down air traffic 'due to recent developments' and did not say for how long. Iran said early Sunday there were 'no signs of contamination' at its nuclear sites at Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz after US airstrikes targeted the facilities. Iranian state media quoted the country's National Nuclear Safety System Center, which published a statement saying its radiation detectors had recorded no radioactive release after the strikes. 'There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,' the statement added. Earlier Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites similarly have caused no recorded release of radioactive material into the environment around the facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. The US military used 'bunker-buster' bombs in its attack on Iran's Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, which is built deep into a mountain, a US official said. That official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The 30,000-pound bunker-busting American bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to penetrate underground and then explode. Saturday's strikes were the first time it has been used in combat. US submarines also participated in the attacks in Iran, launching about 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles, according to another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. It was not clear what those missiles were aimed at. Two Iranian nuclear sites besides Fordo were attacked, Isfahan and Natanz. — Lolita C. Baldor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video that Trump called him after the strikes. 'It was a very warm conversation, very emotional,' Netanyahu said. Speaking in Hebrew, he called Trump a friend of Israel like no one before him. 'In my name, and on behalf of all citizens of Israel and on behalf of the entire Jewish world, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.'
