Israel launches ‘preemptive strikes' against Iran
Israel has launched what it called 'preemptive strikes' against Iran and a state of emergency has been declared in Israel, according to the country's Defense Minister Israel Katz.
'Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future' Katz said in a statement.
Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported repeated explosions could be heard in Tehran.
A United States official told CNN that there was no US involvement or assistance in the strikes carried out by Israel in Iran.
Israel's National Security Cabinet had met throughout the night leading up to the attack in Iran, according to an Israeli official.
Israel has closed its airspace until further notice, according to the country's ministry of transportation.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Timelapse Shows Global Ship Traffic in Hormuz Strait Under Iran Threat
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Hamilton Spectator
34 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Israel targets Iran's government, a notorious Tehran prison as Iran launches more attacks on Israel
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Nuclear fears mount after US strikes In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility already following the Sunday's U.S. airstrike there with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs. 'Given the explosive payload utilized ... very significant damage ... is expected to have occurred,' said Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. With the strikes on Sunday on Iranian nuclear sites , the United States inserted itself into Israel's war , prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran said the U.S. had crossed 'a very big red line' with its risky gambit to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs . Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites ahead of time. Grossi told the IAEA board of governors on Monday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had informed him on June 13 that Iran would 'adopt special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials.' 'I indicated that any transfer of nuclear material from a safeguarded facility to another location in Iran must be declared,' Grossi said, without saying whether Iran had responded. Israel and Iran press their attacks Iran described its Monday attack on Israel as as a new wave of its Operation 'True Promise 3,' saying it was targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state television. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of damage. In Iran, witnesses reported Israeli airstrikes hit areas around Iran's capital, Tehran, around midday. Iranian state television confirmed one Israeli strike hit the gate of Evin Prison. The report shared what appeared to be black-and-white-surveillance footage of the strike. 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Calls for de-escalation The U.S. described its Sunday attack on the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities, as well as the Isfahan nuclear sit , as a one-off to take out Iran's nuclear program, but President Donald Trump has warned of additional strikes if Tehran retaliates. Mousavi described the American attacks as violating Iran's sovereignty and being tantamount to invading the country, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. In the wake of the American attacks, calls came from across the globe for de-escalation and the return to diplomacy to try and resolve the conflict. On Monday, the European Union's top diplomat said the bloc remained 'very much focused on the diplomatic solution.' 'The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge,' Kaja Kallas said at the start of a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels where Iran has jumped to the top of the agenda. 'Especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody,' Kallas said, referring to a maritime route crucial for oil transport. After Sunday's attacks, Iranian officials repeated their longtime threats of possibly closing the key shipping lane. Iran, which insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only, previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the U.S., France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. As he arrived in Brussels on Monday for a meeting with his EU counterparts, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul renewed calls for Iran to agree again to direct talks with the United States but says Europe still has a role to play. 'We already made it very clear to the Iranian side that a real precondition for a settlement to the conflict is that Iran be ready to negotiate directly with the U.S.,' he said, while adding that the European group known as the E3 'will contribute what we can.' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was meeting on Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Iran's key allies. ___ Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Ella Joyner in Brussels, Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. 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Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
AOC Should Be 'Tried for Treason' Over Trump Impeachment Calls: Giuliani
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democrats calling for President Donald Trump to be impeached over the U.S.'s military strikes on Iran should be "tried for treason," Rudy Giuliani has said. The former mayor of New York, an ardent supporter of the president, made the comment on Newsmax's Sunday Agenda after Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York known as AOC, criticized Trump's decision to bomb Iran as "clearly grounds for impeachment." Newsweek has contacted representatives for Giuliani and Ocasio-Cortez for comment by email outside standard working hours. Why It Matters On Saturday, the president announced strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, a U.S. ally. On June 13, Israel struck Tehran, Iran's capital, and other cities to disrupt its nuclear capabilities, and Iran retaliated with strikes of its own, the majority of which were intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaking to reporters outside his apartment building in New York on August 23, 2023. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaking to reporters outside his apartment building in New York on August 23, 2023. Seth Wenig/AP Photo While Democrats are split on Trump's response, Ocasio-Cortez said the attack was "disastrous," writing on X, formerly Twitter, that it was "a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers." What To Know Giuliani told Newsmax that the military strikes were "brilliant" and called Iran "a terrorist state." He then criticized Democrats for speaking out against the strikes. "I find what the Democrats are doing—they want an impeachment, they should be tried for treason," he said. "American and military personnel are right now in harm's way coming back from that strike, and they are in harm's way all over the Middle East. And they are condemning the president for taking action against a country that wants to annihilate us." While Giuliani did not mention Ocasio-Cortez by name, the Newsmax host said after his comments, "You're referring to Congresswoman AOC, who's now calling for President Trump's impeachment." Rudy says AOC 'should be tried for treason' after she called for Trump to be impeached over Iran. — Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 23, 2025 What People Are Saying Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, also criticized Ocasio-Cortez, writing on X on Saturday: "Shut up you pathetic little hypocrite. YOU fully supported our military and IC running the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. And you VOTED to fund the Ukraine war under your President with dementia. You don't get to play anti-war and moral outrage anymore." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, wrote on X on Saturday: "The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment." Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, said in a news release on Saturday: "President Trump sending U.S. troops to bomb Iran without the consent of Congress is a blatant violation of our Constitution. The American people do not want another forever war." What Happens Next Iran's response to the U.S.'s strikes remains to be seen. Trump has warned the country of further U.S. military strikes if it does not seek peace quickly.
