Israel, Iran launch more barrages as Israel aims to wipe out Tehran's nuclear program
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Iran and Israel targeted each other with airstrikes early on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the country's two largest cities before dawn, sending residents rushing into shelters. The military said its air defence systems were operating, seeking to intercept Iranian missiles."In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the state of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted," the Israeli military said.It said rescue teams were operating at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported, without commenting on casualties.Several explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, and Iranian media said flames were reported there. Close to key Iranian leadership sites, the airport hosts an air force base with fighter jets and transport aircraft.Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem. It was unclear whether Iranian strikes or Israeli defensive measures were behind the activity.The Fars news agency said Tehran launched a third wave of airstrikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.In central Tel Aviv, a high-rise building was hit during a wave of the missile attacks, damaging the lower third of the structure, which stands in a densely populated urban area. An apartment block in nearby Ramat Gan was destroyed.Israel's ambulance service said 34 people were injured on Friday night in the Tel Aviv area, most with minor injuries. Police later said one person had died.The U.S. military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two U.S. officials said. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and that most were intercepted or fell short. Several buildings in and around Tel Aviv were hit.The Israeli strikes on Iran throughout the day and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel.Iran's state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.Israeli officials said it may be some time before the extent of damage at Natanz was clear. Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium there to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz has been destroyed, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the U.N. was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war. A senior Iranian official said nowhere in Israel would be safe and revenge would be painful.Iran's U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians.He accused the U.S. of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.Israel's U.N. envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. He called Israel's operation "an act of national preservation."Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. The U.N. nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.U.S. President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear programme.Tehran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last U.S. offer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Iran 'Hits Bull's Eye': 200 Missiles, 100+ Drones, 150 Targets
Iranian Army has released details of Operation True Promise 3, which came in response to Israel's Friday airstrikes. Approximately 200 missiles and over 100 drones were fired at more than 150 targets. A senior Iranian commander said that 3 Israeli air bases were on the hitlist - Nevatim, Tel Nof and Ovda. Brig. Gen. Ahmidi Vahidi warned of more severe consequences and declared that Iran's retaliation was not over as yet. 3 people were killed and over 75 were injured in Iran's revenge strikes. Watch for more details. Read More
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Iran-Israel conflict: Benjamin Netanyahu aims to dethrone Ayatollah's regime; can he bring down Islamic Republic?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left), and Benjamin Netanyahu "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday in a video statement after Israel struck over 200 military and nuclear sites in Iran. The unannounced strikes were clearly meant to disrupt Tehran's nuclear work and increase the time it would take for Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. However, the number of sites hit, the specific nature of the targets, and remarks from Israeli leaders suggest there may be a wider aim: weakening or even removing Iran's ruling regime. "As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," Netanyahu said, referring to Israeli strikes that hit targets across Iran, including nuclear sites, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists. The attacks early Friday went beyond nuclear plants and missile sites. They also targeted senior members of Iran's military and nuclear experts — moves that, according to a Reuters report, seem designed to damage Iran's image internally and among its partners in the region. These are actions that could affect the stability of Iran's leadership. There is already significant dissatisfaction among many people in Iran due to economic struggles, lack of free expression, and ongoing issues related to women's and minority rights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Accounting Automation Software Might Help You To Earn More Accounting Automation Software | Search ads Undo In this situation, Netanyahu may be hoping that the extensive airstrikes will lead to unrest within the country that could eventually bring down the Islamic Republic. Some officials in Israel and the United States see the nuclear programme as the main security concern. From that view, Iran should be offered incentives: if it stops pursuing nuclear weapons and ends its support for armed groups, it could have sanctions removed and be reintegrated into the global system. Others believe the real issue is the continued existence of the Islamic Republic. They argue that Iran's leadership is unlikely to change its regional behaviour and is working not to deter Israel, but to destroy it. From this perspective, diplomatic talks only help Iran buy time. A nuclear programme seen as illegal gives cover to maintain sanctions, which they hope will eventually weaken a regime they consider beyond repair. There is no common ground between these two positions. And now, more clearly than before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be in the second group. The recent strikes were not mainly focused on nuclear equipment but on top military commanders of the Islamic Republic. The goal, it seems, is not just to set back Iran's nuclear efforts — but to challenge the regime's hold on power, Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, wrote in an article in Foreign Policy. Trying to shake the regime Israel might believe that the recent attacks and killings could destabilize the Iranian government and create an opportunity for a public uprising. This is what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping for. But this approach is risky. Even with the damage caused by Israel's recent attack, there is long-standing hostility toward Israel — not just from Iran's leadership but also from much of its mostly Shi'ite population. That makes it uncertain whether public anger alone could bring down a well-established religious government that has the support of strong security forces. There is no sign that such a series of events will even begin. And even if it does, there's no clarity on what direction it would take, a BBC report said. Power in Iran lies mostly with those who control the military and the economy. Much of this power rests with hardliners in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other unelected groups. These groups don't need to carry out a coup — they already have authority. And they could choose to make Iran more confrontational in response to attacks. Another possible result could be the collapse of the current government, followed by instability in Iran. With a population of nearly 90 million, any unrest in Iran would affect many countries in the Middle East. If Israel is able to remove the Islamic leadership in Tehran, the attack would be seen as successful. But if the leadership stays in place — and history suggests that airstrikes alone rarely bring regime change — then Iran could still keep some part of its nuclear program, Jeffrey Lewis writes. Israel's national security advisor has already said that Iran might still keep parts of its nuclear capability. So what happens then? One possibility Israel sees is that Iran could agree to a deal with US President Donald Trump to give up its nuclear plans. But another possibility is that Iran could follow North Korea's path — leaving the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and eventually developing nuclear weapons. In that case, it is unlikely that Russia or China would support new sanctions. They may not even enforce the ones already in place. Russia has been buying Iranian drones, and China imports Iranian oil. The reasons why Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stopped the country's nuclear weapons program in 2003 — and why he kept that policy — are not fully known. There have been different views within Iran: some have wanted a nuclear weapon, while others have not. Until now, those opposing the bomb have been able to influence policy. But after this recent strike, these discussions will likely change. There will also be new individuals involved in these decisions. People will think about those who are no longer there and ask whether Israel would have acted this way if Iran already had nuclear weapons — or if Israel didn't have them. If the Iranian government doesn't fall, Israel might feel the need to carry out more attacks in the future. Even if this strike has seriously disrupted Iran's nuclear efforts, Iran could restart the program. "In the ideal world, Israel would prefer to see a change of regime, no question about that," Sima Shine, a former chief Mossad analyst and now a researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters. If Israel succeeds in removing Iran's leadership, there is no guarantee the successor that emerges would not be even more hardline in pursuit of conflict with Israel. "For years, many in Israel have insisted that regime change in Iran would prompt a new and better day - that nothing could be worse than the current theocratic regime," Jonathan Panikoff, a former US deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East was quoted as saying by Reuters. "But history tells us it can always be worse."
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Israel-Iran conflict explained: 7 books you need to read now
Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025—codenamed Operation Rising Lion—have pushed the Middle East to the edge of all-out conflict. The attack, which killed two senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and targeted uranium enrichment sites, triggered an immediate Iranian retaliation with over 100 drones. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed Israel would face a 'bitter fate,' while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the strikes necessary to counter an 'existential threat.' This escalation didn't happen overnight. For decades, Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war—cyberattacks, assassinations, proxy battles—while Tehran inched closer to nuclear capability. Now, with US-Iran nuclear talks hanging by a thread and the IAEA accusing Iran of secret nuclear activities, the region stands at a crossroads. To understand how we got here—and where this dangerous confrontation might lead—these seven books provide critical insight into the history, strategy, and hidden battles behind one of the world's most volatile rivalries. This meticulously researched book unveils the clandestine warfare between Israel and Iran since the 2006 Lebanon War. Katz (a veteran journalist) and Hendel (a former Israeli official) detail covert operations—from cyberattacks on Iran's nuclear facilities to assassinations of scientists—and analyze Israel's strategy to counter Iran's regional proxies like Hezbollah. The authors draw on exclusive interviews with intelligence and military leaders, offering a gripping account of how this 'shadow war' remains largely unseen yet profoundly consequential. A must-read for understanding modern asymmetric conflict. Ronen Bergman, Israel's foremost investigative journalist, compiles over 1,000 interviews with spies, politicians, and militants to expose the 30-year covert struggle between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. From Hezbollah's rise to Israel's assassination campaigns, Bergman reveals shocking operations, including the Stuxnet cyberattack and the 1992 Buenos Aires bombing. The book's granular detail and narrative flair make it both an authoritative history and a thriller-like exposé of espionage and counterterrorism. Focused on Israel's efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions, this book leverages leaked Mossad documents and insider accounts to dissect Israel's multi-pronged campaign: sabotage, diplomacy, and targeted killings. Bob and Evyatar explore dilemmas like the risks of a preemptive strike and U.S.-Israel tensions over strategy. Timely and incisive, Target Tehran is a playbook for understanding Israel's national security calculus. To grasp Iran's adversarial stance toward Israel, Menashri's scholarly work traces the ideological shifts after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The book examines how clerical rule transformed Iran's domestic and foreign policies, emphasizing anti-Zionism as a pillar of its identity. Menashri analyzes factional rivalries, economic pressures, and the regime's use of proxy wars to export its revolution—a vital primer on Iran's motivations. This biography recounts the life of Habib Elghanayan, a Jewish industrialist executed in post-revolutionary Iran. Through his story, the book illuminates the rise and fall of Iran's Jewish community, once thriving under the Shah but persecuted after 1979. Elghanayan's tragic fate mirrors the rupture in Israel-Iran relations, offering a human lens on historical upheaval. Yeroushalmi's anthology traces 2,700 years of Jewish life in Persia, highlighting coexistence and persecution under Islamic rule. It explores how Iran's Jews navigated loyalty to their homeland and ties to Israel, especially after 1979. This cultural history underscores the community's resilience and its symbolic role in the Israel-Iran divide. While fictional, Silva's spy thriller featuring Israeli operative Gabriel Allon mirrors real-world tensions. The plot—centered on art theft and illicit nuclear deals—echoes Iran's smuggling networks and Israel's counteroperations. A page-turning supplement to the heavier nonfiction works.
