Israel says it 'eliminated' operative for Hezbollah and Iran in Beirut strike
April 1 (Reuters) - The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had "eliminated" Hassan Ali Badir, a Hezbollah and Iran Quds Forces operative, in an overnight strike on Beirut's southern suburbs.
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Iran ‘able to make 50 nuclear bombs'
Iran has enough enriched uranium to make 50 nuclear bombs, and there is intelligence to show it was planning to weaponise it, Israel says. On Saturday, a senior Israeli Defense Forces official said Israel faced an 'immediate existential threat' from Iran, and that operations against Iran would continue until that threat was removed. The claims, which have not been independently verified, dwarf previous estimates. On Thursday, the UN's nuclear watchdog estimated that Iran had enriched enough uranium for nine bombs. The IDF official also told a briefing for journalists that overnight strikes on Iranian air defence systems meant that the 'aerial road to Tehran was now effectively open'. The threat Israel faces from Iran consists of three elements, said the official: Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles, and its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism through proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. 'This is not necessarily over. We are prepared for more rounds,' the official added. 'Our goal in these operations is to remove an existential threat; to remove a ticking time bomb'. Israel has been warning since 2009 that Iran was 'months away' from developing a nuclear bomb, but the claim it had gone beyond enrichment towards developing a weapon is new, as is the number of 50 bombs. The IDF official said its intelligence had been shared with other intelligence agencies and showed that 'concrete progress' had been made in the Iranian regime's efforts to produce weapons components adapted for a nuclear bomb, including a uranium metal core and initiator for triggering an explosion. This stands in contrast to recent assessments made by the US and its security agencies. Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, told Congress in March that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was 'at its highest levels' and 'unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons'. But she added that US intelligence 'continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2003'. Three people were killed in Israel in barrages of Iranian ballistic missile fire on Friday night and early on Saturday morning. In addition, some 70 people were wounded by the estimated 200 ballistic missiles fired from Iran in four waves. Most of the missiles were intercepted by air defences. But a 'small number' made it through air defences, the IDF said. It was clear from live television images that at least one target of the Iranian strikes was the Kirya, a densely built-up area in central Tel Aviv that houses a number of military offices including the IDF's headquarters. The IDF warned that further ballistic missile attacks on Israel were expected but it claimed Iran's ability to launch missiles at Israel would slowly degrade. The Israeli military released footage showing the identification of Iranian ballistic missile launchers in Tehran, shortly before they were targeted. Israel believes Iran has an arsenal of about 2,000 ballistic missiles it could use against Israel and which – until the current strikes – was growing fast. David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, has expressed concern at the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. 'Alarmed by further strikes in the Middle East overnight, with reports of fatalities and injuries in Israel. We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians,' Mr Lammy wrote on the social media platform X. He added that he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi 'to urge calm.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
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Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate' Israel-Iran conflict
The Prime Minister spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday afternoon, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy was expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East and elsewhere. It comes after Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel overnight. A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir and the Crown Prince spoke on Saturday afternoon. According to a read-out of the conversation issued by Number 10, 'they discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate'. 'The Prime Minister updated on his conversations with partners so far, and reiterated that the UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.' The Foreign Secretary was due to be briefed by officials on Saturday on the developments overnight, and was expected to speak to figures in the Middle East and elsewhere through the day. It comes after Mr Lammy had conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as European foreign ministers on Friday. Iranian state media said Tehran has warned the US, the UK and France not to help Israel stop Iran's strikes, according to reports on Saturday. Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Israel overnight after a series of Israeli attacks on the heart of Tehran's nuclear programme and armed forces. Tehran's UN ambassador said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded in Israel's attacks, while Tehran's response was said to have killed at least three and wounded dozens. Speaking to broadcasters on Friday evening, Mr Lammy said: 'I spoke to my Iranian counterpart today to urge restraint at this time and calm. I recognise that this is a moment of grave peril in the Middle East.' Sir Keir and US President Donald Trump called for 'diplomacy and dialogue' in a call on Friday, amid a diplomatic flurry from western nations to try to calm the conflict. Sir Keir had earlier urged his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate and work towards a 'diplomatic resolution'. A Cobra meeting of high-level ministers was convened on Friday afternoon to discuss the situation. The same is not expected on Saturday but Whitehall officials were expected to be meeting. The conflict was ignited by early morning Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear bases on Friday. Israel said the barrage was necessary before Iran got any closer to building a nuclear weapon, although experts and the US government have assessed that Tehran was not actively working on such a weapon. Iran retaliated with waves of drones and ballistic missiles, with explosions lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Sir Keir is set for discussions with other world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada next week. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iranian nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Irish citizens released from detention in Egypt
Simon Harris also expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran bombarded Israel with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases. Mr Harris, who is also the Irish foreign affairs minister, held calls with Ireland's ambassadors to Israel, Iran and Egypt on Saturday morning. He said he had been briefed on developments and all embassy staff are 'safe and well'. Mr Harris called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy, adding: 'This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East. I am deeply concerned about the continuing exchange of air attacks between Israel and Iran.' He also spoke with a politician who has been released from detention in Egypt. Paul Muphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, had been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration and effort to get aid into the region. The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. Mr Murphy and party representatives urged Mr Harris and the Department of Foreign Affairs to intervene. We were finally released late last night at airport. Police still have our phones. We are back in Cairo and meeting shortly to decide next steps. We're focused on Israel's genocide and starvation of Gaza. Thanks for your support. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇵🇸🇵🇸#GlobalMarchToGaza — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 14, 2025 All Irish people who were detained have since been released, but some have not had their phones returned. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Murphy said: 'We were finally released late last night at airport. Police still have our phones. 'We are back in Cairo and meeting shortly to decide next steps. We're focused on Israel's genocide and starvation of Gaza. 'Thanks for your support. Free Palestine.' Mr Harris said: 'I am pleased that following the work of our embassy staff, all Irish people who were detained yesterday in Rafah have been released and have had their passports returned. 'I spoke directly to Deputy Murphy to confirm he and other Irish people have been released from detention, had their passports returned and were receiving consular assistance. The wellbeing and safety of all Irish citizens abroad is always of concern to me and to my department. 'I am aware some Irish citizens have not had their phones returned by the authorities and I have asked our embassy to pursue this.' Mr Murphy's partner, councillor Jess Spear, expressed 'relief' that the group had been released from detention. She said: 'However, they still want to reach Rafah to try and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. That has been the sole purpose of being in Egypt. 'Paul has appealed to Tanaiste Simon Harris to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to let the marchers reach Rafah. The situation of the people of Gaza worsens by the day as they suffer starvation imposed by Israel. 'We need to get humanitarian aid to them as quickly as possible.' Mr Harris said embassies remain in close contact with members of the Irish community to offer assistance, adding that his department is working closely with European counterparts. 'My department continues to advise against all travel to Iran and Israel for Irish citizens. 'Irish citizens in the region are advised to be vigilant and to follow the advice of local authorities, including any orders to shelter in place.'
