Israel launches Operation Rising Lion with Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowing revenge
Israel has launched an attack on Iran aimed at 'dozens' of targets including nuclear facilities, military commanders and scientists, claiming it was because Tehran had moved to build nuclear warheads. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the attack dubbed Operation Rising Lion, was aimed at 'rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival'.
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Spectator
9 minutes ago
- Spectator
Bibi has run rings around Trump
Donald Trump likes to see himself as the Great Negotiator but on this occasion Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, appears to have outplayed him. Since April, the Israeli leader had been pressurising Trump and his White House aides to give him the green light for a large-scale attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. While Netanyahu was reassured by his military advisers that Israel could go it alone to target Iran's four nuclear sites, he wanted not just US backing but also American firepower to achieve what Trump and his predecessors all agreed on: that Iran must never be allowed to build a nuclear bomb. However, Trump entered the White House for his second term on a no-war ticket. He announced his intention to bring the war in Ukraine to an end and sent his special envoy and billionaire friend Steve Witkoff to pave the way and to divide up his spare time to sort out the war in Gaza, too. Neither of these objectives have yet to bear fruit. The nuclear challenge presented by Iran was also high on Trump's list. But he made it clear his priority was to be a peacemaker. He wanted to avoid conflagration. This was a message that clearly didn't go down well with Netanyahu who apparently told every American official who came to Jerusalem and in every phone call to the White House that this was the moment, the unique moment, when Iran's nuclear sites could be bombed before it was too late. Netanyahu and his complex operational plan to attack Iran, codenamed Operation Rising Lion, which had taken months, if not years, to develop and hone, was ready to launch two months ago. But Trump demurred. He wanted Witkoff to keep going with diplomatic efforts. He made his case to Netanyahu earlier this week when he said he wanted Witkoff to complete his round of negotiations with the Iranians in Oman. One more meeting to give peace a chance had been set for Sunday. However, Trump was becoming increasingly aware that his appeals were falling on deaf ears. Operation Rising Lion was as good as set in stone. Mossad agents who had covertly entered Iran were in position to launch deadly drone attacks on the homes of the top hierarchy of Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. The call between Trump and Netanyahu on Thursday was, by the sound of it, a one-way declaration by the Israeli prime minister. Israel was going to bomb Iran, and he hoped Trump would not stand in his way. Trump came away from that conversation, knowing that within hours 200 Israeli jet fighters and bombers would be hitting pre-selected targets in Iran. It was a fait accompli. There was nothing Trump could have done. He had been out-negotiated. In one way, it was his fault. He had set a timetable of 60 days for Iran to reach a diplomatic deal to resolve the nuclear crisis. Thursday was the last day of Trump's own timeline. It was a gift for Netanyahu. All he had to do was remind Trump of his own deadline and then push the button for Operation Rising Lion. There has been no transcript of the Thursday phone call. But Marco Rubio, secretary of state and acting national security adviser, confirmed that Washington had been notified of the imminent attack on Iran. After the attack began, a further statement was made which emphasised that the US played no role in the strikes. The challenge for Trump now is whether the US should switch from this non-participant position to being a full player. Only the US possesses the type of weapon system capable of penetrating the concrete and reinforced steel to reach the underground facilities where Iran carries out its most sensitive and critical nuclear research and development programmes. Even the US Air Force's 30,000lb Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) dropped by B-2 stealth bombers would have difficulty detonating close enough to these facilities, some of which are half a mile down. However, MOP would have a better chance of actually reaching Tehran's most secret underground plants. So far, Israel has caused extensive damage but largely to surface laboratory facilities., as well as Iran's air defence systems. The greatest achievement of Operation Rising Lion so far has been the killing by Mossad of so many high-powered generals and nuclear scientists. That alone will set back Iran's nuclear programme. The question for Trump is whether he has the appetite for taking on Iran once and for all. At present he has adopted a different line: warning Tehran to grab the diplomatic route before facing annihilation. However, if Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader, refuses to send his diplomats to meet with Witkoff in Oman and focuses only on military retaliation against Israel, Trump might find himself forced to do what Netanyahu has been urging on Washington for a long time: to join with Israel in totally destroying Iran's nuclear programme. If that is what happens, Netanyahu will have achieved his greatest legacy: picking his moment and the right American president to end the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK advises against all travel to Israel after Iranian missile strikes
Britain has advised against all travel to Israel amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which has seen deadly strikes traded between the two countries. The Foreign Office updated its travel advice on Saturday to say that it now advises against travel to anywhere in Israel, where attacks have left at least 10 people dead as sent millions rushing to bomb shelters. The advice is a change from Friday, when the government said only essential travel was allowed to some areas. The red alert now puts Israel on the same level as Iran, where travel to anywhere in the country is advised against. In its update, the Foreign Office said: 'Iran has launched multiple rounds of missile and drone attacks against Israel. On 13 June, a nationwide state of emergency was declared in Israel. This followed Israeli strikes against nuclear and military facilities in Iran. Israeli airspace remains closed. 'We recognise this is a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks. The situation has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning. The current situation has disrupted air links out of the country and may disrupt road links.' The conflict has caused mass flight diversions across Middle East airspace and shut down Tel Aviv's airport. Airlines have halted flights to and from Tel Aviv, with reports of people killed in an Iranian strike on Bat Yam, which is just south of the city. Israeli commercial airlines have been moving their planes out of the country, as part of a reported contingency plan in case they are targeted in any upcoming attacks. What is happening? Israel and Iran have continued to trade heavy missile strikes overnight. On Saturday, Iran warned that it would target US, UK or French bases in the region if they shot down missiles heading for Israel. There are at least 10 reported dead from Iranian strikes on Israel and an unknown number of casualties in Iran. Air sirens were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as casualties were reported from strikes on buildings in northern Israel and Bar Yam, a city just south of Tel Aviv. Local Israeli media reported Defence Minister Israel Katz as issuing new threats to Iran on Saturday. Mr Katz reportedly said that Israel 'will strike the sites and continue to peel the skin off the Iranian snake in Tehran and everywhere, stripping it of nuclear capabilities and weapons systems'. Amir Hatami, Iran's chief of staff, has been quoted by Mehr news agency as saying that 'from now on, with full preparation, they [Iranian forces] will carry out decisive and effective strikes against [Israel]'. Will my flight to Israel be disrupted? Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport has closed until further notice, leaving Israel effectively cut off from international air travel. Major carriers have also cancelled their flights to the region. Israel's flag carrier El Al Airlines, has suspended flights to and from Israel and has been seen moving some of its planes out of the country. Lufthansa has said that it will avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace and has halted flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv until 31 July. Switzerland's national carrier Swiss, has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until October. Air France's flights to Tel Aviv have been suspended 'until further notice', and Dutch airline KLM has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until at least 1 July. Delta Airlines has also suspended its services to Tel Aviv until at least September, having only just resumed flights on May 20. United Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until July 31 and will 'continue to evaluate an appropriate return date with the safety of our customers and crews as our top priority'. What are my passenger rights? If your cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund if their flight is cancelled. If you received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, you may also be able to claim compensation. If you've been on a flight departing from or flying to Israel and you've been denied boarding or your flight is cancelled, delayed or brought forward, you could be entitled to compensation under the Israel Aviation Services Law. However, if the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances which are not under the airline's control, then you might not be entitled to compensation. If these exceptions don't apply, you are entitled to receive a refund within 30 days from the date on the flight ticket. If you decide to travel against Foreign Office advice, you may not be able to be covered by travel insurance.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer resists recognising unilateral Palestinian state as Labour split deepens
Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will not agree to recognise a unilateral Palestine as a state, as a civil war over the issue threatens to erupt in his party. As tensions mount in the Middle East with the ongoing blockade of Gaza by Israel and the region on the brink of all-out war between Israel and Iran, Sir Keir made it clear that the UK government will not budge. The prime minister said: 'Our position on recognition of Palestine as part of the process hasn't changed for us. I hold very strongly to the belief that the only long-term solution to the conflict in the Middle East is a two-state solution. However hard that may seem at the moment in the current circumstances, that is the only way to peace. So that continues to be our position.' His comments came as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) - Labour's biggest financial backers - issued a joint statement with their Canadian and French counterparts calling on the UK government to change its position. It makes three demands, including recognising Palestine's statehood. They are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and the government to ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law. They said: 'We urge our governments to formally recognise the State of Palestine now and to stand firm in their opposition to the atrocities committed in Gaza and in the West Bank. 'We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel's assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. 'These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict. 'Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state. However, words must be matched by action. 'As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal —particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June. 'The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.' The text seen by The Independent comes as Sir Keir is in Canada meeting new PM Mark Carney for trade talks before attending the G7 summit where the Middle East crisis will be top of the agenda. It follows pressure from a number of senior Labour figures - including Commons foreign affairs chair Dame Emily Thornbury - for the UK to follow the example of Ireland, Spain and Norway last year to officially recognise Palestine as a state. Added pressure on the issue has even come from the Tories with a group of Conservative MPs signing a letter by former minister Kit Malthouse demanding Palestine be recognised as a state. The Green Party and SNP have also long supported the policy. However, Jon Pearce, chair of the Labour Friends of Israel, which has a number of powerful cabinet allies, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, has pushed back against the growing demands in Labour for Palestinian recognition. He claims it would undermine Britain's position as an honest broker in the conflict. He told The Independent: 'Given the all-too-evident threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes, and its support for terrorism and proxy armies, not just to Israel and the region but to our own national security, it is vital that the UK maintains its diplomatic influence and credibility with our allies. 'Last year, Ireland, Spain and Norway unilaterally recognised a Palestinian state, but it changed nothing on the ground. If Britain were to follow this course, we would inevitably damage our reputation as an impartial broker and reduce our ability to have an impact.' He added: 'The Oslo Accords state that any dispute must be resolved through direct negotiations. If Britain and our allies abandon our commitment to this core principle underpinning the accords, this will be a gift to those in Israel and the Palestinian Territories who have always opposed them and risk unleashing unbearable consequences for both Israelis and Palestinians. 'Recognition is a card that can only be played once. It must be done when it will have maximum impact.'
