Yemen's Houthis say they targeted Israel with ballistic missiles in coordination with Iran
Yemen
's Iran-aligned
Houthis
said on Sunday that they targeted central Israel's
Jaffa
with several
ballistic missiles
in the last 24 hours in coordination with Iran, as
Israel
and
Iran
continued to exchange missile attacks.
The group has been launching attacks against Israel, most of which have been intercepted, in what they say is support for Palestinians in Gaza during the
Israel-Hamas war
there.
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Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Explained: What's happening in the latest Iran-Israel flare-up, in 5 points
Iran-Israel Conflict 2025: On Friday (June 13), Israel launched airstrikes towards Iran, targeting multiple nuclear and military facilities, and killing several senior military officers and scientists under what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called 'Operation Rising Lion'. He has framed what was the biggest attack on Iran in decades as an attempt to remove the 'nuclear threat' to Israel. Addressing the people of Iran in a video message, he said the time had come for them to stand up for their freedom from an 'evil and oppressive regime', which has 'never been weaker.' We explain what has happened. 1. What was the context for these attacks? Going back in history, Israel and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which led to a theocratic government in Iran under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. It's important to note that before 1979, not only did the two countries have ties, but Iran was the second Muslim country to recognise Israel after its formation in 1948. However, the Islamist regime in Iran, which has since endured, viewed Israel as an occupier of Palestinian land. Khomeini termed Israel 'Little Satan' and its closest ally, the United States, as 'Great Satan' for what was seen as unnecessary Western interference in the Middle East. Over the years, the ties devolved with little trust on either side. Iran's support for Hamas and other Iran-backed regional actors, such as Hezbollah, especially after October 7, 2023, has drawn Israel's ire. Crucially, the great strategic concern in Israel is Iran possessing nuclear weapons, and to that end, it has previously launched attacks on scientists (although more targeted and tactical ones). Iran says it is not looking to develop weapons, and has simply invested in nuclear power over the decades. However, the process of enriching uranium for use in power plants can be furthered for making a nuclear bomb as well. Enrichment is how uranium-235, used for producing nuclear weapons, is extracted from the naturally occurring uranium-238 variety. Highly enriched uranium has previously been found at an Iranian plant in Natanz. Friday's attacks came one day after the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors censured Iran for the first time in 20 years for not working with its inspectors. It happened amid talks between the US and Iran for the removal of economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for reducing or ending uranium enrichment. The sixth round of nuclear negotiations was scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, but Oman announced they were scrapped. 2. What kind of damage has been inflicted? Some major targets include the Natanz enrichment facility, around 220 kilometres southeast of Tehran, which is Iran's main enrichment site. It sustained some damage, but there was no nuclear radiation or contamination. There is also the Fordo facility, the Bushehr nuclear power plant that is the only commercial n-power plant in Iran, and the Arak heavy water reactor. On Saturday, the scope of the attacks was expanded to include a refinery in Kangan. It is part of the world's largest gas field, the South Pars, owned by Iran and Qatar. The attacks resulted in a fire, temporarily pausing operations. Attacks have continued over the weekend, with the toll in Iran climbing up to 78 deaths and more than 300 injuries. Key military officers have been killed, including General Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. On Friday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that Israel initiated a war and said it will not be allowed to do 'hit and run'. 'The Zionist regime (Israel) will not remain unscathed from the consequences of its crime. The Iranian nation must be guaranteed that our response will not be half-measured,' he said. At least 100 drones were fired at Israel on Friday, but the Israeli Iron Dome defence system intercepted a majority of them. Missiles were launched towards Israel on Saturday night, resulting in three deaths and 34 injuries. Israel claimed to have gained control of the skies over the Iranian capital and warned that 'Tehran will burn' if more missiles are fired, The Guardian reported on Saturday. However, Iran has nonetheless threatened a 'more severe and powerful response'. It has also warned Western nations from extending support to Israel, and that it could target their infrastructure and military bases in the region. 4. How has the world reacted? US President Donald Trump said the country had no role in the attack, but Iran should accept a nuclear deal. He added that Israel possessed US-manufactured 'lethal' weaponry and that 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!' Saudi Arabia expressed 'strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms.' Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday urged both Israel and Iran 'to avoid any escalatory steps,' saying India has 'close and friendly' relations with the two nations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a call from the Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister and also spoke to his Iranian counterpart. Netanyahu also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who 'emphasized the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region,' according to a post on his X account. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they were moving assets to the region, including jets, 'for contingency support'. The Chinese embassy in Israel said the Israeli strikes were 'significantly escalating the tensions.' A Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson called on all parties to avoid further escalation of tensions. 'China opposes any infringement on Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes actions that escalate tensions and expand the conflict', the spokesperson said. China also offered to 'play a constructive role' in de-escalating the situation. 5. What happens next? In the short run, oil prices are likely to rise, and shipping in the Red Sea may be impacted. However, it is unclear to what level the conflict will escalate or not, given that the Israeli attacks stemmed from broader issues – Iran's nuclear program and Netanyahu addressing Iranians for regime change. On paper, when it comes to a comparison of the countries' military capabilities, Israel also has more advanced, US-backed technology, and has been more successful in inflicting damage in recent conflicts. A previous exchange of fire happened in April 2024 – the first time the countries engaged in direct confrontation. Iran launched strikes after Israel attacked its consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing senior military leaders. Then, too, Iranian attacks only resulted in limited damage. The Iranian government is also facing multiple problems at home, including economic downturn due to sanctions, domestic discontent, and now, its senior military leadership being eliminated. However, with the long history of their animosity, it would be difficult for either country to de-escalate without showing some gains from the strikes. Israel has undoubtedly faced criticism internationally, given its war in Gaza, but Iran's options are even more limited. Only China, Russia, and Burkina Faso opposed the IAEA resolution against it, and many in the Middle East are also worried about a nuclear-armed Iran.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Iran-Israel war could hurt exports; increase freight rates: Exporters
The Iran-Israel conflict has further increased global economic uncertainties, impacting world trade, including India's exports, as it is expected to drive up both air and sea freight rates, exporters say. They said that India's exports to Europe and counters like Russia may get impacted due to this war. If the conflict continues for long, the movement of merchant ships through routes such as Strait of Hormuz between Iran and UAE, and Red Sea would be affected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo "The war will further hurt global trade. The situation was gradually improving but now again the trade will be impacted. Our exports to Europe and countries like Russia may get hurt. Freight rates and insurance are expected to increase," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President S C Ralhan said. Indian export consignments gradually started moving through the Red Sea route but now again it would get impacted, he said. Live Events The immediate fallout of the conflict that started on early Friday or June 13 will be freight and insurance charges going up after a period of calm as Red Sea routes were slowly coming back to normal, Mumbai-based exporter and Technocraft Industries Ltd Founder Chairman S K Saraf said. If Iran-Israel war would continue for a week then the situation will be difficult for global trade, Saraf said, adding, "Iran and Israel too are our big trading partners". Cargo ships had gradually returned on Red Sea routes, saving them 15-20 days while moving to US and Europe from India and other parts of Asia. "The merchant ships will again avoid the Red Sea which will lead to escalation of freight costs that will have to be borne by traders. If war would go beyond a week, it can push freight rates by about 50 per cent," he added The present conflict that began with an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 had brought cargo movement through Red Sea routes to a halt due to attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping. After the US intervened with attacks on the rebels, the firing on commercial ships stopped. "Everything depends on whether the conflict remains localised or expands to include other countries. Its impact will be first felt in global crude oil prices," FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said. Apart from the Red Sea route, this time transit through Strait of Hormuz is another factor that is weighing on the world energy trade. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Around 21 per cent of global petroleum liquids consumption passes through that route. China, India, Japan, and South Korea were the top destinations for crude oil moving through the Strait, Oman also uses this route to supply liquefied natural gas to India. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have operating pipelines that can circumvent the Strait of Hormuz. Last year, the situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, escalated due to attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants. Around 80 per cent of India's merchandise trade with Europe passes through the Red Sea and substantial trade with the US also takes this route. Both these geographies account for 34 per cent of the country's total exports. The Red Sea strait is vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic and 12 per cent of world trade. India's exports to Israel have fallen sharply to USD 2.1 billion in 2024-25 from USD 4.5 billion in 2023-24. Imports from Israel came down to USD 1.6 billion in the last fiscal from USD 2.0 billion in 2023-24. Similarly, exports to Iran of USD 1.4 billion, which were at the same level in 2024-25 as in 2023-24, could also suffer. India's imports from Iran were at USD 441 million in FY25 as against USD 625 million in the previous year. The conflict adds to the pressure world trade was under after the US President Donald Trump announced high tariffs. The government is expected to hold meetings with exporters in the coming days to discuss the recent developments. Based on the tariff war impact, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has already said that the global trade will contract 0.2 per cent in 2025 as against the earlier projection of 2.7 per cent expansion. India's overall exports that had grown 6 per cent on year to USD 825 billion in 2024-25 were expected to touch USD 1 trillion by the end of this year, according to FIEO, and it could fall well short of this target due to geopolitical uncertainties.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Mint Explainer: From regional stability to India's IMEC, the unintended costs of Israel's Rising Lion
On 13 June, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion that targeted nuclear sites across Iran and killed several senior military commanders. Among the killed were General Mohammad Bagheri, who oversaw the Islamic Republic's armed forces; General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who ran the country's ballistic missile programme. The flare-up is being viewed as the most significant showdown between the two West Asian archrivals in decades, with former Indian diplomat Mahesh Sachdev describing it as an 'important inflexion point" in the 26-century-old Jewish-Babylonian conflict, in a recent column. Mint explains: Why did Israel launch Operation Rising Lion? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the operation's aim was to prevent the Shia-majority country from acquiring nuclear weapons, which, in his words, pose an 'existential threat" to Israel. However, Netanyahu's wider aim could include a regime change, i.e., toppling the theocratic government headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. Addressing the Iranian people directly on 13 June, he said that 'as we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your objective, which is freedom". Also Read: Mint Explainer: How the Israel-Iran conflict can crash India's growth party Israel has weakened the Iranian regime not only by the latest attacks but also by systematic targeting of its proxies—Hamas and Hezbollah in particular—in the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack. Iran also lost a valuable ally in Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in December 2024. However, are these developments enough to trigger widespread unrest and lead to a change of government in the Islamic nation? It is not clear yet. Some protests have been reported in Iran, but against the Israeli attacks. In 2022, the Iranian government faced widespread protests after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, following her arrest by morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab or headscarf. The Khamenei regime survived the 'Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. But a weakened Tehran may accept strict international conditions for its nuclear programme, which may work in Israel's favour. How would a weakened Iran affect the regional stability? The prospects of Iran becoming a nuclear power have always been viewed warily by Sunni Arab neighbours. Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons will lead to countries like Saudi Arabia pursuing their own nuclear weapons programmes. So, any denuding of Iran's capabilities in this area would naturally be a relief. But Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers have condemned Israel's attacks. The Gulf states seem to be in a dilemma. While Iran, with its proxies, was a challenge to all countries in the region, it was also seen as the country keeping Israel in check. Now, they will have to come to terms with a resurgent and powerful Israel and a demanding US under President Donald Trump. Also Read: Escalating Israel-Iran conflict to keep markets on boil in near term According to Sachdev, the Sunni Arab world has little love lost for either Iran or Israel. A strong Israel means these nations would have to normalize ties with it under the provisions of the 2020 Abraham Accords. 'This war is about emasculating Iran as an important player in the region and not just about the nuclear issue," said T.S. Tirumurti, India's former permanent representative to the UN. 'Whether the complete military dominance of Israel in the region is in their best interest is something the Gulf countries need to ponder over, given their own rising ambitions to play a larger geopolitical role," said Tirumurti, who has served in India's missions to Egypt and Gaza. What is India's position? India has always tread warily given the political complexities of the region. Iran is seen as a country with which India has 'civilizational ties" and as a country that opens an alternative route to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia through the Chabahar Port. Iran has also been an important source of fuel for an energy-starved India until it stopped importing oil from the country under pressure from the previous Trump administration. However, New Delhi has had reservations about Iran's nuclear weapons programme as it is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It has advocated dialogue and diplomacy to solve disagreements on the matter. On the other hand, since 1992, when India established formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the Jewish state has been its key partner across several domains, including defence and agriculture. India has sourced bombs, drones, and technologies that it employed in operations against Pakistan as recently as during Operation Sindoor. In the aftermath of the 22 April Pahalgam attack, it was only Israel that identified Pakistan by name as a perpetrator of the terrorist attack. India's wariness also stems from the fact that approximately 9 million Indians live in the Gulf countries and the wider West Asian region. Their safety and security, as well as their economic contribution in terms of remittances, are vital. Most of the time, India has taken its cue from Gulf Arab states while reacting to complex situations in the region, including the plight of the Palestinians. 'As of now, India is looking at events in the region through the lens of its close relations with Israel. The almost paralysed reaction of Gulf countries towards the Gaza war and its severe impact on the Palestinians, and the Gulf's fear of Iran's role in the region, have convinced India even more that it is following the right policy," Tirumurti said. This would explain why India distanced itself from the strong condemnation issued by the China-Russia dominated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation over the weekend. How does the conflict impact the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC)? Announced in 2023 on the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the IMEC is a strategic project that aims to connect South Asia, West Asia, and Europe through transport, data, renewable electricity grids and clean hydrogen pipelines. 'Geopolitical and geoeconomic considerations underpin the rationale for the IMEC," according to the think tank Observer Research Foundation. The proposal grew out of the peace envisaged in West Asia after the 2020 Abraham Accords and the emergence of the Israel-India-US-UAE (I2U2) grouping in October 2021. However, the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack in Israel and the following war have slowed the IMEC considerably. Also Read: India concerned about crude oil supply disruptions in Strait of Hormuz as prices surge after Israel's attacks on Iran Given India's wobbly ties with Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh, the IMEC is seen as a game-changer for the country's trade and economic prospects in the years to come. 'It's a strategic project, one that India is keen to see through. It may be delayed, but one cannot write it off," said a person familiar with the Gulf region and the IMEC project. However, the recent flare-up adds another layer of uncertainty to the project taking off, given the unpredictability of the nature of conflicts and that too, like the present one, in a region riddled with complexities. Elizabeth Roche is an associate professor of practice, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
