
Israel reveals covert ground operations in Iran
Shafaq News – Middle East
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed, on Wednesday, that elite commandos conducted covert ground operations inside Iran during the recent 12-day conflict.
In a televised address, Zamir stated that Israeli forces operated 'deep within Iranian territory with full tactical freedom.'
Mossad Director David Barnea acknowledged CIA collaboration, describing the operations as 'decisive, precisely timed actions' made possible through close intelligence coordination. He added that Israeli surveillance of Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure remains active in real time.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Politico that Iran's deepening economic crisis could spark internal unrest if it continues backing regional proxy groups. He also defended President Donald Trump's recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them 'a turning point' that helped contain the conflict.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iranian air defenses engage unidentified drones near Iraqi border
Shafaq News – Basra Iranian air defenses opened fire late Wednesday on unidentified drones near Abadan, close to the Iraqi border, a security source told Shafaq News. Footage obtained by our agency shows anti-aircraft units engaging three drones over the city. One reportedly crashed in Iraq's Al-Khurram area within the Al-Siba district, which borders Iran. A security official in Basra confirmed the authenticity of the footage, recorded by residents in Al-Siba, noting increased troop movements. 'The drone activity triggered alerts on the Iraqi side as well, with authorities tracking for any potential airspace breaches or escalation,' the source added. The incident comes just days after a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, following a wave of missile exchanges and US airstrikes on Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities.


Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
SDF denies claims linking al-Hol camp to Damascus church attack
Shafaq News – Al-Hasakah / Qamishli On Wednesday, the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) denied accusations by Damascus authorities that individuals who carried out a recent suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in the al-Duwaila'a district of Damascus came from the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. In a statement, the SDF described the remarks by the Syrian Interior as 'unfounded and not based on factual evidence,' calling Syrian government to conduct 'transparent investigations and publicly share their findings to prevent further terrorist attacks.' The attack caused civilian casualties and was followed by the reported foiling of another bombing attempt targeting the Sayyida Zainab shrine south of the capital. The SDF stated that internal investigations showed no record of anyone leaving the al-Hol camp during the period in question, apart from Syrians transferred at the request of the Damascus government and Iraqi nationals repatriated through official arrangements with Baghdad. The statement also emphasized that al-Hol primarily houses women and children from ISIS-affiliated families and does not contain foreign combatants, 'making it unlikely that non-Syrian suicide bombers could have emerged from the camp.' Meanwhile, dozens of Christians and residents of Qamishli took to the streets to protest the deadly bombing that targeted Mar Elias Church, denouncing 'a terrorist attack on places of worship and the Christian community in Syria.' Carrying photos of the victims, demonstrators chanted slogans celebrating the Christian faith and the cross, while condemning violence against religious minorities. One of the protesters, George Younan, told Shafaq News that 'the continuing security lapses are allowing such crimes and violations against Christians and other minorities to occur repeatedly,' and called for an end to what he described as government negligence. Another protester, Issa Issa, said the bombing was not an isolated incident, but a direct consequence of 'security chaos and the power vacuum, worsened by the government's policy of arming unlawful groups under various pretexts.' He pointed to similar attacks in the countryside of Latakia, Suwayda, and Jaramana in recent years.


Memri
5 hours ago
- Memri
Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Posts On X Since The Start Of The Iran-Israel War – June 11-25, 2025
Below are posts on X (formerly Twitter) from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on his English account leading up to and during the Israel-Iran war of June 2025. The posts collected range from June 11-25, 2025. Khamenei's English account has 2 million followers at the time of writing. For more information, please see other MEMRI CJL reports: In one of the first posts on June 11, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "Which other nation do you know of that boldly stands up to confront those world powers that are imposing their will and giving orders to others? Few nations besides ours are like that. The Europeans have trembled in the face of certain things, but not our nation." Source: Writing on June 12, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "That [Zionist] regime should anticipate a severe punishment. By God's grace, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces won't let them go unpunished." Source: The same day, his account posted: "With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see." Source: On June 13, 2025, Khamenei's account wrote: "The Zionist regime has made a big mistake, a grave error, and committed a reckless act. By God's grace, the consequences of this will bring that regime to ruin." Source: Writing on June 13, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Iranian nation won't permit the blood of its valued martyrs to go unavenged, nor will it ignore the violation of its airspace." Source: The same day, Khamenei's account wrote: "Today, we must give a strong response to the evil, despicable, terrorist Zionist identity. God willing, we will respond with strength, and will show no mercy to them." Source: Khamenei's account also posted: "Life will definitely become bitter for the Zionists." Source: Writing on June 13, Khamenei's account said: "The Iranian people are with us. They support the Armed Forces, and the Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime, by the will of God." Source: Khamenei's account quoted the Quran 61:13 with a graphic, stating: "'Help from Allah and an imminent conquest' (Holy Quran: 61:13). The Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime by the will of God." Source: On June 17, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy." Source: One of Khamenei's first posts on June 18, 2025 said: "The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats." Source: Writing on June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account wrote: "The US entering in this matter [war] is 100% to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter." Source: The same day, Khamenei's account posted: "The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily." Source: Khamenei's account also wrote: "It was already suspected that the US was involved in the malicious move carried out by the Zionist regime, but considering their recent remarks, this suspicion is growing stronger day by day." Source: On June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Iranian nation also firmly stands against any imposed peace. The Iranian nation will not capitulate to anyone in the face of coercion." Source: Writing on June 18, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "The Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake and committed a serious crime, and it must be punished." Source: His account also posted , on June 19: "I would like to tell our dear nation that if the enemy senses that you fear them, they won't let go of you. Continue the very behavior that you have had up to this day; continue this behavior with strength" on June 19, 2025. Source: Writing on June 20, Khamenei's account posted: "The Zionist enemy is being punished. It is being punished right now." Source: Khamenei's Farsi account also posted on June 20, 2025: "The Zionist regime made a big mistake, a big error, a blunder, and the consequences of it will make it miserable, God willing. You will be miserable." Followed by the Hebrew "You will be miserable." The post include an illustration depicting fire raining down on what appear to be fleeing Israeli soldiers amid a city landscape. Source: On June 22, 2025, Khamenei's Farsi account posted an image of missiles striking a city, and a skull bearing a star of David on its forehead, writing: "The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now." Source: On the day of the ceasefire, June 23, 2025, Khamenei's account posted: "Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn't a nation that surrenders." Source: