Iran launches missiles at Israel in response to strikes
Iran and Israel are targeting each other with missiles and air strikes after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early on Saturday, sending residents rushing into shelters as successive waves of Iranian missiles streaked across the skies.
The military said its air defence systems were operating.
"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 working at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported.
In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran.
The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, which hosts an air force base.
Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem.
The Fars news agency said Tehran launched waves of air strikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.
One of the waves targeted Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, with explosions heard in the capital and Jerusalem, witnesses said.
Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.
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 US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officials said.
Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and 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 denies that its uranium enrichment activities are part of a secret weapons program, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council.
He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and a facility at Isfahan.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official said revenge would be painful.
Iran's UN 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 US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.
Israeli UN 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".
The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program.
Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer.
Talks are due to resume in Oman on Sunday but Iran signalled it might not join.
Iran and Israel are targeting each other with missiles and air strikes after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early on Saturday, sending residents rushing into shelters as successive waves of Iranian missiles streaked across the skies.
The military said its air defence systems were operating.
"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 working at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported.
In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran.
The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, which hosts an air force base.
Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem.
The Fars news agency said Tehran launched waves of air strikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.
One of the waves targeted Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, with explosions heard in the capital and Jerusalem, witnesses said.
Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.
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 US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officials said.
Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and 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 denies that its uranium enrichment activities are part of a secret weapons program, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council.
He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and a facility at Isfahan.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official said revenge would be painful.
Iran's UN 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 US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.
Israeli UN 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".
The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program.
Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer.
Talks are due to resume in Oman on Sunday but Iran signalled it might not join.
Iran and Israel are targeting each other with missiles and air strikes after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early on Saturday, sending residents rushing into shelters as successive waves of Iranian missiles streaked across the skies.
The military said its air defence systems were operating.
"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 working at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported.
In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran.
The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, which hosts an air force base.
Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem.
The Fars news agency said Tehran launched waves of air strikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.
One of the waves targeted Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, with explosions heard in the capital and Jerusalem, witnesses said.
Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.
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 US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officials said.
Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and 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 denies that its uranium enrichment activities are part of a secret weapons program, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council.
He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and a facility at Isfahan.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official said revenge would be painful.
Iran's UN 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 US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.
Israeli UN 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".
The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program.
Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer.
Talks are due to resume in Oman on Sunday but Iran signalled it might not join.
Iran and Israel are targeting each other with missiles and air strikes after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early on Saturday, sending residents rushing into shelters as successive waves of Iranian missiles streaked across the skies.
The military said its air defence systems were operating.
"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 working at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported.
In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran.
The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, which hosts an air force base.
Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem.
The Fars news agency said Tehran launched waves of air strikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.
One of the waves targeted Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, with explosions heard in the capital and Jerusalem, witnesses said.
Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.
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 US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officials said.
Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and 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 denies that its uranium enrichment activities are part of a secret weapons program, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium at Natanz to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council.
He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and a facility at Isfahan.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official said revenge would be painful.
Iran's UN 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 US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.
Israeli UN 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".
The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program.
Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer.
Talks are due to resume in Oman on Sunday but Iran signalled it might not join.
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The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
How Israel's assault unfolded – and how Iran responded
It was fast, targeted and deadly. In a split second, a quiet pre-dawn Tehran was rocked by explosions. Israel attacked several locations across Iran, including the capital, targeting nuclear sites, including its main enrichment facility, ballistic missile and other military capabilities, and commanders and nuclear scientists. Here's how it unfolded, moment by moment (note: all times in AEST). June 12 Trump withdraws US officials from the Middle East The White House orders the departure of all non-essential personnel from its embassy in Baghdad. It also gives non-essential officials in its Bahrain and Kuwait embassies the authorisation to leave if they so wish. This comes as US intelligence indicates Israel has been preparing to strike Iran while the Trump administration struggles to make progress on a nuclear deal with Iran. 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens,' US President Donald Trump says. June 13 Trump warns an Israeli strike 'could very well happen' if Iran doesn't reach a deal over its nuclear weapons capabilities. 'I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen,' Trump tells reporters at the White House. Israel attacks Iran at 3.30am local time, with explosions booming across Tehran. People in the city wake to blasts, which damage residential buildings. Smoke is seen rising from Tehran's western neighbourhood of Chitgar. 'Dozens' of nuclear and military targets hit An Israeli military official confirms 'dozens' of sites across Iran were targeted, including the country's Natanz nuclear complex, with footage on Iranian state TV showing black smoke rising from the facility. The deaths Iranian state TV reports that the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, was killed in the strikes, along with the commander-in-chief of Iran's army, General Mohammad Bagheri, and another top-ranking commander, General Gholamali Rashid. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, survived, but Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Khamenei was reportedly 'critically injured' in the strikes. Six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also reportedly killed. Iranian TV reports children were among the dead in the affected residential areas. The Israel Defence Forces shares news of the successful 'first stage' of its offensive on X. 'Dozens of IAF [Israeli Air Force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,' it posts. 'Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.' 11am: US not involved, avoids both endorsing and condemning strikes The United States declines to endorse Israel's strikes against Iran, noting in an official statement that it was aware of, but not involved in, the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers the first official US response to the attack, saying Israel 'advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence'. Later, Trump calls an emergency security meeting set for 11am Friday (1am AEST) and tells Fox News 'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb'. 11.19am: Netanyahu speaks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the strikes were aimed at hurting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and other military capabilities. 'This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,' he says in a recorded video message. 'As prime minister, I have made it clear time and again Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve their goal.' He says Israel has successfully 'struck at the heart' of Iran's nuclear weaponisation program by targeting 'their main enrichment facility'. 1.23pm 'Sworn enemies' to expect retaliation, says Tehran Israel will receive a 'harsh punishment' in response to the strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tells Iranian state TV. He says Israel has 'unleashed its wicked and bloody' hand in a crime against Iran that reveals its 'vile nature'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later release a statement, seen by Reuters, which says Israel 'will pay a heavy price' for killing their chief, Salami. The statement claims Israel's strikes were done with the knowledge and support of the 'wicked rulers in the White House' and the 'terrorist US regime'. 'Iran's sworn enemies should expect a decisive retaliation,' it says. 3.01pm: Iran launches 100-drone assault on Israel Israel's chief army spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, says: 'In the last few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, and all the defence systems are acting to intercept the threats.' A short time later, neighbouring Jordan says its air force and defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory. Defrin says the strikes are continuing. How has Australia reacted? Speaking from Fiji, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government wants the conflict solved 'through dialogue'. 'We, of course, are very conscious of the threat [that] Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent to peace and security in the region as well,' he says. Speaking to reporters minutes after the strikes were first reported, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was 'alarmed' by the attack. 'We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions,' Wong said. What becomes of the US and Iran's nuclear negotiations? A key mediator in Iran's nuclear talks with the US says Israel's attack 'threatens to eliminate diplomatic solutions and undermine security and stability of the region'. Oman was due to host US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and other key officials for a sixth round of nuclear deal talks with Iran on Sunday. After the strikes, Trump says he's hoping to get 'back to the negotiating table', according to Fox News. When asked in the hours before the attack how any strikes would affect the nuclear talks, Trump said: 'I think it would blow it', before reconsidering and saying, it 'might help it actually, but it also could blow it'. June 14 4.14am Iran's retaliation begins The Associated Press reports air raid sirens have sounded in Jerusalem as Israel says Iran has fired missiles. A few minutes later, an Israeli military official claims dozens of missiles have been detected. Explosions can be heard in Jerusalem and Israeli TV stations show plumes of smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent strike. 4.25am Iran's Supreme Leader vows revenge Ayatollah Ali Khamenei releases a defiant message to Iran in which he promises Israel will suffer a 'bitter fate' for its actions. 4.28am Major ballistic assault on Israel Iran's state-run news site says the country has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel. But the Israeli military says the missiles numbered fewer than 100 and most were intercepted or fell short. No casualties are immediately reported. 8.20am Sirens and a round of explosions, possibly from Israeli interceptors, can be heard booming in the sky over Jerusalem and the Israeli military says another attack is taking place. A witness tells Reuters that air-raid sirens had sounded again in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Israeli military urges civilians, already rattled by an earlier wave of missiles, to take shelter. The Iranian outlet Nour News, which has close links with the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, says a wave of attacks is being launched. With Reuters, AP
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Tehran will burn', Israel warns Iran after attacks
Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP
West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Iran threatens full blown war with deadly reply and chilling warning to other countries who defend Israel
Iran has launched deadly missile strikes on Israel followed by a chilling warning that it will target any countries who try to defend the Jewish state. The retaliatory action on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded dozens after Friday's blistering Israeli attacks on the heart of Iran's nuclear program. 'New round of Honest Promise 3 attacks,' Tehran's state television reported, referring to the name of the military operation. It came as a senior Iranian official said the nation would broaden the war if other countries got involved. 'Any country that attempts to defend the regime against Iran's operations will, in turn, see its regional bases and positions become new targets.' In response, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz warned Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that 'Tehran will burn' if it keeps firing missiles at Israeli civilians. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early on Saturday, sending residents rushing into shelters as successive waves of Iranian missiles streaked across the skies. A man and a woman were killed in Israel and dozens wounded by a missile that landed near their homes, Israel's ambulance service said. Rescue teams were searching the rubble of apartment buildings that were destroyed in Rishon Lezion, a city outside of Tel Aviv where another person is believed to have died. Mr Katz said the Iranian leadership had crossed a red line by firing at civilians and will 'pay a heavy price for it'. In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran. The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, which hosts an air force base. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, have been killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Tehran launched waves of air strikes on Saturday after two salvoes on Friday night, Fars reported. One of the waves targeted Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial hub, before dawn, with explosions heard as far as Jerusalem, witnesses said. Those were in response to Israel's original attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites. The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officials said. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and most were intercepted or fell short. But 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 Israel's strikes on Friday had hit the country's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz had also been destroyed. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and a facility at Isfahan. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war, and a senior Iranian official said revenge would be painful. Iran accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. US officials said that American air defence systems and navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel on Friday as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. Israel's UN 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 program is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear program. Tehran had been in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program to replace one that Mr Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last US offer. Talks are due to resume in Oman on Sunday but Iran signalled it might not join. Dialogue with the US over Iran's nuclear program is 'meaningless', Tehran said, accusing Washington of supporting Friday's attack. 'The other side (the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory,' foreign ministry spokes-person Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying on the semi-official Tasnim news agency. He said Israel 'succeeded in influencing' the diplomatic process and Friday's Israeli attack would not have happened without Washington's permission. Iran denies that its uranium enrichment program is for anything other than civilian purposes, continually rejecting Israeli allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons. Mr Trump admitted on Fox News that he and his team had known the Israeli attacks were coming but they still saw room for an accord. Global leaders have called for de-escalation of the conflict including UN chief Antonio Guterres. 'Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites, Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv, enough escalation,' Mr Guterres said. 'Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail.'
