Independent committee supervised by PA to govern Gaza for 6 months: Egypt plan - Foreign Affairs
The Gaza Administration Committee, an independent committee composed of technocrats and non-partisan figures and supervised by the Palestinian Authority (PA), will manage the affairs of the strip during a six-month transitional period, according to a draft of Egypt's Gaza Reconstruction Plan obtained by Ahram Online.
The primary objective of the Gaza Administration Committee is to enable the full return of the PA to the strip and facilitate governance during the transition, per the plan draft obtained by Ahram Online.
The committee will govern during the early recovery phase. This phase, a prelude to the reconstruction with a budget of $3 billion, will focus on clearing debris from central axes, including the Salah Al-Din axis, and establishing 200,000 temporary housing units to shelter 1.2 displaced Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.
The reconstruction process will proceed in two phases.
The first phase, scheduled for 2025-2027 with a $20 billion budget, will ensure complete debris removal and use of the recovered materials for land reclamation in the strip's coastal areas.
This phase will focus on constructing essential infrastructure networks, developing 200,000 housing units, and repairing 60,000 homes to accommodate 1.6 million people.
The second phase, which is set for 2027-2030 and has a $30 billion budget, will focus on expanding infrastructure networks and constructing an additional 200,000 housing units to accommodate 1.2 million people, bringing the total to 460,000 units for 2.75 million natives.
Israel's genocidal war on Gaza caused $29.9 billion in material damage and $19.1 billion in economic and social losses.
More than two million Palestinians have been displaced, facing a brutal besiegement and struggling with the lack of water, food, shelter, medical care, and fuel.
The war also killed over 47,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children and 7,200 women, and has left 111,000 injured as of January 2025.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iran armed forces urge evacuation of residents in major Israeli cities- as it happened - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides wage deadly strikes against one another for a fifth day. Related Tel Aviv restricts Israelis' departure as conflict with Tehran enters 4th day - as it happened Egypt among 21 countries urging de-escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran OIC broadcasting union condemns Israeli strike on Iranian state TV headquarters Israel escalated its 'Operation Rising Lion' on Tehran five days after bombing residential and military areas in Iran, killing at least 224 people and wounding over 1,200. As US President Donald Trump urged residents to evacuate—echoing Israeli calls for 330,000 people to leave central Tehran—the capital began to empty, with shops shuttered and traffic clogging westbound roads. In retaliation, Iran intensified its 'Operation True Promise III,' launching multiple waves of missiles into central Israel, where large explosions were reported overnight and air raid sirens wailed throughout the night. Earlier Iranian strikes forced the shutdown of the Haifa oil refinery, other industrial facilities, and the local power plant. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel, with hundreds more wounded. Meanwhile, Israel has imposed a ban on live TV feed streaming, preventing networks from broadcasting images of incoming Iranian missiles and the damage caused by the strikes. The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departed Southeast Asia as the Pentagon announced the deployment of 'additional capabilities' to the Middle East. Israeli Channel 11 claimed US forces had begun attacking targets inside Iran, an allegation Washington denied, stating American forces in the region remain in a "defensive posture and that has not changed." 23:00 In an official statement, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized that 'there is no alternative to political and diplomatic solutions,' urging the United Nations and the Security Council to take urgent and decisive action to secure a ceasefire and uphold international peace and security. The UAE warned that the ongoing military escalation in the region requires 'urgent and coordinated' international and regional efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding and destabilizing the broader Middle East. 'The UAE, which condemned Israel's military strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran from the earliest hours, believes that after five days of dangerous military confrontation, a diplomatic approach is now essential to bring both parties to de-escalation and prevent the situation from spiraling into an unmanageable crisis,' said Sheikh Abdullah. He warned of the risks of 'reckless and miscalculated actions that may extend beyond both countries,' calling instead for 'immediate and clear' moves to halt the violence before it becomes uncontrollable. He revealed that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has engaged in intensive diplomatic contacts focused on de-escalation, grounded in the belief that diplomacy and dialogue—not confrontation—are the only viable paths to sustainable stability and justice for the region's peoples. 'The region, exhausted by perpetual conflict, cannot endure further tensions and clashes. Today, more than ever, it needs wisdom,' Sheikh Abdullah stressed. ' 22:50 Tensions are mounting within the Republican Party as lawmakers voice concern over President Donald Trump's approach to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, warning against unauthorised US military involvement. Republican representative Thomas Massie introduced a War Powers Resolution alongside Democratic representative Ro Khanna to prohibit US participation in the conflict. 'This is not our war,' Massie posted on X. 'Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.' The bipartisan resolution, backed by more than a dozen progressive Democrats, aims to reassert congressional authority over decisions of war, invoking the 1973 War Powers Act. A similar measure is being floated in the Senate. Even staunch Trump ally Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted: 'Americans want cheap gas, groceries… Not going into another foreign war.' I just introduced an Iran War Powers Resolution with @RepRoKhanna to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war. This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 17, 2025 Americans want cheap gas, groceries, bills, and housing. They want affordable insurance, safe communities, and good education for their children. They want a government that works on these issues. Considering Americans pay for the entire government and government salaries… — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) June 17, 2025 22:45 Washington is setting up a round-the-clock task force to help Americans in the Middle East amid the Israel-Iran conflict, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday. "The Department of State has established the Middle East Task Force to help coordinate support for us, citizens, our US diplomatic missions and personnel and diplomatic engagement," she told a press briefing. "The task force is operating 24 hours a day over the past week to help keep us citizens informed. We have issued more than 30 security alerts to countries in the region and updated travel advisories for Iraq and Israel," she said. 21:30 A US official told Fox News that American military strikes on targets inside Iran — including nuclear facilities — remain 'on the table.' The statement comes amid growing tensions following Iran's latest missile attacks and rising concerns over regional escalation. 21:00 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being "the biggest threat" to the Middle East region, in a phone call with Qatar's emir on Tuesday, his office said. Erdogan said that he "will continue his efforts to end the spiral of violence, and that Netanyahu has shown once again that he is the biggest threat to the security of the region," according to the presidency. 20:50 US President Donald Trump is convening a meeting of his National Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the Iran-Israel war, a White House official said on condition of anonymity. The meeting, which the official said had not yet started, comes after Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Iran's supreme leader, sparking questions about possible US military intervention. 20:40 Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday urged de-escalation and the pursuit of diplomatic solutions in separate phone calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, the Egyptian foreign ministry stated. Abdelatty stressed the importance of de-escalation efforts to avert the risk of a broader conflict in the Middle East. He underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts to contain ongoing crises through political dialogue, warning that continued hostilities could lead to regional instability with far-reaching consequences. The foreign minister also reiterated Egypt's call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations as the only sustainable path toward resolving disputes, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear programme. He emphasized that military solutions are not viable and that escalating violence would only push the region closer to 'total chaos,' to the detriment of all parties. 20:30 Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, urged residents of the major Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv to evacuate, warning of imminent "punitive" attacks. "Punitive operations will be carried out soon," Mousavi said in a video statement carried by state TV on the fifth day of the deadly confrontation triggered by Israeli air raid on Friday. He added that previous attacks on Israel have so far only been for "deterrence" purposes. Referring to Israel, Mousavi said that "residents of the occupied territories, especially Tel Aviv and Haifa, are strongly urged to leave these areas for the sake of their lives". Mousavi told Israelis not to "fall victim" to "animalistic desires" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which Tehran blames for the escalation. 19:40 US President Donald Trump issued a series of posts on Truth Social warning Iran's leadership and declaring American air dominance. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' he wrote, adding that while the US could target him, 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' Trump warned that 'our patience is wearing thin' amid continued threats to civilians and U.S. forces. In a separate post, Trump proclaimed 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' and asserted that the US now has 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' 18:55 Iran launched a new wave of attacks targeting Israel, state TV reported, as fighting between the longtime foes raged for a fifth straight day. "The tenth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 against the occupied territories (Israel) has begun," state TV said, with the Tasnim news agency reporting that the new barrage consisted of "drone and missile attacks" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 18:43 Iranian media reported widespread internet disruption on Tuesday as Israel and Iran traded fire for a fifth straight day. "Internet users in several provinces are reporting widespread internet disruption," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. Other media carried similar reports. It was not immediately clear what caused the disruption. Iran has imposed internet restrictions since Israel launched its unprecedented aerial campaign against Iranian military and nuclear facilities on Friday. 18:27 President Donald Trump may decide that "further action" is needed to stop Iran's nuclear program, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday, responding to speculation that the United States could intervene in the conflict. "The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide to take further action to end Iranian enrichment," Vance said in a post on X. Emphasizing that 'whatever he does, that is his focus,' Vance stressed that Trump would act solely to advance 'the American people's goals.' 'The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment,' Vance wrote. Vance dismissed Iran's claims to peaceful nuclear energy, saying enrichment levels had 'far exceeded' civilian use and accused Tehran of violating its obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use,' he wrote. 18:05 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed deep alarm Monday over the killing of three Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) aid workers, bringing the death toll among IRCS personnel to four in just five days. 'We are deeply appalled by the tragic loss of three aid workers,' the ICRC said in a tweet, highlighting that these individuals were killed while carrying out lifesaving humanitarian work. The organization stressed that 'humanitarian workers are trying tirelessly to meet the growing needs resulting from the latest escalation of the conflict,' and called for all efforts to be made to ensure their safety. The ICRC extended its condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those killed. 📍 Iran | We are appalled by the killing of three aid workers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (@Iran_RCS) while they were carrying out their humanitarian work. Our condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues. — ICRC (@ICRC) June 17, 2025 17:40 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Israel's 16 June airstrike on Iran's State broadcaster, IRIB, in Tehran, which killed at least two journalists during a live broadcast. The strike followed an Israeli evacuation warning and a statement by Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Iran's State television and radio were 'about to disappear.' 'This was a targeted attack on a media facility, and we mourn the loss of our two colleagues,' said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. 'Under international law, journalists are civilians, and deliberate attacks against them constitute war crimes.' The IFJ urged all parties to stop targeting journalists and media infrastructure, asserting that 'claiming a media outlet's editorial line is hostile to your cause does not justify an attack.' The Federation demanded accountability, calling for those responsible to be brought before international criminal courts. Reaffirming its Global Charter of Ethics, the IFJ called on journalists covering the conflict to uphold professional standards. It emphasized the duty to respect facts (Article 1), verify information despite urgency (Article 5), and avoid spreading hatred or discrimination (Article 9). Smoke billows from an explosion in southwest Tehran. AFP 17:10 The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned Tuesday that the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran is endangering civilian lives and public health across the region. 'The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children,' he wrote on X. 'The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing.' Tedros emphasized WHO's specific concern over recent attacks on nuclear infrastructure, noting that 'the targeting of nuclear sites may have immediate and long-term impacts on the environment and health of people in Iran and across the region.' The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children. The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing. @WHO's particular concern is the targeting of nuclear sites, which may have… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) June 17, 2025 17:30 Air raid sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area and parts of northern Israel on Tuesday, the military said, after warning of a fresh salvo of incoming missiles fired from Iran. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the state of Israel," a statement from the military said, with residents of the Tel Aviv area and parts of the north urged to seek shelter. بالفيديو | أضرار في موقف حافلات في "تل أبيب" الكبرى، بعد سقوط صاروخ إيراني — وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 17, 2025 17:00 Iranian media said several blasts were heard on Tuesday in the central city of Isfahan, which hosts multiple nuclear facilities, as Israel kept up its strikes for a fifth day. "Several explosions were heard in the east and north of Isfahan and air defences were activated against the hostile targets," the Mehr news agency reported. 16:30 US President Donald Trump said he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as the arch foes traded fire for a fifth day on Tuesday. Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace. "I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," he told reporters on the plane home after cutting short his attendance at a Group of Seven summit in Canada. Trump again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle East, saying "we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off". 16:00 Qatar has been monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli air strikes pound Iranian nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "We are monitoring this on a daily basis," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference. "We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences." "We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region," Ansari said. "The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf." Ansari said Qatar's own facilities in the field were "secure" but condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure as "reckless". 15:28 The International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday it believes Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz enrichment site have had 'direct impacts' on the facility's underground centrifuge halls. This marks the first time the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has assessed damage from the strikes in the underground parts of Natanz, which is the main enrichment facility of Iran's nuclear program. 'Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,' the agency said. Already, an above-ground enrichment hall had been destroyed, as well as electrical equipment that powered the facility. 14:25 Two loud explosions were heard from central and north Tehran on Tuesday, AFP correspondents reported, as the Iranian capital came under Israeli bombardment for a fifth straight day. There was no immediate comment on the cause or precise whereabouts of the twin blasts, which came after the Israeli military struck state television headquarters on Monday, causing significant damage and killing at least three people, the broadcaster said. Smoke plumes arise from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) corporation building in the north of Tehran after it was hit by an overnight Israeli strike. AFP 14:39 Flights carrying evacuees from Israel have arrived in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, authorities said on Tuesday, putting the two countries among the first to bring citizens home, Reuters said. Slovak authorities said the first evacuation flight with 73 people, including 25 Slovak tourists and five family members of Slovak diplomats working in Tel Aviv, had arrived in the capital Bratislava late on Monday. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said Slovakia had also helped bring citizens of other countries to Europe, including 15 Poles, mainly children, 14 Czechs, nine Austrians, two Slovenians and one citizen each of Estonia, Spain and Malaysia. Another Central European country, Poland, said that the evacuation of 200 Poles from Israel was planned for Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, the Polish foreign ministry said it planned to use two planes from Egypt and Jordan for the evacuation, the first of which would take off on Wednesday. People arrive with their luggage before the departure of a bus slated to evacuate foreign passport holders, mainly European and Polish, out of Israel, at a bus stop in Tel Aviv. AFP 14:21 Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that a growing number of Israelis are fleeing the country by sea to Cyprus or via private flights, defying new government-imposed travel restrictions that bar citizens from leaving amid the deepening regional conflict. The Israeli government has instructed domestic airlines not to allow citizens to depart on repatriation flights. Transport Minister Miri Regev claimed the measure was meant to prevent overcrowding at airports and prioritize the return of over 100,000 Israelis stranded abroad since Israel launched strikes on Iran last Friday. Israel's airspace has been closed since the start of the escalation, and national carrier El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through 17 June, with further cancellations until at least 23 June. The airline is reportedly reallocating aircraft for repatriation missions. However, the fact that only foreign nationals are being permitted to leave has raised questions about whether authorities are trying to suppress images of a mass exodus. This isn't the first sign. Following the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, over 12,000 Israelis permanently left the country in that month alone—four times the number from the previous year, according to AP. Another estimated 30,000 departed over the following five months, with fewer citizens choosing to return. 14:03 Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said in a speech in European parliament, Reuters reports. "With Israel's expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end," the Jordanian monarch said. "And that is a threat to people everywhere. Ultimately, this conflict must end", the Jordanian King added. 13:50 US President Donald Trump disputed his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on how Iran's nuclear capabilities were developed and said Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon when Israel struck in recent days. Asked where he stands on how close Iran was to getting a nuclear deal, given what Gabbard testified just months ago, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, 'Very close.' When pressed on Gabbard's testimony that they weren't, Trump said, 'I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.' Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community 'continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003. A new CNN investigation has revealed a significant gap between Israeli rhetoric and US intelligence assessments regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. 13:43 Russia said it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but that Israel was showing reluctance to accept outside mediation. "At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 13:05 A cyberattack on crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's vital state-owned banks, Fars news agency reported. "A cyberattack targeted the infrastructure of Sepah Bank, causing disruptions to the institution's online services," said the Iranian agency, adding the issue was expected to be resolved within the next few hours. 13:00 The Israeli ambassador to Washington threatened Tehran, saying the "Pagers" operation against Hezbollah would be minor compared to "the major surprise" Israel is preparing against Iran this week. 12:55 Iranian police announced the arrest of an Israeli Mossad agent in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, on charges of manufacturing and testing explosives. 12:27 Iran Revolutionary Guards said it had targeted a center belonging to Israel's spy agency in Tel Aviv, Mossad. In a statement read on state television, the Guard said it had 'struck a military intelligence center of the Zionist entity's army, Aman, and the Zionist regime's terrorist operations planning centre, the Mossad, in Tel Aviv." "The center is currently on fire," it added. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Defense said that Tehran "used one of our qualitative missiles for the first time, and the Zionist regime was unable to detect it." "The enemy cannot withstand a long war, and we will break the back of the Zionist regime," he added. Rockets rain down on Tel Aviv in the morning of the fifth day. 12:11 Iranian media are reporting that three people were rescued from the rubble of a residential building that was struck by the Israeli military. The IRNA news agency published footage of the Red Crescent rescue operation, but did not provide further details. 12:00 More than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan since Israel began attacking the country last Friday, a government official in Baku said. "Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan," the government source told AFP. "Evacuees are transported from the border to Baku International Airport and flown to their home countries on international flights." 11:45 The Thai government has ordered its military to prepare planes to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran, a spokesperson said Tuesday, as the two sides exchanged missile fire for a fifth day, AFP reports. An estimated 40,000 Thai nationals currently live in Israel, most working on farms under a government labour scheme, and about 300 nationals live in Iran. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub told reporters after a cabinet meeting, "We are ready to evacuate people and have coordinated with the military to prepare planes to bring them home from Israel and Iran". 11:00 Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský said he looks forward to Egypt's assistance in evacuating Czech nationals from Israel through Egyptian territory. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the request came during a phone call between Lipavský and Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Monday, 16 June. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via social platform X that the country will dispatch a repatriation flight on Monday to evacuate its citizens from Israel. The ministry also updated its travel advisories, urging citizens to avoid travel to Israel. On Friday, Czech nationals were strongly advised to leave Iran immediately. According to Czech media reports, approximately 144 Czech citizens are currently in Israel, 50 in Jordan, 55 in Lebanon, and two in Iran. 10:55 Iran said it destroyed strategic targets in Israel overnight using drones. "Various types of destructive drones, equipped with precise destruction and targeting capabilities, destroyed strategic positions of the Zionist regime in Tel Aviv and Haifa," General Kioumars Heidari, commander of the army's ground forces, was quoted as saying by state television. 10:50 China accused Donald Trump of "pouring oil" on the mounting conflict between Iran and Israel, after he warned Tehran residents to "immediately evacuate". "Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said when asked about Trump's remarks at a regular news conference. 10:40 US President Donald Trump said he wanted a 'real end' to the nuclear problem with Iran, with Iran 'giving up entirely' on nuclear weapons, according to comments that a CBS News reporter on X posted. He wanted 'better than a ceasefire," he said. He was still somewhat opaque when reporters pressed about what that might mean. CBS News reporter said Trump made the comments during his midnight departure from Canada, where he attended the Group of Seven nations summit. He predicted that Israel would not be slowing its attacks on Iran. He said, "You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far". The president added that he 'may' send US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff or vice-president JD Vance to meet with Iran. However, he said, 'It depends on what happens when I get back'. Asked whether US involvement would destroy the Iranian nuclear programme, he said he hoped their programme would be 'wiped out long before that' 10:12 Two explosions were heard in Iran's northwestern Tabriz City. "Two explosions occurred in Tabriz five minutes apart," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. "Thick smoke was seen around Tabriz Tuesday morning after the explosion," Mehr news agency reported, publishing a video from the city, which lies more than 600 kilometres (375 miles) from Tehran and is home to a significant air force base targeted by Israel in recent days. The news agency also said that an Israeli projectile hit a checkpoint in the city of Kashan in the central province of Isfahan this morning, killing at least three people and wounding four others. The agency quoted Akbar Salehi, deputy security officer to the governor of Isfahan. 10:10 Israel's army warned that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran, but now dropped an alert and said people no longer needed to take cover. "It is now permitted to leave protected spaces in northern Israel," the Israeli army said on Telegram. It had previously warned that missiles launched from Iran were heading toward northern Israel, saying it was working to intercept the threat. Search and rescue teams are operating in several locations where 'reports of fallen projectiles were received', an Israeli police statement said. 'Missiles and shrapnel fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries,' it added. 09:41 Oil prices rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump urged Tehran residents to evacuate, stoking fresh fears of all-out war. On Tuesday, oil prices spiked around two percent before paring some gains. Still, the comments kept investors on edge amid warnings that an escalation of the crisis could send the commodity soaring again. 09:27 The Israeli army claimed it killed Iran's top military commander, Ali Shadmani, in an overnight strike, calling him the closest figure to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement, the military said following "a sudden opportunity overnight, the (Israeli air force) struck a staffed command centre in the heart of Tehran" and assassinated Shadmani, the wartime Chief of Staff. 09:05 Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, AFP journalists reported, after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the army warned of incoming Iranian missiles. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement, adding that the air force was "operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat." 09:03 Israel's army said it conducted "several extensive strikes" on military targets in western Iran overnight, as the arch-foes traded fire for a fifth straight day. "During the strikes, dozens of surface-to-surface missile storage and launch infrastructure were struck," the army claimed in a statement. "In addition, surface-to-air missile launchers and UAV storage sites were struck in western Iran," it added. After a new wave of mutual strikes, both countries activated their missile defence systems overnight into Tuesday, with Israel's army urging residents to seek shelter from incoming Iranian missiles several times during the night. 09:00 US President Donald Trump denied reports that he had rushed back to Washington from the G7 summit in Canada to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying his early departure 'has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,' without elaborating. "Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!" Macron had suggested that the United States was ready to make a diplomatic overture to Iran. "There was an offer made for a meeting and an exchange," Macron told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Iran armed forces urge evacuation of residents in major Israeli cities - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides wage deadly strikes against one another for a fifth day. Related Tel Aviv restricts Israelis' departure as conflict with Tehran enters 4th day - as it happened Egypt among 21 countries urging de-escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran OIC broadcasting union condemns Israeli strike on Iranian state TV headquarters Israel escalated its 'Operation Rising Lion' on Tehran five days after bombing residential and military areas in Iran, killing at least 224 people and wounding over 1,200. As US President Donald Trump urged residents to evacuate—echoing Israeli calls for 330,000 people to leave central Tehran—the capital began to empty, with shops shuttered and traffic clogging westbound roads. In retaliation, Iran intensified its 'Operation True Promise III,' launching multiple waves of missiles into central Israel, where large explosions were reported overnight and air raid sirens wailed throughout the night. Earlier Iranian strikes forced the shutdown of the Haifa oil refinery, other industrial facilities, and the local power plant. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel, with hundreds more wounded. Meanwhile, Israel has imposed a ban on live TV feed streaming, preventing networks from broadcasting images of incoming Iranian missiles and the damage caused by the strikes. The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departed Southeast Asia as the Pentagon announced the deployment of 'additional capabilities' to the Middle East. Israeli Channel 11 claimed US forces had begun attacking targets inside Iran, an allegation Washington denied, stating American forces in the region remain in a "defensive posture and that has not changed." 20:30 Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, urged residents of the major Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv to evacuate, warning of imminent "punitive" attacks. "Punitive operations will be carried out soon," Mousavi said in a video statement carried by state TV on the fifth day of the deadly confrontation triggered by Israeli air raid on Friday. He added that previous attacks on Israel have so far only been for "deterrence" purposes. Referring to Israel, Mousavi said that "residents of the occupied territories, especially Tel Aviv and Haifa, are strongly urged to leave these areas for the sake of their lives". Mousavi told Israelis not to "fall victim" to "animalistic desires" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which Tehran blames for the escalation. 19:40 US President Donald Trump issued a series of posts on Truth Social warning Iran's leadership and declaring American air dominance. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' he wrote, adding that while the US could target him, 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' Trump warned that 'our patience is wearing thin' amid continued threats to civilians and U.S. forces. In a separate post, Trump proclaimed 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' and asserted that the US now has 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' 18:55 Iran launched a new wave of attacks targeting Israel, state TV reported, as fighting between the longtime foes raged for a fifth straight day. "The tenth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 against the occupied territories (Israel) has begun," state TV said, with the Tasnim news agency reporting that the new barrage consisted of "drone and missile attacks" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 18:43 Iranian media reported widespread internet disruption on Tuesday as Israel and Iran traded fire for a fifth straight day. "Internet users in several provinces are reporting widespread internet disruption," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. Other media carried similar reports. It was not immediately clear what caused the disruption. Iran has imposed internet restrictions since Israel launched its unprecedented aerial campaign against Iranian military and nuclear facilities on Friday. 18:27 President Donald Trump may decide that "further action" is needed to stop Iran's nuclear program, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday, responding to speculation that the United States could intervene in the conflict. "The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide to take further action to end Iranian enrichment," Vance said in a post on X. Emphasizing that 'whatever he does, that is his focus,' Vance stressed that Trump would act solely to advance 'the American people's goals.' 'The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment,' Vance wrote. Vance dismissed Iran's claims to peaceful nuclear energy, saying enrichment levels had 'far exceeded' civilian use and accused Tehran of violating its obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use,' he wrote. 18:05 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed deep alarm Monday over the killing of three Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) aid workers, bringing the death toll among IRCS personnel to four in just five days. 'We are deeply appalled by the tragic loss of three aid workers,' the ICRC said in a tweet, highlighting that these individuals were killed while carrying out lifesaving humanitarian work. The organization stressed that 'humanitarian workers are trying tirelessly to meet the growing needs resulting from the latest escalation of the conflict,' and called for all efforts to be made to ensure their safety. The ICRC extended its condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those killed. 📍 Iran | We are appalled by the killing of three aid workers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (@Iran_RCS) while they were carrying out their humanitarian work. Our condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues. — ICRC (@ICRC) June 17, 2025 17:40 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Israel's 16 June airstrike on Iran's State broadcaster, IRIB, in Tehran, which killed at least two journalists during a live broadcast. The strike followed an Israeli evacuation warning and a statement by Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Iran's State television and radio were 'about to disappear.' 'This was a targeted attack on a media facility, and we mourn the loss of our two colleagues,' said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. 'Under international law, journalists are civilians, and deliberate attacks against them constitute war crimes.' The IFJ urged all parties to stop targeting journalists and media infrastructure, asserting that 'claiming a media outlet's editorial line is hostile to your cause does not justify an attack.' The Federation demanded accountability, calling for those responsible to be brought before international criminal courts. Reaffirming its Global Charter of Ethics, the IFJ called on journalists covering the conflict to uphold professional standards. It emphasized the duty to respect facts (Article 1), verify information despite urgency (Article 5), and avoid spreading hatred or discrimination (Article 9). Smoke billows from an explosion in southwest Tehran. AFP 17:10 The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned Tuesday that the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran is endangering civilian lives and public health across the region. 'The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children,' he wrote on X. 'The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing.' Tedros emphasized WHO's specific concern over recent attacks on nuclear infrastructure, noting that 'the targeting of nuclear sites may have immediate and long-term impacts on the environment and health of people in Iran and across the region.' The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children. The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing. @WHO's particular concern is the targeting of nuclear sites, which may have… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) June 17, 2025 17:30 Air raid sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area and parts of northern Israel on Tuesday, the military said, after warning of a fresh salvo of incoming missiles fired from Iran. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the state of Israel," a statement from the military said, with residents of the Tel Aviv area and parts of the north urged to seek shelter. بالفيديو | أضرار في موقف حافلات في "تل أبيب" الكبرى، بعد سقوط صاروخ إيراني — وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 17, 2025 17:00 Iranian media said several blasts were heard on Tuesday in the central city of Isfahan, which hosts multiple nuclear facilities, as Israel kept up its strikes for a fifth day. "Several explosions were heard in the east and north of Isfahan and air defences were activated against the hostile targets," the Mehr news agency reported. 16:30 US President Donald Trump said he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as the arch foes traded fire for a fifth day on Tuesday. Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace. "I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," he told reporters on the plane home after cutting short his attendance at a Group of Seven summit in Canada. Trump again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle East, saying "we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off". 16:00 Qatar has been monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli air strikes pound Iranian nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "We are monitoring this on a daily basis," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference. "We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences." "We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region," Ansari said. "The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf." Ansari said Qatar's own facilities in the field were "secure" but condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure as "reckless". 15:28 The International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday it believes Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz enrichment site have had 'direct impacts' on the facility's underground centrifuge halls. This marks the first time the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has assessed damage from the strikes in the underground parts of Natanz, which is the main enrichment facility of Iran's nuclear program. 'Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,' the agency said. Already, an above-ground enrichment hall had been destroyed, as well as electrical equipment that powered the facility. 14:25 Two loud explosions were heard from central and north Tehran on Tuesday, AFP correspondents reported, as the Iranian capital came under Israeli bombardment for a fifth straight day. There was no immediate comment on the cause or precise whereabouts of the twin blasts, which came after the Israeli military struck state television headquarters on Monday, causing significant damage and killing at least three people, the broadcaster said. Smoke plumes arise from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) corporation building in the north of Tehran after it was hit by an overnight Israeli strike. AFP 14:39 Flights carrying evacuees from Israel have arrived in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, authorities said on Tuesday, putting the two countries among the first to bring citizens home, Reuters said. Slovak authorities said the first evacuation flight with 73 people, including 25 Slovak tourists and five family members of Slovak diplomats working in Tel Aviv, had arrived in the capital Bratislava late on Monday. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said Slovakia had also helped bring citizens of other countries to Europe, including 15 Poles, mainly children, 14 Czechs, nine Austrians, two Slovenians and one citizen each of Estonia, Spain and Malaysia. Another Central European country, Poland, said that the evacuation of 200 Poles from Israel was planned for Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, the Polish foreign ministry said it planned to use two planes from Egypt and Jordan for the evacuation, the first of which would take off on Wednesday. People arrive with their luggage before the departure of a bus slated to evacuate foreign passport holders, mainly European and Polish, out of Israel, at a bus stop in Tel Aviv. AFP 14:21 Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that a growing number of Israelis are fleeing the country by sea to Cyprus or via private flights, defying new government-imposed travel restrictions that bar citizens from leaving amid the deepening regional conflict. The Israeli government has instructed domestic airlines not to allow citizens to depart on repatriation flights. Transport Minister Miri Regev claimed the measure was meant to prevent overcrowding at airports and prioritize the return of over 100,000 Israelis stranded abroad since Israel launched strikes on Iran last Friday. Israel's airspace has been closed since the start of the escalation, and national carrier El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through 17 June, with further cancellations until at least 23 June. The airline is reportedly reallocating aircraft for repatriation missions. However, the fact that only foreign nationals are being permitted to leave has raised questions about whether authorities are trying to suppress images of a mass exodus. This isn't the first sign. Following the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, over 12,000 Israelis permanently left the country in that month alone—four times the number from the previous year, according to AP. Another estimated 30,000 departed over the following five months, with fewer citizens choosing to return. 14:03 Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said in a speech in European parliament, Reuters reports. "With Israel's expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end," the Jordanian monarch said. "And that is a threat to people everywhere. Ultimately, this conflict must end", the Jordanian King added. 13:50 US President Donald Trump disputed his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on how Iran's nuclear capabilities were developed and said Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon when Israel struck in recent days. Asked where he stands on how close Iran was to getting a nuclear deal, given what Gabbard testified just months ago, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, 'Very close.' When pressed on Gabbard's testimony that they weren't, Trump said, 'I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.' Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community 'continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003. A new CNN investigation has revealed a significant gap between Israeli rhetoric and US intelligence assessments regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. 13:43 Russia said it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but that Israel was showing reluctance to accept outside mediation. "At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 13:05 A cyberattack on crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's vital state-owned banks, Fars news agency reported. "A cyberattack targeted the infrastructure of Sepah Bank, causing disruptions to the institution's online services," said the Iranian agency, adding the issue was expected to be resolved within the next few hours. 13:00 The Israeli ambassador to Washington threatened Tehran, saying the "Pagers" operation against Hezbollah would be minor compared to "the major surprise" Israel is preparing against Iran this week. 12:55 Iranian police announced the arrest of an Israeli Mossad agent in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, on charges of manufacturing and testing explosives. 12:27 Iran Revolutionary Guards said it had targeted a center belonging to Israel's spy agency in Tel Aviv, Mossad. In a statement read on state television, the Guard said it had 'struck a military intelligence center of the Zionist entity's army, Aman, and the Zionist regime's terrorist operations planning centre, the Mossad, in Tel Aviv." "The center is currently on fire," it added. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Defense said that Tehran "used one of our qualitative missiles for the first time, and the Zionist regime was unable to detect it." "The enemy cannot withstand a long war, and we will break the back of the Zionist regime," he added. Rockets rain down on Tel Aviv in the morning of the fifth day. 12:11 Iranian media are reporting that three people were rescued from the rubble of a residential building that was struck by the Israeli military. The IRNA news agency published footage of the Red Crescent rescue operation, but did not provide further details. 12:00 More than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan since Israel began attacking the country last Friday, a government official in Baku said. "Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan," the government source told AFP. "Evacuees are transported from the border to Baku International Airport and flown to their home countries on international flights." 11:45 The Thai government has ordered its military to prepare planes to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran, a spokesperson said Tuesday, as the two sides exchanged missile fire for a fifth day, AFP reports. An estimated 40,000 Thai nationals currently live in Israel, most working on farms under a government labour scheme, and about 300 nationals live in Iran. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub told reporters after a cabinet meeting, "We are ready to evacuate people and have coordinated with the military to prepare planes to bring them home from Israel and Iran". 11:00 Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský said he looks forward to Egypt's assistance in evacuating Czech nationals from Israel through Egyptian territory. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the request came during a phone call between Lipavský and Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Monday, 16 June. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via social platform X that the country will dispatch a repatriation flight on Monday to evacuate its citizens from Israel. The ministry also updated its travel advisories, urging citizens to avoid travel to Israel. On Friday, Czech nationals were strongly advised to leave Iran immediately. According to Czech media reports, approximately 144 Czech citizens are currently in Israel, 50 in Jordan, 55 in Lebanon, and two in Iran. 10:55 Iran said it destroyed strategic targets in Israel overnight using drones. "Various types of destructive drones, equipped with precise destruction and targeting capabilities, destroyed strategic positions of the Zionist regime in Tel Aviv and Haifa," General Kioumars Heidari, commander of the army's ground forces, was quoted as saying by state television. 10:50 China accused Donald Trump of "pouring oil" on the mounting conflict between Iran and Israel, after he warned Tehran residents to "immediately evacuate". "Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said when asked about Trump's remarks at a regular news conference. 10:40 US President Donald Trump said he wanted a 'real end' to the nuclear problem with Iran, with Iran 'giving up entirely' on nuclear weapons, according to comments that a CBS News reporter on X posted. He wanted 'better than a ceasefire," he said. He was still somewhat opaque when reporters pressed about what that might mean. CBS News reporter said Trump made the comments during his midnight departure from Canada, where he attended the Group of Seven nations summit. He predicted that Israel would not be slowing its attacks on Iran. He said, "You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far". The president added that he 'may' send US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff or vice-president JD Vance to meet with Iran. However, he said, 'It depends on what happens when I get back'. Asked whether US involvement would destroy the Iranian nuclear programme, he said he hoped their programme would be 'wiped out long before that' 10:12 Two explosions were heard in Iran's northwestern Tabriz City. "Two explosions occurred in Tabriz five minutes apart," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. "Thick smoke was seen around Tabriz Tuesday morning after the explosion," Mehr news agency reported, publishing a video from the city, which lies more than 600 kilometres (375 miles) from Tehran and is home to a significant air force base targeted by Israel in recent days. The news agency also said that an Israeli projectile hit a checkpoint in the city of Kashan in the central province of Isfahan this morning, killing at least three people and wounding four others. The agency quoted Akbar Salehi, deputy security officer to the governor of Isfahan. 10:10 Israel's army warned that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran, but now dropped an alert and said people no longer needed to take cover. "It is now permitted to leave protected spaces in northern Israel," the Israeli army said on Telegram. It had previously warned that missiles launched from Iran were heading toward northern Israel, saying it was working to intercept the threat. Search and rescue teams are operating in several locations where 'reports of fallen projectiles were received', an Israeli police statement said. 'Missiles and shrapnel fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries,' it added. 09:41 Oil prices rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump urged Tehran residents to evacuate, stoking fresh fears of all-out war. On Tuesday, oil prices spiked around two percent before paring some gains. Still, the comments kept investors on edge amid warnings that an escalation of the crisis could send the commodity soaring again. 09:27 The Israeli army claimed it killed Iran's top military commander, Ali Shadmani, in an overnight strike, calling him the closest figure to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement, the military said following "a sudden opportunity overnight, the (Israeli air force) struck a staffed command centre in the heart of Tehran" and assassinated Shadmani, the wartime Chief of Staff. 09:05 Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, AFP journalists reported, after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the army warned of incoming Iranian missiles. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement, adding that the air force was "operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat." 09:03 Israel's army said it conducted "several extensive strikes" on military targets in western Iran overnight, as the arch-foes traded fire for a fifth straight day. "During the strikes, dozens of surface-to-surface missile storage and launch infrastructure were struck," the army claimed in a statement. "In addition, surface-to-air missile launchers and UAV storage sites were struck in western Iran," it added. After a new wave of mutual strikes, both countries activated their missile defence systems overnight into Tuesday, with Israel's army urging residents to seek shelter from incoming Iranian missiles several times during the night. 09:00 US President Donald Trump denied reports that he had rushed back to Washington from the G7 summit in Canada to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying his early departure 'has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,' without elaborating. "Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!" Macron had suggested that the United States was ready to make a diplomatic overture to Iran. "There was an offer made for a meeting and an exchange," Macron told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Iran announces new wave of attacks on Israel - Region
Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides wage deadly strikes against one another for a fifth day. Related Tel Aviv restricts Israelis' departure as conflict with Tehran enters 4th day - as it happened Egypt among 21 countries urging de-escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran OIC broadcasting union condemns Israeli strike on Iranian state TV headquarters Israel escalated its 'Operation Rising Lion' on Tehran five days after bombing residential and military areas in Iran, killing at least 224 people and wounding over 1,200. As US President Donald Trump urged residents to evacuate—echoing Israeli calls for 330,000 people to leave central Tehran—the capital began to empty, with shops shuttered and traffic clogging westbound roads. In retaliation, Iran intensified its 'Operation True Promise III,' launching multiple waves of missiles into central Israel, where large explosions were reported overnight and air raid sirens wailed throughout the night. Earlier Iranian strikes forced the shutdown of the Haifa oil refinery, other industrial facilities, and the local power plant. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel, with hundreds more wounded. Meanwhile, Israel has imposed a ban on live TV feed streaming, preventing networks from broadcasting images of incoming Iranian missiles and the damage caused by the strikes. The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departed Southeast Asia as the Pentagon announced the deployment of 'additional capabilities' to the Middle East. Israeli Channel 11 claimed US forces had begun attacking targets inside Iran, an allegation Washington denied, stating American forces in the region remain in a "defensive posture and that has not changed." 19:40 US President Donald Trump issued a series of posts on Truth Social warning Iran's leadership and declaring American air dominance. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' he wrote, adding that while the US could target him, 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' Trump warned that 'our patience is wearing thin' amid continued threats to civilians and U.S. forces. In a separate post, Trump proclaimed 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' and asserted that the US now has 'complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' 18:55 Iran launched a new wave of attacks targeting Israel, state TV reported, as fighting between the longtime foes raged for a fifth straight day. "The tenth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 against the occupied territories (Israel) has begun," state TV said, with the Tasnim news agency reporting that the new barrage consisted of "drone and missile attacks" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 18:43 Iranian media reported widespread internet disruption on Tuesday as Israel and Iran traded fire for a fifth straight day. "Internet users in several provinces are reporting widespread internet disruption," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. Other media carried similar reports. It was not immediately clear what caused the disruption. Iran has imposed internet restrictions since Israel launched its unprecedented aerial campaign against Iranian military and nuclear facilities on Friday. 18:27 President Donald Trump may decide that "further action" is needed to stop Iran's nuclear program, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday, responding to speculation that the United States could intervene in the conflict. "The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide to take further action to end Iranian enrichment," Vance said in a post on X. Emphasizing that 'whatever he does, that is his focus,' Vance stressed that Trump would act solely to advance 'the American people's goals.' 'The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment,' Vance wrote. Vance dismissed Iran's claims to peaceful nuclear energy, saying enrichment levels had 'far exceeded' civilian use and accused Tehran of violating its obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use,' he wrote. 18:05 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed deep alarm Monday over the killing of three Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) aid workers, bringing the death toll among IRCS personnel to four in just five days. 'We are deeply appalled by the tragic loss of three aid workers,' the ICRC said in a tweet, highlighting that these individuals were killed while carrying out lifesaving humanitarian work. The organization stressed that 'humanitarian workers are trying tirelessly to meet the growing needs resulting from the latest escalation of the conflict,' and called for all efforts to be made to ensure their safety. The ICRC extended its condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those killed. 📍 Iran | We are appalled by the killing of three aid workers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (@Iran_RCS) while they were carrying out their humanitarian work. Our condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues. — ICRC (@ICRC) June 17, 2025 17:40 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Israel's 16 June airstrike on Iran's State broadcaster, IRIB, in Tehran, which killed at least two journalists during a live broadcast. The strike followed an Israeli evacuation warning and a statement by Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Iran's State television and radio were 'about to disappear.' 'This was a targeted attack on a media facility, and we mourn the loss of our two colleagues,' said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. 'Under international law, journalists are civilians, and deliberate attacks against them constitute war crimes.' The IFJ urged all parties to stop targeting journalists and media infrastructure, asserting that 'claiming a media outlet's editorial line is hostile to your cause does not justify an attack.' The Federation demanded accountability, calling for those responsible to be brought before international criminal courts. Reaffirming its Global Charter of Ethics, the IFJ called on journalists covering the conflict to uphold professional standards. It emphasized the duty to respect facts (Article 1), verify information despite urgency (Article 5), and avoid spreading hatred or discrimination (Article 9). Smoke billows from an explosion in southwest Tehran. AFP 17:10 The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned Tuesday that the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran is endangering civilian lives and public health across the region. 'The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children,' he wrote on X. 'The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing.' Tedros emphasized WHO's specific concern over recent attacks on nuclear infrastructure, noting that 'the targeting of nuclear sites may have immediate and long-term impacts on the environment and health of people in Iran and across the region.' The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning — and is costing the lives of civilians, including children. The growing number of injured civilians are also distressing. @WHO's particular concern is the targeting of nuclear sites, which may have… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) June 17, 2025 17:30 Air raid sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area and parts of northern Israel on Tuesday, the military said, after warning of a fresh salvo of incoming missiles fired from Iran. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the state of Israel," a statement from the military said, with residents of the Tel Aviv area and parts of the north urged to seek shelter. بالفيديو | أضرار في موقف حافلات في "تل أبيب" الكبرى، بعد سقوط صاروخ إيراني — وكالة تسنيم للأنباء (@Tasnimarabic) June 17, 2025 17:00 Iranian media said several blasts were heard on Tuesday in the central city of Isfahan, which hosts multiple nuclear facilities, as Israel kept up its strikes for a fifth day. "Several explosions were heard in the east and north of Isfahan and air defences were activated against the hostile targets," the Mehr news agency reported. 16:30 US President Donald Trump said he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as the arch foes traded fire for a fifth day on Tuesday. Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace. "I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," he told reporters on the plane home after cutting short his attendance at a Group of Seven summit in Canada. Trump again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle East, saying "we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off". 16:00 Qatar has been monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli air strikes pound Iranian nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "We are monitoring this on a daily basis," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference. "We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences." "We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region," Ansari said. "The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf." Ansari said Qatar's own facilities in the field were "secure" but condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure as "reckless". 15:28 The International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday it believes Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz enrichment site have had 'direct impacts' on the facility's underground centrifuge halls. This marks the first time the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has assessed damage from the strikes in the underground parts of Natanz, which is the main enrichment facility of Iran's nuclear program. 'Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,' the agency said. Already, an above-ground enrichment hall had been destroyed, as well as electrical equipment that powered the facility. 14:25 Two loud explosions were heard from central and north Tehran on Tuesday, AFP correspondents reported, as the Iranian capital came under Israeli bombardment for a fifth straight day. There was no immediate comment on the cause or precise whereabouts of the twin blasts, which came after the Israeli military struck state television headquarters on Monday, causing significant damage and killing at least three people, the broadcaster said. Smoke plumes arise from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) corporation building in the north of Tehran after it was hit by an overnight Israeli strike. AFP 14:39 Flights carrying evacuees from Israel have arrived in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, authorities said on Tuesday, putting the two countries among the first to bring citizens home, Reuters said. Slovak authorities said the first evacuation flight with 73 people, including 25 Slovak tourists and five family members of Slovak diplomats working in Tel Aviv, had arrived in the capital Bratislava late on Monday. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said Slovakia had also helped bring citizens of other countries to Europe, including 15 Poles, mainly children, 14 Czechs, nine Austrians, two Slovenians and one citizen each of Estonia, Spain and Malaysia. Another Central European country, Poland, said that the evacuation of 200 Poles from Israel was planned for Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, the Polish foreign ministry said it planned to use two planes from Egypt and Jordan for the evacuation, the first of which would take off on Wednesday. People arrive with their luggage before the departure of a bus slated to evacuate foreign passport holders, mainly European and Polish, out of Israel, at a bus stop in Tel Aviv. AFP 14:21 Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that a growing number of Israelis are fleeing the country by sea to Cyprus or via private flights, defying new government-imposed travel restrictions that bar citizens from leaving amid the deepening regional conflict. The Israeli government has instructed domestic airlines not to allow citizens to depart on repatriation flights. Transport Minister Miri Regev claimed the measure was meant to prevent overcrowding at airports and prioritize the return of over 100,000 Israelis stranded abroad since Israel launched strikes on Iran last Friday. Israel's airspace has been closed since the start of the escalation, and national carrier El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through 17 June, with further cancellations until at least 23 June. The airline is reportedly reallocating aircraft for repatriation missions. However, the fact that only foreign nationals are being permitted to leave has raised questions about whether authorities are trying to suppress images of a mass exodus. This isn't the first sign. Following the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, over 12,000 Israelis permanently left the country in that month alone—four times the number from the previous year, according to AP. Another estimated 30,000 departed over the following five months, with fewer citizens choosing to return. 14:03 Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said in a speech in European parliament, Reuters reports. "With Israel's expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end," the Jordanian monarch said. "And that is a threat to people everywhere. Ultimately, this conflict must end", the Jordanian King added. 13:50 US President Donald Trump disputed his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on how Iran's nuclear capabilities were developed and said Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon when Israel struck in recent days. Asked where he stands on how close Iran was to getting a nuclear deal, given what Gabbard testified just months ago, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, 'Very close.' When pressed on Gabbard's testimony that they weren't, Trump said, 'I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.' Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community 'continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003. A new CNN investigation has revealed a significant gap between Israeli rhetoric and US intelligence assessments regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. 13:43 Russia said it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but that Israel was showing reluctance to accept outside mediation. "At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 13:05 A cyberattack on crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's vital state-owned banks, Fars news agency reported. "A cyberattack targeted the infrastructure of Sepah Bank, causing disruptions to the institution's online services," said the Iranian agency, adding the issue was expected to be resolved within the next few hours. 13:00 The Israeli ambassador to Washington threatened Tehran, saying the "Pagers" operation against Hezbollah would be minor compared to "the major surprise" Israel is preparing against Iran this week. 12:55 Iranian police announced the arrest of an Israeli Mossad agent in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, on charges of manufacturing and testing explosives. 12:27 Iran Revolutionary Guards said it had targeted a center belonging to Israel's spy agency in Tel Aviv, Mossad. In a statement read on state television, the Guard said it had 'struck a military intelligence center of the Zionist entity's army, Aman, and the Zionist regime's terrorist operations planning centre, the Mossad, in Tel Aviv." "The center is currently on fire," it added. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Defense said that Tehran "used one of our qualitative missiles for the first time, and the Zionist regime was unable to detect it." "The enemy cannot withstand a long war, and we will break the back of the Zionist regime," he added. Rockets rain down on Tel Aviv in the morning of the fifth day. 12:11 Iranian media are reporting that three people were rescued from the rubble of a residential building that was struck by the Israeli military. The IRNA news agency published footage of the Red Crescent rescue operation, but did not provide further details. 12:00 More than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan since Israel began attacking the country last Friday, a government official in Baku said. "Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan," the government source told AFP. "Evacuees are transported from the border to Baku International Airport and flown to their home countries on international flights." 11:45 The Thai government has ordered its military to prepare planes to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran, a spokesperson said Tuesday, as the two sides exchanged missile fire for a fifth day, AFP reports. An estimated 40,000 Thai nationals currently live in Israel, most working on farms under a government labour scheme, and about 300 nationals live in Iran. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub told reporters after a cabinet meeting, "We are ready to evacuate people and have coordinated with the military to prepare planes to bring them home from Israel and Iran". 11:00 Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský said he looks forward to Egypt's assistance in evacuating Czech nationals from Israel through Egyptian territory. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the request came during a phone call between Lipavský and Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Monday, 16 June. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via social platform X that the country will dispatch a repatriation flight on Monday to evacuate its citizens from Israel. The ministry also updated its travel advisories, urging citizens to avoid travel to Israel. On Friday, Czech nationals were strongly advised to leave Iran immediately. According to Czech media reports, approximately 144 Czech citizens are currently in Israel, 50 in Jordan, 55 in Lebanon, and two in Iran. 10:55 Iran said it destroyed strategic targets in Israel overnight using drones. "Various types of destructive drones, equipped with precise destruction and targeting capabilities, destroyed strategic positions of the Zionist regime in Tel Aviv and Haifa," General Kioumars Heidari, commander of the army's ground forces, was quoted as saying by state television. 10:50 China accused Donald Trump of "pouring oil" on the mounting conflict between Iran and Israel, after he warned Tehran residents to "immediately evacuate". "Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said when asked about Trump's remarks at a regular news conference. 10:40 US President Donald Trump said he wanted a 'real end' to the nuclear problem with Iran, with Iran 'giving up entirely' on nuclear weapons, according to comments that a CBS News reporter on X posted. He wanted 'better than a ceasefire," he said. He was still somewhat opaque when reporters pressed about what that might mean. CBS News reporter said Trump made the comments during his midnight departure from Canada, where he attended the Group of Seven nations summit. He predicted that Israel would not be slowing its attacks on Iran. He said, "You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far". The president added that he 'may' send US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff or vice-president JD Vance to meet with Iran. However, he said, 'It depends on what happens when I get back'. Asked whether US involvement would destroy the Iranian nuclear programme, he said he hoped their programme would be 'wiped out long before that' 10:12 Two explosions were heard in Iran's northwestern Tabriz City. "Two explosions occurred in Tabriz five minutes apart," the Ham Mihan newspaper reported. "Thick smoke was seen around Tabriz Tuesday morning after the explosion," Mehr news agency reported, publishing a video from the city, which lies more than 600 kilometres (375 miles) from Tehran and is home to a significant air force base targeted by Israel in recent days. The news agency also said that an Israeli projectile hit a checkpoint in the city of Kashan in the central province of Isfahan this morning, killing at least three people and wounding four others. The agency quoted Akbar Salehi, deputy security officer to the governor of Isfahan. 10:10 Israel's army warned that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran, but now dropped an alert and said people no longer needed to take cover. "It is now permitted to leave protected spaces in northern Israel," the Israeli army said on Telegram. It had previously warned that missiles launched from Iran were heading toward northern Israel, saying it was working to intercept the threat. Search and rescue teams are operating in several locations where 'reports of fallen projectiles were received', an Israeli police statement said. 'Missiles and shrapnel fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries,' it added. 09:41 Oil prices rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump urged Tehran residents to evacuate, stoking fresh fears of all-out war. On Tuesday, oil prices spiked around two percent before paring some gains. Still, the comments kept investors on edge amid warnings that an escalation of the crisis could send the commodity soaring again. 09:27 The Israeli army claimed it killed Iran's top military commander, Ali Shadmani, in an overnight strike, calling him the closest figure to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement, the military said following "a sudden opportunity overnight, the (Israeli air force) struck a staffed command centre in the heart of Tehran" and assassinated Shadmani, the wartime Chief of Staff. 09:05 Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, AFP journalists reported, after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the army warned of incoming Iranian missiles. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement, adding that the air force was "operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat." 09:03 Israel's army said it conducted "several extensive strikes" on military targets in western Iran overnight, as the arch-foes traded fire for a fifth straight day. "During the strikes, dozens of surface-to-surface missile storage and launch infrastructure were struck," the army claimed in a statement. "In addition, surface-to-air missile launchers and UAV storage sites were struck in western Iran," it added. After a new wave of mutual strikes, both countries activated their missile defence systems overnight into Tuesday, with Israel's army urging residents to seek shelter from incoming Iranian missiles several times during the night. 09:00 US President Donald Trump denied reports that he had rushed back to Washington from the G7 summit in Canada to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying his early departure 'has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,' without elaborating. "Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!" Macron had suggested that the United States was ready to make a diplomatic overture to Iran. "There was an offer made for a meeting and an exchange," Macron told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
