After Missiles, Iran, Israel Throw Verbal Punches At UN Over Civilian Death Toll From Airstrikes
U.S. Consulate In Iraq Targeted; HUGE Explosion Caught On Camera Near Mission In Erbil
A shocking drone attack occurred near the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, just hours after a threat from the pro-Iran militia Kataib Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia's Al Hadath network reported that the drone was aimed directly at the American mission. Although the drone was intercepted, dramatic video footage captured a massive explosion moments after the attempted strike. The full extent of the damage has yet to be assessed, and regional tensions continue to rise amid growing threats to U.S. assets in the Middle East.
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India Today
27 minutes ago
- India Today
How Kashmir's aspiring doctors demand rescue from an alien war
As missiles fly overhead and smoke billows from the ruins all around, all that Moin Mushtaq, a third-year MBBS student at the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences holed up with six colleagues in a deserted dormitory, can see through the smashed windows are scenes of agony and devastation caused by the Israel-Iran conflict. 'This is hell, literally, with power outages and the internet going down,' the 22-year-old medical student from north Kashmir's Kupwara says on the phone late in the night on June 16, trying to speak over the noise of a missile attack on Iran's Ahvaz city. 'We're the only ones left behind. The locals and students from UAE and Pakistan have been evacuated.'Iran caters to a modest chunk of Kashmiri students—around 1,500 by unofficial estimates—mainly because the Valley's significant Shia population finds a cultural resonance of sorts in the Shiite-dominated Islamic Republic and students seeking an overseas education find its offerings affordable, especially in medicine, often with attractive scholarships. Now, with the Iran-Israel conflict spiralling into a full-blown war, Mushtaq's doctor dreams are teetering on the brink as he desperately seeks evacuation to India. 'We've been weeping and calling the Indian embassy for help but they only tell us to wait or travel 1,500 kilometres on our own to safety. How can we cover such a distance with the missiles, shells and drones over our heads?' he are four Kashmiri female students in the nearby girl's dormitory. Their internet is down; there is no electricity and the only line of communication is the phone—also in its last gasp as the recharging facilities are in ruins. Students in Ahvaz say the attacks are now directed at the city as it is the hub of oil-refineries and Iran's energy centre. 'We're counting our days, and each one feels like a year as we stare at our phones for help to come our way,' says another student in university, students say, is now making them sign an undertaking that they are staying in the dormitory even after all the academic activities have been shut. According to the declaration, a copy of which is with India Today, the students' decision to stay back is their own and the university is not accountable for Capital city Tehran has been the worst-hit due to Israeli missiles so far. Two Kashmiri students ended up with injuries to their arms and legs and scratches on their faces after a shell landed in the street beside the Hujjat Dost dormitory of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences on the evening of June the nearly 10,000 Indian citizens in Iran, in 2022 there were around 2,050 students, mostly in the medical domain, according to Ministry of External Affairs data. Since June 16, the Indian government has set the evacuation process in motion, prioritising the relocation of students from Tehran to the Qom and Ramsar cities 150-250 kilometres away. In Qom, over 600 students have been assembled in big halls with no connection to their families as the internet is unavailable.'We don't want to be huddled like this here while fearing for our lives,' says a 21-year-old medical student. 'No place is safe here. Our parents are worried and we just want to be home. The government should arrange special flights for us like it did during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.'Not everyone, though, can afford to return home. Many students, nearing the completion of their degrees, are desperately praying for a ceasefire to prevent their careers from plunging into uncertainty. 'I'm in my last year of MBBS and a ceasefire could save my career,' says Aayat, a third-year MBBS student at the Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, who was relocated to Qomb on the evening of June 16. 'Otherwise, no one knows what the future holds.'advertisementThe considerable number of Indian citizens, especially students, are keeping India's evacuation efforts racing against time as Iran and Israel pummel each other with missiles and drones in a major conflict that shows no signs of ebbing. Back home in Kashmir, the panicking parents are requesting the government to facilitate their children's return. 'Please evacuate our children. They've been getting panic attacks,' says a weeping Rehana, whose daughter studies medicine at the Shahid Beheshti University. 'They're having sleepless nights and we here lie helpless and in distress.'On June 16, a group of parents held a demonstration at Srinagar's Pratap Park, opposite the Press Enclave, seeking speedy evacuation of their children from Iran. In a statement on June 17, the Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian students have been moved out from Tehran, while advising other Indian citizens in the capital city to move out in view of the 'developing situation'. Some Indians, it said, have been facilitated in leaving Iran through the Armenian border from where, say sources, a direct flight to India will be to Armenia via the border route are 110 students, including 90 Kashmiris,' says Nasir Kheuhami, national convenor of the Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). 'We're in touch with all the stranded students on WhatsApp groups.'' On June 16, the JKSA wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing for 'urgent intervention and evacuation' of students in the wake of a 'humanitarian emergency'.While the Union ministry has set up a round-the-clock control room for the Indian citizens in Iran, the J&K government has also set up one in Srinagar. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has spoken to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar for the 'welfare and safety of Kashmiri students' in Iran. 'The Hon Minister assured me that @MEAIndia is in close contact with their counterparts in Iran & will take all necessary steps to safeguard all Indian students in Iran,' Abdullah said on X on the evening of June relocation efforts, since the morning of June 17, have been heightened by the Indian Embassy in Iran but there are still many, especially in high-risk areas in the outlier cities, awaiting help. Questions also loom over the government's evacuation plans for its citizens in the conflict-torn had stocked some eggs, potatoes and lentils that will last two more days,' says Mushtaq, stranded with his six colleagues in the dormitory. 'We have nothing to survive on thereafter.' Subscribe to India Today Magazine
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
News18 Evening Digest: Air India Cancels Flights, Trump On Iran-Israel Conflict & Other Top Stories
Last Updated: We are also covering: Trump's departure from G7 over Israel-Iran ceasefire, US intel counters Israel's claim on Iran nuclear weapons, and SC statement on Kamal Haasan's Thug Life. In today's digest, News18 brings you the latest on the emerging conflict in West Asia as the Iran-Israel conflict enters its fifth day. We are also covering PM Modi's visit to Canada for the G7 Summit and Air India's cancellation of international flights after the Ahmedabad. After the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of 242 people on board, Air India flights have seen a string of flight returns, technical issues, and delays caused by crew duty limits. Today, Air India cancelled three international flights as part of precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, following heightened safety scrutiny by aviation authorities in the aftermath of the Ahmedabad crash. READ MORE 'Much Bigger…': Trump Says He Didn't Leave G7 Over Israel-Iran Ceasefire, Teases 'Real End' US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the US is seeking more than just a ceasefire, aiming instead for a 'real and lasting end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump also posted on Truth Social that he had not contacted Iran for peace negotiations in any 'way, shape, or form", stating that the country 'should have taken the deal that was on the table". READ MORE Israel's recent strikes on Iran, which have killed hundreds of people and exacerbated fears of a regional war, were based on the pretext that Iran was very close to building a nuclear weapon, almost to the 'point of no return". A US assessment has determined that not only was Iran not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, it was also up to three years away from being able to produce and deliver one to a target of its choosing, four people familiar with the report told CNN. READ MORE Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, his first visit to Canada in a decade. The Prime Minister is set to discuss various topics of development, such as energy security, technology and innovation with world leaders. PM Modi, who is on a three-nation tour, on Monday evening (local time) arrived in Canada from Cyprus at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Kananaskis gathering, scheduled on June 16 and 17, is the Prime Minister's sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. READ MORE 'Mob Can't Decide': Supreme Court Slams Karnataka High Court For Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Ban The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka High Court and issued a notice in the case concerning the ban on the release of Kamal Haasan's Tamil film Thug Life in the state. The top court criticised the groups that have threatened to stall the film's release over the actor's controversial remarks in which he claimed that 'Kannada was born from Tamil". A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan said rule of law has to be established and guns cannot be put to people's heads to stop them from watching the movie. The court also pointed out that 'groups of hooligans" cannot be allowed to decide what gets screened in theatres. READ MORE Grammy-winning singer Shakira has voiced her concern about the challenges faced by immigrants in the United States due to President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies. As quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, in a recent interview, Shakira shared her experiences as a Colombian-born immigrant who moved to Miami as a teenager to pursue her music career. The 48-year-old star emphasised the importance of treating all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their legal status. 'It means living in constant fear," she said, describing the reality of being an immigrant in the US today, adding, 'And it's painful to see," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. READ MORE Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 17, 2025, 18:32 IST
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Israel hits the nuclear panic button, but US says Iran's years away, not minutes
Israel-Iran War: A new CNN investigation reveals deep divisions between US and Israeli assessments of Iran's nuclear programme. While Israel cites 'clear intelligence' to justify deadly airstrikes, US officials say Tehran is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons and is still up to three years away from building one. The strikes have killed over 220 civilians, damaged key facilities, and triggered a fierce missile exchange. But Iran's most fortified nuclear site remains intact and US support, not Israeli firepower, may be the only way to dismantle it. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Israel-Iran War: Civilian death toll mounts, key scientists killed Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fordow: Iran's fortress remains untouched Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Israel-Iran: Mixed signals from Washington US military struggles to stay out, but is already in When Israel launched its devastating strikes on Iran last week, it claimed Tehran was fast approaching the 'point of no return' in building a nuclear weapon. Israel's leadership said it had acted on 'clear intelligence' of an imminent nuclear threat. But US intelligence assessments tell a very different to four sources familiar with classified briefings, CNN reported that US intelligence agencies had found no evidence that Iran was actively working to build a nuclear weapon. Even if Iran were to make that decision now, the country would still need up to three years to develop and deliver a nuclear directly contradicts claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to Fox News, he insisted, 'The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear, was absolutely clear that they were working, in a secret plan to weaponise the uranium.'At least 224 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the Israeli strikes, according to Iran's embassy in New Delhi. Several top nuclear scientists and Iran's most senior military leaders were also reportedly among the operation, dubbed 'Rising Lion', targeted major facilities like the Natanz enrichment site and what Netanyahu described as 'the heart of Iran's ballistic missiles programme.' He vowed the campaign would continue 'for as many days as it takes.'Iran quickly responded by launching over 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, killing 24 and wounding more than 500, in the most intense regional exchange in the high number of casualties and extensive damage to Natanz, American officials say the impact on Iran's nuclear programme has been limited. A senior US official told CNN the strikes may have only set back Iran's capabilities by 'a matter of months.'Meanwhile, Fordow—an underground enrichment facility built deep into a mountain—remains undamaged. The site is considered nearly impenetrable without specialised US bunker-busting bombs and aerial support.'It comes back to one question: Fordow, Fordow, Fordow,' said Brett McGurk, former US diplomat to the Middle East and now a CNN analyst. 'That is something the United States can take out. That is something the Israelis will have a lot of difficulty doing.'He added, 'If this ends with Fordow intact, you could actually have a worse problem... You could actually have Iran more inclined to go to a nuclear weapon and they have that infrastructure intact.'President Donald Trump, who cut short his G7 Summit visit due to the crisis, posted in all caps on his Truth Social account: 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' He later denied leaving to broker a ceasefire, stating he wanted a 'real end.'Asked about how close Iran was to developing a nuclear weapon, despite Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's testimony to the contrary, Trump told reporters on Air Force One: 'Very close.' When pressed further, he said, 'I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.'Gabbard had testified in March: 'The US intelligence community continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised a nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2003.'The Trump administration is now walking a tightrope between deterring Iran and avoiding direct military involvement. Though officials say they don't want to support Israeli offensive actions, US Central Command has been repositioning assets to protect US forces and help defend Israel if US Navy ships reportedly intercepted missiles fired at Israel over the weekend. On Monday, a US official told CNN that the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group was en route to the Middle East 'without delay.'Meanwhile, Central Command head Gen. Michael Kurilla has pushed for more resources in the region. A source familiar with his thinking told CNN: '{Kurilla} would want to be prepared for the most challenging contingency.'The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said last week that Iran had enriched enough uranium to potentially make nine bombs, but not yet developed the means to deliver them. The real risk, some officials warn, is that the Israeli strikes could now push Iran to do what it had not done so far—actively weaponise its nuclear US intelligence source said: 'Iran is reeling. Not sure they have the capacity or expertise to do that anymore.'Diplomacy, for now, appears out of reach. A regional diplomat told CNN that Iran has informed Qatar and Oman it will not enter talks while under attack. Israel, too, has signalled no intention to pause its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a direct warning after the strikes, saying Israel would face 'severe punishment.'As the death toll climbs and US forces move closer to the battlefield, the question remains: Is anyone still interested in stopping the war, or just winning it?
