Israel to Khamenei: You will be held accountable
Shafaq News/ Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday accused Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of committing 'grave war crimes.'
In a post on X, Katz announced that the Israeli military will intensify its strikes against Iranian strategic and government sites deep inside Iran, including the capital Tehran.
'The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of a fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.'
'These are war crimes of the most serious kind,' he stressed, adding that ' Khamenei will be held accountable for his crimes.'
Katz confirmed that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had jointly directed the Israel Army to escalate military operations.
Earlier today, the Israeli Army spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin had stated that the Israeli Air Force was expanding its operations to strike 'deeper' within Iranian territory, including nuclear sites in Bushehr, Fordow, and Natanz, noting that Israel has 'additional targets planned.'
הדיקטטור האיראני הפחדן יושב במעמקי הבונקר הממוגן ויורה ירי מכוון לעבר בתי חולים ובנייני מגורים בישראל.אלה הם פשעי מלחמה מהסוג החמור ביותר - וחמינאי יתן את הדין על פשעיו.ראש הממשלה ואני הנחינו את צה"ל להגביר את עוצמת התקיפות נגד יעדים אסטרטגיים באיראן ונגד יעדים שלטוניים בטהרן…
— ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 19, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
True Promise 3: Iran launches new missile wave on Israel
Shafaq News/ Iran launched a fresh wave of missile attacks on southern Israel on Thursday as part of its ongoing retaliatory campaign known as 'True Promise 3,' Iranian state television reported. According to Israeli Channel 12, one missile struck the city of Beersheba directly, causing significant damage and civilian injuries. The Israeli ambulance service said five people were wounded in the attack, while 30 others were treated for panic-related symptoms. Israel Railways announced the closure of Beersheba's main train station after it sustained damage from the strike. Emergency responders on the scene reported 'visible destruction' at one building and 'major structural damage' to another. The renewed Iranian strikes come amid rising tensions and an ongoing cycle of military escalation between Iran and Israel. Tehran's True Promise campaign is framed as a direct response to Israel's Rising Lion operation, which targeted Iranian territory, killed senior commanders, and damaged critical infrastructure. Iran's Ministry of Health reported that since the start of the Israeli military campaign, 224 people have been killed and more than 1,800 injured. On the Israeli side, the country's Ministry of Health said at least 271 people were hospitalized on Thursday morning as a result of Iranian strikes. Channel 12 reported a total of 24 fatalities, 838 injuries, and the evacuation of around 5,000 residents from affected areas since the beginning of the conflict.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Multiple drones crash across Iraq
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, three unidentified drones crashed in separate locations across Iraq amid the escalating between Iran and Israel. In Erbil province, a drone exploded upon impact, with no casualties reported, while the drone's origin remain unknown. Elsewhere in al-Sulaymaniyah, a drone came down near a water pump in an agricultural zone in the Bangird subdistrict, whose administrator, Sirwan Sarhad, said caused no injuries or damage, noting the area's sparse population. Meanwhile, a third drone believed to match specifications of Iranian-made models fell in Mosul, and military engineers are preparing to detonate the device remotely. The near-simultaneous incidents have prompted defense officials to coordinate efforts to assess "possible links" between the crashes and to determine whether they signal a pattern of aerial infiltration. Now entering its eighth day, the confrontation has featured sustained missile and drone exchanges. Iran's latest barrage caused heavy damage in Tel Aviv and Beersheba, injuring 271 people, according to Israeli Channel 12.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Brent futures down nearly $2 after U.S. delays decision on direct Iran involvement
Shafaq News/ Brent crude prices pared gains from the previous session and fell nearly $2 on Friday after the White House delayed a decision on U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, but they were still poised for a third straight week in the black. Brent crude futures fell $1.89, or 2.4%, to $76.96 a barrel by 0255 GMT. On a weekly basis, it was up 3.8%. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for July - which did not settle on Thursday as it was a U.S. holiday and expires on Friday - was up 53 cents, or 0.7%, to $75.67. The more liquid WTI for August rose 0.2%, or 17 cents to $73.67. Prices jumped almost 3% on Thursday as Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran, and Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel after hitting an Israeli hospital overnight. The week-old war between Israel and Iran showed no signs of either side backing down. Brent futures trimmed previous session gains following the White House's comments that President Donald Trump will decide whether the U.S. will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks. "Oil prices surged amid fears of increased U.S. involvement in Israel's conflict with Iran. However, the White House press secretary later suggested there was still time for de-escalation," said Phil Flynn, analyst at The Price Futures Group. Iran is the third-largest producer among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day of crude oil. About 18 million to 21 million bpd of oil and oil products move through the Strait of Hormuz along Iran's southern coast, and there is widespread concern the fighting could disrupt trade flows in a blow to supplies. "The "two-week deadline" is a tactic Trump has used in other key decisions. Often these deadlines expire without concrete action,.. which would see the crude oil price remain elevated and potentially build on recent gains," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG.
