Latest news with #GavYam
Al Jazeera
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel-Iran conflict: List of key events, June 19, 2025
Here's where things stand on Thursday, June 19: A projectile fired by Iran struck the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel – one of the main hospitals where Israeli troops are sent – leaving dozens injured. IRNA, the Islamic Republic News Agency, said on Telegram that the 'main target' of Thursday's missile attack 'was the large [Israeli army] Command and Intelligence [IDF C4I] headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park', and not the hospital. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran would pay a 'heavy price' for the strike. Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Thursday that the change or fall of the Iranian regime was not a goal but could be a result. 'The matter of changing the regime or the fall of this regime is first and foremost a matter for the Iranian people. There is no substitute for this. And that's why I didn't present it as a goal. It could be a result, but it's not a stated or formal goal that we have,' he told Israeli public broadcaster Kan.
LBCI
8 hours ago
- Health
- LBCI
Tehran: Strike on Soroka Hospital targeted Israeli military base
Iran stated Thursday that the primary target of its missile strike in southern Israel was a military and intelligence facility, not Soroka Medical Center, which was damaged in the attack. The strike, which also hit two towns near Tel Aviv, left 47 people injured, according to Israeli emergency services. Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that the intended target was the Israeli Defense Forces' C4I command and intelligence base, located within the Gav-Yam technology complex near Soroka Hospital. The report emphasized that the hospital was affected only by the blast wave, while the 'precise and direct' target was the military installation. AFP
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israel issues death threat to Iran's supreme leader
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, 'can no longer be allowed to exist.' Previous media reports suggested that US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate him. Israel launched airstrikes last Friday targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and carried out targeted killings of senior military officials. The attacks elicited an Iranian response and the two countries have traded blows since. Katz made the statement following a missile strike that reportedly seriously damaged Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, a major city in southern Israel. Shlomi Codish, the hospital's director general, said the missile hit an old building that had been evacuated. 'There is widespread damage to other buildings at the hospital. All patients and all staff were in shelters,' Codish said. 'The several injured we have are lightly hurt, mostly from the blast shockwave.' Katz claimed Khamenei was personally ordering strikes on hospitals, which he asserted justified calling for the Iranian leader's death. He also accused Khamenei of seeking Israel's destruction. Iranian media, however, reported that the intended target was an Israeli military intelligence facility located in the Gav-Yam Negev Advanced Technologies Park, about 1.3km from the hospital. Reports from several Western outlets last week stated that Israel had consulted the US about a plan to assassinate Khamenei prior to the latest escalation. According to Axios, Trump rejected the idea, with US officials telling Israel, 'The Iranians haven't killed an American and discussion of killing political leaders should not be on the table.' In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Iran had tried to assassinate Trump twice and still considered him a target due to his firm stance against Tehran. The US authorities accused two individuals, one of them posthumously, in two separate cases of trying to assassinate Trump on his 2024 campaign trails, but linked neither to Tehran. US officials also claimed that Iran conspired with people in the US to kill Trump before his second election victory, which Tehran denied. Trump threatened Khamenei this week, stating on social media that he is 'an easy target, but is safe' because 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' He also demanded unconditional surrender from Iran.
Al Jazeera
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Iran launches missile attacks as Israel strikes nuclear sites
An Iranian missile slammed into the main hospital in southern Israel, wounding people and causing 'extensive damage,' according to the medical facility. However, IRNA, the Islamic Republic News Agency, has said on Telegram that the 'main target' of the missile attack early on Thursday 'was the large [Israeli army] Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park'. It said that this facility is located next to Soroka hospital in Be'er Sheva. IRNA claimed that the hospital only suffered minor damage from the shockwave resulting from the missile attack. 'The military infrastructure was a precise and direct target,' it said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and promised a response, saying: 'We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.' Another missile hit a high-rise building and several other residential buildings in at least two sites near Tel Aviv. At least 47 people were wounded in the attacks, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service. Israel, meanwhile, carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in its latest attack on the country's sprawling nuclear programme, on the seventh day of a conflict that began with a surprise wave of Israeli air strikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists. Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to stop it from being used to produce plutonium. Israel separately claimed to have struck another site around Natanz that it described as being related to Iran's nuclear programme. Iranian state TV said there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' from the attack on the Arak site. Israel is the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East – but does not acknowledge having such weapons.
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Israel To ‘Intensify Strikes' After Iranian Missile Hits Hospital (Live)
Israeli officials on Thursday said they moving to intensify strikes on 'strategic targets' in Iran, after a barrage of Iranian missiles injured dozens across the country and caused damage to a hospital building, as the conflict between the two countries continued to intensify while President Donald Trump left open the possibility the U.S. military striking Iran's nuclear facilities. June 19, 4 a.m. ETIranian state media claimed the main target of the missile attack which damaged a hospital in southern Israel was the 'vast command and intelligence base' of the Israeli military's C4i tech and communications unit and 'the campus of their military intelligence, located in the Gav-Yam technology park.' The hospital which was struck appears to be located less than two miles away from the Gav-Yam technology park. 3:30 a.m. ETIsrael's Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have ordered the country's military to 'intensify strikes against strategic targets' in Iran after the latest wave of missile attacks. Katz accused the Iranian Supreme Leader of committing the 'gravest of war crimes' and said 'The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of the fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.' 3 a.m. ETThe Soroka Medical Center, a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva was struck by an Iranian missile which caused 'extensive damage' but no serious injuries, according to authorities in Israel. The strike was the first time a hospital in Israel was struck by an Iranian missile since the conflict between the two countries began last week. Overall 65 people were injured across Israel in the latest barrage of missile strikes launched by Iran. June 18, 4:48 p.m. ETThe State Department is conducting the evacuations of nonessential diplomats, the Associated Press reported, noting diplomats were authorized to leave at the government's expense Wednesday (Forbes has reached out to the State Department for comment). June 18, 2:45 p.m. ETSome embassy personnel were evacuated from Israel via U.S. military aircraft, according to CNN, which reported earlier Wednesday a full evacuation of the embassy was not ordered and diplomats and family members were not required to leave. June 18, 10:39 a.m. ETThe Iranian Mission to the U.N. said 'no Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,' in a post on X responding to Trump's claim made minutes earlier that Iran had contacted his administration, writing 'the only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to 'take out' Iran's Supreme Leader.' June 18, 10:15 said 'You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question . . . I may do it, I may not do it, I mean nobody knows what I'm going to do,' when asked by a reporter at an unrelated White House event if the U.S. is moving closer to striking Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump said the Iranians have reached out to him and he told them 'it's very late to be talking . . . there's a big difference between now and a week ago,' referring to Iran's refusal to accept a deal with the U.S. to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon sooner. In subsequent comments, Trump said 'we're not looking for a long-term war . . . I only want one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,' while also elaborating on what he meant when he called for 'unconditional surrender' a day earlier: 'That means I've had it . . . I give up, no more. Then we go blow up all the nuclear stuff that's all over the place there.' June 18, 7 to a statement delivered via Iranian state media, the Supreme Leader said his country 'stands firm against an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace,' adding that Iran will 'not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition,' warning any U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict will undoubtedly lead to 'serious irreparable harm.' The Iranian leader also addressed President Trump's comments on Tuesday calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender,' saying those who know his country's history 'know that Iranians do not answer well to the language of threats.' June 18, 3 attacks from both sides continued early on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed Iran has launched more than 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since Friday. June 17, 6:30 House officials told multiple outlets Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday after a meeting with national security advisors, though the details of the conversation have not been publicly reported. June 17, 6 U.S. officials cited by Axios said Trump was seriously considering entering the conflict by launching strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. June 17, 12:19 warned on Truth Social earlier Tuesday: 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' referring to Khamenei, who is increasingly isolated after Israel assassinated several of his top generals, adding Khamenei is 'safe' and 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' but said 'our patience is wearing thin.' Tensions between Iran and Israel first erupted on Friday, when the Israel military carried out unilateral strikes against key nuclear facilities and killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Netanyahu claimed Israel's attack was an act of self defense as the Iranian nuclear program posed 'a danger to Israel's very survival.' On Monday, Trump exited the G7 summit earlier than scheduled and flew back from Canada to Washington as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, with the White House press secretary saying he left early 'because of what's going on in the Middle East.' Shortly before leaving the summit, Trump issued an ominous warning to residents of Tehran, Iran's capital, on Truth Social: 'Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON…Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' At the time, Trump did not specify why he called for an evacuation of the city of 10 million people, but when asked later, Trump said: 'I want people to be safe…That's always possible something could happen. I just want people to be safe.' The president spoke to reporters on board Air Force One on his return to Washington and said he wanted something better than a ceasefire 'An end. A real end, not a ceasefire, an end,' and signaled that a only complete 'give up' by Iran would be acceptable. In a earlier post Trump, said: 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured stuff. Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA.' In a third post Tuesday morning, Trump called for an 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' Trump has also warned Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or assets, saying if that happens 'we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off...I think they know not to touch our troops.' On Monday, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One on the way back to the U.S. from the summit in Canada he wanted to see an end to Iran's nuclear program and said he's 'not too much in the mood to negotiate now.' Trump attacked French President Emmanuel Macron on Truth Social, describing him as 'publicity seeking' after he said Trump was flying out of the G7 summit early to work out a cease fire between Israel and Iran and 'then kick-start broader discussions.' Trump said Macron 'has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire,' and claimed it was something 'Much bigger than that.' Trump departed the G7 Summit early and returned to Washington on Monday night to 'attend to many important matters,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Shortly before he left Canada, the president told reporters Iran 'want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.' Fox News reported on Monday evening that Trump had asked his national security to be present in the Situation Room when he returns to the White House. A U.S. official told reporters earlier on Monday Trump would not sign a draft statement of G7 leaders, which included a call for de-escalating the Israel-Iran conflict. The president eventually agreed to sign it after some changes were made to the statement's 'initial draft language,' according to the New York Times. The final statement notes: 'We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.' The statement affirms Israel's 'right to defend itself,' describes Iran as the 'principal source of regional instability and terror,' and notes 'Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.' It also calls for a resolution of the ongoing crisis and 'a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a cease fire in Gaza.' In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled he was open to talks resuming talks with the U.S. if Israel's strikes on Iran were halted. 'If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy,' he wrote. The post also attacked Netanyahu, calling him a 'war criminal.' Lawmakers Make Bipartisan Push To Restrict Trump From Going To War With Iran (Forbes) Iranian Missiles Cause 'Minor Damage' To US Embassy In Tel Aviv—Israel Targets Elite Quds Force HQ (Forbes) Israel Attacks Iranian State TV During Live Broadcast (Forbes)
