Latest news with #IranianMissiles
Russia Today
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israel covered up Iranian hits on military sites
Israel concealed that Iranian missiles hit several key military sites across the country during the recent 12-day war, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing radar data. The data, provided to the British paper by Oregon State University researchers who track bomb damage using satellite radar, indicates that six Iranian missiles hit five military facilities in the north, south, and center of Israel, including a major air base, an intelligence gathering center, and a logistics base. The extent of the reported damage is unclear. However, the hits were not publicly reported due to heavy military censorship, according to the report. When pressed on the issue, the Israel Defense Forces, declined to comment, only saying that 'all relevant units maintained functional continuity throughout the operation.' Analysis cited by The Telegraph suggests that Israeli and US air defenses generally performed well, intercepting most of the incoming fire, although the share of missiles that penetrated through Israeli defenses rose to about 16% by the seventh day. The paper noted that this could have been linked with Israeli attempts to conserve ammunition, improved tactics by Iran, or the deployment of more advanced and harder-to-intercept weaponry. The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, top Iranian commanders, and military sites, triggering retaliation by Tehran. Israeli officials reported 29 deaths and over 3,200 injuries, while Iran estimated over 900 deaths and 4,700 injuries. The US eventually joined the conflict by deploying heavy bombers against key Iranian nuclear sites. After a ceasefire was reached, both sides proclaimed victory. The hostilities started after Iran declined a US demand to abandon its enrichment capabilities, which Washington believes could enable Tehran to create nuclear weapons. Iran has denied plans to create an atomic weapon, insisting that its nuclear program only serves peaceful purposes.
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Iran struck five Israeli military bases during 12-day war
Iranian missiles appear to have directly hit five Israeli military facilities during the recent 12-day war, according to radar data seen by The Telegraph. The strikes have not been made public by the Israeli authorities and cannot be reported from within the country because of strict military censorship laws. They will further complicate the battle of words between the enemies, with both sides attempting to claim absolute victory. The new data were shared with The Telegraph by US academics at Oregon State University, who specialise in using satellite radar data to detect bomb damage in war zones. It suggests five previously unreported military facilities were hit by six Iranian missiles in the north, south and centre of Israel, including a major air base, an intelligence gathering centre and a logistics base. Approached by The Telegraph on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would not comment on missile interception rates or damage to its bases. 'What we can say is that all relevant units maintained functional continuity throughout the operation,' said a spokesman. The strikes on the military facilities are in addition to 36 others known to have pierced Israeli air-defence systems, causing significant damage to residential and industrial infrastructure. Despite the considerable damage to residential property across the country, only 28 Israelis died – a testament to the country's sophisticated alert system and the disciplined use of bomb shelters and safe rooms by the population. Analysis by The Telegraph suggests that while the vast majority of Iranian missiles were intercepted, the proportion that got through grew steadily in the first eight days of the 12-day war. The reasons for this, say experts, are not clear but may include the rationing of a limited stock of interceptor missiles on the Israeli side and improved firing tactics and the possible use of more sophisticated missiles by Iran. Although the Iron Dome is Israel's best-known air-defence system, it is actually designed to protect against short-range projectiles such as mortars and is only one part of the 'layered' air-defence system the country uses. In the middle tier stands the David's Sling air-defence system, which is optimised for intercepting drones and missiles with ranges up to 300km. At the top is the Arrow system, which engages long-range ballistic missiles before they re-enter the atmosphere. Importantly, the Israeli systems were backed up throughout the 12-day war by two US ground-based THAAD missile-defence systems and ship-based interceptors launched from US assets in the Red Sea. The US is estimated to have launched at least 36 THAAD interceptors during the war at a cost of some $12 million a time. In Israel, a densely packed small country of just 9.7 million people, the piercing of the country's famed missile-defence systems has come as a shock, with the authorities having to issue notices warning that they were 'not hermetic'. The 15,000 made homeless are especially conspicuous as they have been distributed to hotel accommodation throughout the country and the restriction of residential sites has been reported freely. But there has also been growing suspicion within the country that military targets were hit. Raviv Drucker of Channel 13, one of the country's best-known journalists, said last week: 'There were a lot of [Iranian] missile hits in IDF bases, in strategic sites that we still don't report about to this day... It created a situation where people don't realise how precise the Iranians were and how much damage they caused in many places'. Corey Scher, a researcher at Oregon State University, said his unit was working on a fuller assessment of missile damage in both Israel and Iran, and would publish its findings in around two weeks. He said the radar system data that they used to assess damage measured changes in the built environment to detect blasts and that absolute confirmation of hits would necessitate either on-the-ground reporting at the military sites concerned or satellite pictures. The Telegraph's data analysis shows the combined US and Israeli defence systems performed well overall, but were letting through around 16 per cent of missiles by day seven of the war. This broadly accords with an earlier IDF estimate for the defence system that put the success rate at '87 per cent'. In Iran, Islamic Republic officials and state media are using footage of missiles penetrating Israeli air defences in an attempt to convince domestic audiences they won the war. There are cartoons mocking the Iron Dome in Iranian media with revolutionary songs playing over videos of missiles hitting Israeli cities. Iranian officials say that the main way Israel's air defences were pierced was by using missiles and drones at the same time to confuse defence systems. Fast missiles mixed with slower drones confused the defences and made them split their attention, officials claim. 'The main goal of firing [suicide drones] at Israel is always to keep their systems busy,' one Iranian official told The Telegraph. 'Many don't even get through – they're intercepted – but they still cause confusion.' Maj Gen Ali Fazli, the IRGC's deputy commander-in-chief, appeared on state TV on Thursday night, claiming implausibly that Iran was 'in the best defensive position in the 47-year history of the Islamic Revolution – never before have we been at such a level in terms of military readiness, operational cohesion, and fighter morale'. This despite Israel's proven ability to strike at will over the entire country and the substantial damage caused to the country's military leadership and nuclear programme. Nevertheless, it is likely that a large part of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal remains untouched. Even by Israeli estimates, only half of its launchers were destroyed in the 12-day conflict and substantial stocks of missiles remain. 'Iran had about 400 launchers, and we destroyed more than 200 of them, which caused a bottleneck in their missile operations,' an Israeli military official said on Thursday They added: 'We assessed that Iran had approximately 2,000 to 2,500 ballistic missiles at the beginning of this conflict. However, they were rapidly moving toward a mass-production strategy, which could see their missile stockpile grow to 8,000 or even 20,000 missiles in the next few years.' Maj Gen Fazli claimed that underground 'cities' of missiles remained untouched in Iran. 'We have not yet opened the doors of even one of our missile cities,' he claimed on Thursday. 'We assess that so far only about 25 to 30 per cent of existing missile capability has been used and, at the same time, the production cycle is powerfully supporting this operational capacity.'
Reuters
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Qatar-Iran ties scarred but should recover after missile salvo at US base, Qatari PM says
DOHA, June 24 (Reuters) - Qatar's prime minister said on Tuesday relations with Iran have been scarred by an Iranian missile volley at a U.S. airbase in the Gulf Arab state, but that he hoped ties would eventually "come back to normal". Iran responded to U.S. participation in Israel's air war against Iran by firing missiles on Monday at the Al Ubeid air base, but no one was hurt after Tehran gave advance warning, and a ceasefire was announced hours later by Washington. Qatar, situated just across the Gulf from Iran, has often acted as a mediator in regional conflicts, including between Iran and the United States and between Israel and Hamas in the continuing Gaza war. "What happened will definitely have its scar on the relationship (with Iran), but I hope by the time everyone learns the lesson that this kind of neighbourhood relationship should not be violated and should not be undermined," Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, told a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart in Doha. "The partnership between Qatar and the U.S. is just growing stronger... and I hope the good relationship with Iran comes back to normal as soon as possible," he said. Al Thani added that Qatar had liaised with Iran at Washington's request to help facilitate the ceasefire. "We hope the ceasefire will continue as agreed upon, and we urge both the U.S. and Iran to return to the negotiating table with the aim of reaching a comprehensive diplomatic solution, something that Qatar has consistently sought," he said. He added that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed regret in a phone call with Qatar's ruling Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that Tehran's target in retaliating for U.S. airstrikes was a military base in Qatar.
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Oil drops after Iran and Israel announce ceasefire, but prices may remain volatile amid reports of new Iranian missile launch
Oil fell and stock markets rose after a ceasefire was agreed by both Iran and Israel. But the markets proved volatile again on Tuesday morning after Israel accused Iran of violating the agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday, Mr. Trump declared on social media that the two countries had agreed to a ceasefire. Israel did not confirm that it had done so until Tuesday morning, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declare that 'all of the military objectives' of the country's military offensive had been achieved. Mr. Trump's Monday message triggered a 7.2-per-cent drop in Brent crude, the international benchmark, the biggest fall since August, 2022, taking the price to US$71.50 a barrel. The plunge marked a turnaround from the opening price on Monday, when Brent climbed above US$80 as energy traders feared the U.S. attacks on Iran's uranium-enrichment sites would trigger a wider Middle East war. Oil trimmed its losses somewhat Tuesday morning, after Israel vowed to retaliate against what it said was new missile fire from Iran. 'I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to respond forcefully to Iran's violation of the ceasefire with powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran,' said Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz. The damage, if any, inflicted by the Iranian missiles was not immediately known. Also not known was whether the launch was specifically ordered by Iran's high military command in violation of the ceasefire agreement. Iranian state television denied that Iran had violated the ceasefire. The reports of the Iranian missile launch immediately reversed some of oil losses. By late morning, European time, Brent crude was down 3.5 per cent from Monday's close. London's FTSE-100 index was up marginally. Germany's Dax index performed better, gaining almost 2 per cent. The euro was up slightly against the U.S. dollar. Analysts were generally bullish on the market prospects in spite of the apparent violation of the ceasefire, all the more so since the Iranian missile attack on Qatar, home of a large U.S. military base, on Monday was fairly small and resulted in no injuries or fatalities. After the attack, Helima Croft, a former CIA analyst now at RBC Capital Markets, said 'The market is now clearly pricing in major de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran.' In a note published Tuesday morning, just before Israel accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, ING Economics said that 'Markets are materially scaling back geopolitical risk as President Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is in place following measured retaliatory strikes on U.S. positions in Qatar yesterday.' ING said the market will focus on Congressional testimony later today by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell. He is expected to be grilled by Republicans for his cautious approach to easing interest rates, which has earned the ire of Mr. Trump. ING said that investor will be looking to see if Mr. Trump's pressure on Mr. Powell 'has breached the independence shield of the Fed.' As the shaky ceasefire came into effect, Germany posted some good economic news. The German economy's most important leading indicator, the IFO index, which measures business optimism, or lack thereof, rose for the sixth consecutive month. It reached 88.4 in June, the highest level since last summer. In a note, Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG Australia, said 'We expect the market, which has a notoriously short attention span, to shift its focus back to tariffs and the Fed.'
The Independent
24-06-2025
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Qatar? Your rights after the airspace reopens following Iran strikes
Flights across the globe have been sent into chaos after Qatar's airspace was temporarily closed amid an escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Iran launched missile strikes on a US base in Qatar on Monday, part of its avowed revenge against Washington for bombing its facilities at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz the previous day. The strikes prompted Qatar to close its airspace, but it reopened in the early hours of Tuesday morning. British nationals were also told by the UK to shelter in place, but after six hours, this advice was lifted. Since the airspace closure, thousands of passengers who were diverted or had their flight cancelled are still waiting to get to their final destinations as airlines work to recover the international flight schedule. Here is everything to know about travelling to or from Qatar. What is the UK government's advice? The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) recommended British nationals in Qatar to shelter in place just after 3.30pm BST Monday 23 June. This advice lifted around 9.30pm BST Monday, but the FCDO said British nationals should continue to follow advice from local authorities. The shelter in place advice was issued out of an 'abundance of caution' after a similar US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, the British embassy in Qatar said. After the US lifted the advice to shelter in place, the FCDO followed suit. 'Following interceptions of Iranian missiles fired towards Qatar, the FCDO has been in touch with the local authorities and international partners, and reviewed the security situation,' the FCDO said. It told British nationals in Qatar to carry on checking its travel advice page for Qatar, and to sign up for alerts. While the FCDO does not have any warnings against travel to Qatar, it is still advising those heading to the country to be vigilant amid the Middle Eastern conflict. 'Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran have the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning, including since US military strikes against Iran on 22 June,' the FCDO said. 'There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, and other unanticipated travel impacts.' The FCDO encourages British nationals to read its advice, monitor local and international media, be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities, avoiding all but essential travel to military bases. It also says to check with relevant airlines for the latest updates before travelling. What happened to flights overnight? Qatar's airspace suddenly closed overnight ahead of the Iranian missile attack on a US base, causing thousands of passengers to be diverted to airports elsewhere in the Gulf and further afield. Doha's Hamad International Airport closed for around eight hours from Monday evening to the early hours of Tuesday morning. The closure had a significant impact on flights, with Doha being only second to Dubai as an international hub airport in the Gulf, serving 120,000 passengers each day. This caused dozens of flights to be diverted to airports such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but once these filled up, flights were then sent to locations such as Istanbul, Cairo and Indian airports including Delhi and Mumbai. Some flights returned to their departure points or were cancelled before leaving. Will my flight be cancelled? At 1.20am local time, Qatar Airways posted on the social media platform X: ' Qatar Airways confirms reinstatement of flights as airspace reopens in the State of Qatar. 'Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly. We've deployed extra ground staff at Hamad International Airport to support you as we resume operations.' While departures resumed in the early hours of Tuesday morning, it will take days to clear the backlog. As of Tuesday morning, some very heavily delayed flights have arrived or departed from Doha Hamad International Airport, and others have managed to keep to schedule, data from FlightRadar shows. However, there is still a large number of cancellations affecting arrivals and departures, with other flights subject to very long delays. The majority of flights affected are with Qatar Airways, although disruption is affecting other airlines such as Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Etihad Airways. The FCDO is advising that there is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, and other travel impacts. It advises passengers to check with their airlines before travelling. What are my rights if my flight was cancelled? As a passenger, you are covered by UK law if you are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline. If the cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund. If you are in Doha, you must be provided with a hotel and meals until you can be flown out. Sometimes, airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance if they are stretched during major disruptions, meaning you can arrange the care yourself and claim the cost back later by keeping receipts. If you have not yet left the UK, passengers booked from UK airports on Qatar Airways flights via Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible by any carrier that has seats available. You do not have these right if you booked on a non-European airline from an airport outside the EU and UK. Travel insurance may help with some out-of-pocket expenses. Compensation is unlikely since the cause of cancellation is not the airline's fault. My flight was diverted, what happens next? The airline should aim to put passengers and crew in hotels and then fly them to Doha once they are able to. If diverted to India, tough visa rules may complicate this, however. Can I cancel my holiday? As the FCDO has not warned against non-essential travel to Qatar, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
