Latest news with #OperationRisingLion
The Hill
14 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Israel issues warning to Iran amid tit-for-tat strikes: ‘Tehran will burn'
Israel issued a stark warning to Iran on Saturday as the two Middle Eastern nations continued to exchange fire: Stop the strikes or 'Tehran will burn.' 'If [Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei continue to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on social platform X following a closed-door meeting, according to a translation. 'The Iranian dictator is making the residents of Tehran hostage to his criminal policies for the survival of his regime,' he added. His comments come after Iran launched retaliatory drone and air strikes toward Israel Friday in response to the Israeli military's surprise attack a day earlier — which targeted Tehran's nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites. In the initial strike, several prominent officials were killed, including a close adviser of Khamenei, two top Iranian nuclear scientists, the commander and deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the deputy commander in chief of Iran's armed forces. In tit-for-tat exchange continued into Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military have vowed to cripple nuclear facilities under its Operation Rising Lion mission. Strikes overnight on Tehran killed about nine senior scientists tied to warfare developments in the Islamic republic, according to Israeli officials. '9 senior scientists and experts responsible for advancing the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons program. All of the eliminated scientists and experts, eliminated based on intelligence, were key factors in the development of Iranian nuclear weapons,' The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a post online. 'Their elimination is a significant blow to the regime's ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Two other senior defense and intelligence officials were pronounced dead by the Iranian regime on Saturday, NBC News reported. Civilians have not been shielded from violence, either, as 320 people were wounded in the round of attacks on Iran and 78 more killed due to continued air strikes, per the AP. The IDF said it would continue to target East Azerbaijan and the Iranian cities of Kermanshah and Lorestan as Iran's counterattacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv persist. Explosions and sirens were blaring across the Jewish State overnight. Two rockets were also launched from Gaza toward Israel, although there were no corresponding injuries, officials said. Turbulence in the region has also put a damper on nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. President Trump has sought to create a new agreement with Iran that would include dismantling its nuclear capabilities. On Friday, Trump responded to Israel's surprise strike by urging the Iranian regime to come back to the negotiating table and make a deal. 'There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,' the president posted to Truth Social. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' he added. 'No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.' Trump also suggested in a separate post that the moment was a 'second chance.' Despite the pressure, Iran signaled that it could pull out of the upcoming nuclear talks, which are scheduled for Sunday in Oman. The administration said earlier Friday that they were not involved in Israel's attack on Iran. Later in the day, however, the U.S. did begin to military shift assets and assist with shooting down incoming ballistic missiles. Tehran has also warned that it will strike ships in the Red Sea if Britain, France or the U.S. engage in warfare. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (R), who remains in Israel, reflected on the overnight sirens that signaled air raids as several voices among Trump's allies have urged Trump to make a move on Iran. 'Been rough nite in Israel. Had to head to shelter 5 times during the nite. It's now Shabbat here. Should be quiet. Probably won't be,' Huckabee wrote Saturday on X. 'Entire nation under orders to stay near shelter.' In another post, the former Arkansas governor issued a reminder to those who want the U.S. to stay out of the conflict. 'If you hear 'Israel is no concern to USA' remember 700,000 AMERICANS live in Israel. That is equivalent to a full House District,' he continued 'More Americans here than in any other country except Mexico! ' 'Iran isn't just attacking Israel but your fellow Americans who live here,' he added.
News18
21 minutes ago
- Politics
- News18
'Urge Dialogue, Diplomacy For De-Escalation': India On SCO Criticism Of Israeli Attack On Iran
Last Updated: India urged dialogue and diplomacy to be utilised to work towards de-escalation between Israel and Iran as the two arch-rivals exchanged fire for two days. India refrained from participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) discussions on a statement condemning Israel's military strikes on Iran on June 13, saying its position on the matter was articulated on the same day. SCO member-states – including China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus – expressed serious concern over Israel's Operation Rising Lion and said such aggressive actions against civilian targets are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. India, which is a member of the group, said it did not participate in the discussions on the SCO statement. 'India's own position on the matter had been articulated by us on 13 June 2025, and remains the same. We urge that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation and it is essential that the international community undertake endeavours in that direction," said the Ministry of External Affairs in an official statement. 'The External Affairs Minister too discussed this matter with his Iranian counterpart yesterday and conveyed the deep concern of the international community at the turn of events. He also urged the avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy," it added. Notably, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held separate phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts to discuss the escalating situation in West Asia, reflecting India's broader strategy of engaging key regional players while urging restraint. First Published: June 14, 2025, 18:08 IST
News18
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran Denies Claims Of Israeli Attack On Key Refinery, Names New Aerospace Chief
Last Updated: A new wave of Israeli strikes was reported near a key refinery in the Iranian city of Tabriz. However, the refinery denied any attack and confirmed full operational status. A new wave of Israeli strikes was reported near a key refinery in the Iranian city of Tabriz on Saturday, according to several reports, as hostilities between the two arch-enemies continued for a second day. Iranian state media Mehr News Agency reported that the strike occurred near the Tabriz Oil Refinery, and stated that there was smoke rising. Tabriz came under heavy fire on Friday, with Israeli troops destroying a military base there. While several videos surfaced on social media showing the refinery up in flames, Iran's Tabriz Oil Refining Company denied reports of Israeli attacks and confirmed full operational status, according to the IRNA News Agency. 🚨BREAKING: The Tabriz Oil Refinery Is Up In Smoke Following An Israeli Airstrike — Shelley G (@ShelleyGldschmt) June 13, 2025 The Israeli military launched an unprecedented attack on Iran as part of Operation Rising Lion and destroyed dozens of Iranian military targets, including the Tabriz airbase, according to The Jerusalem Post. Additional targets included the Hamadan air base and the regime's air defense system, unmanned aerial vehicles, and surface-to-surface missile launchers. Iran Names New Aerospace Chief Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed a new head of the Revolutionary Guards air arm on Saturday to replace the one killed by an Israeli strike. Khamenei appointed Majid Mousavi to replace Amirali Hajizadeh as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace force. Israel's sweeping attack across Iran struck at the heart of Tehran's nuclear programme and wiped out most of its military leadership, delivering a blow to the country's ability to enrich uranium and potentially setting its nuclear ambitions back by months or years. Additionally, the Israel Air Force and Israel Navy had intercepted dozens of UAVs launched from Iran to Israel between Friday and Saturday. However, three people were killed and 70 wounded in Israel after Iran launched over a hundreds of ballistic missile barrages. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed retaliation, stating that Israel would not be allowed to do 'hit and run" attacks without grave consequences. Tehran launched the 'True Promise 3 operation' on Friday night and fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel. Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said that Iran 'crossed red lines after it dared to fire missiles at civilian population concentrations in Israel". He later warned that 'Tehran will burn" if Iran fires any more missiles. First Published:
STV News
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- STV News
'Tehran will burn': Israel vows further attacks on Iran if airstrikes continue
Israeli residents were told to head to bomb shelters as Iran fired hundreds of missiles towards the country Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the people in Tehran will 'pay a heavy price' if Iran continues with its missile attacks, warning that the Iranian capital 'will burn.' It comes after Iran bombarded Tel Aviv with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases. Air raid sirens sounded out across Israel and its citizens were ordered to move into bomb shelters, as the attack began on Friday night. A plume of smoke could be seen rising from central Tel Aviv amid the barrage, after at least one Iranian missile appeared to bypass the iron dome missile defence system. Israel's paramedic service said two people were killed and another 19 people were injured after Iranian missiles struck the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion on Saturday. Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv on Friday / Credit: Leo Correa/AP Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces has said it is continuing to airstrikes on targets in Iran, just over 24 hours since it's initial strike which the army claims killed three Iranian military commanders. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stressed his country's fight was not against the Iranian people. 'Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,' he said. 'The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.' Operation Rising Lion – the offensive against Tehran – has mainly targeted nuclear sites, including destroying the above ground section of Iran's main Natanz nuclear base. Some 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Iran, according to its ambassador to the UN. The attack is believed to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Netanyahu said 'more is on the way' in a video message released on Friday night. Danny Dannon, Israel's UN ambassador, claimed the operation was launched because Iran was 'within days' of having the capability of building nuclear weapons. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Lorne Gunter: Israel attack on Iran trades short-term instability for long-term security
Article content The intelligence, planning and execution are staggering. It puts me in mind of Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web on June 1. In that attack, over 100 Ukrainian drones smuggled into Russia over a year-and-a-half's time were launched without detection from the backs of transport trucks on five Russia air force bases, one as far as 4,000 kilometres from the Ukraine-Russia border, taking out at least 10 per cent of Russia's strategic bomber fleet. (Score two for the good guys.) Friday's Operation Rising Lion is also reminiscent of Israel's 1981 destruction of Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. In that strike, jets from the Israeli Air Force flew low over the desert for hundreds of kilometres to a site near Baghdad. They suddenly popped up at the last minute so they could gain enough altitude to dive-bomb the reactor's hardened dome before Iraq (and several French technicians) could activate the nuclear facility. The attack set back Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons program, as it turned out, forever.
