Latest news with #retaliatoryattacks
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Anger and worry mix in Iran's capital after retaliatory strikes against Israel
Anger mixed with worry as Iranians in the capital of Tehran woke up Saturday to images of their country's retaliatory attacks on Israel. Iranian state television, long controlled by hard-line supporters of the country's theocracy, repeatedly aired footage of missile strikes on Tel Aviv throughout the morning. The broadcaster also showed people cheering in front of a large screen set up in Tehran to follow the strikes as if they were watching a soccer match. Traffic was lighter than normal on the capital's streets. The change was due in part to the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir commemorating the Prophet Muhammad picking his successor, Ali, who is beloved as the first Shiite imam and whose assassination set in motion the splintering of Sunni and Shiite Islam. Even before the attacks began, many Iranians had traveled outside the city to enjoy days off in places along the nearby Caspian Sea. The holiday mood made news of the assaults that much more shocking, particularly when the strikes killed many ranking members of Iran's military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, something unseen since Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s. It's a new experience for many of Iran's 80 million people who weren't alive for that devastating conflict, which included a period known as the 'War of the Cities,' in which Iraq rained ballistic missiles, artillery fire and airstrikes on Iranian cities. 'Israel killed our commanders and what they expect in return? A kiss?' said Mahmoud Dorri, a 29-year-old taxi driver. 'We will go after them to punish them: an eye for an eye.' In downtown Tehran, 31-year-old teacher and mother of two Pari Pourghazi expressed her joy over Iran's attack, linking it to Israel's devastating war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 'Someone should stop Israelis. They think they can do anything they want at any time,' she said. "Iran showed Israelis are wrong though they could suppress people of Gaza or Lebanon by heavy bombing.' Auto mechanic Houshang Ebadi, 61, also backed the Iranian strike but said he opposed a full-fledged war between Iran and Israel. 'I support my country. The Israelis made mistake in launching attacks on Iran but I hope this comes to end," Ebadi said. "War will not bear fruit for any side.' Others expressed concerns, verbally or through their actions. At one Tehran gas station, some 300 vehicles waited to fill up, with drivers growing frustrated. 'Sometime there is a queue because people fear that the refineries may be targeted, sometimes there is a line because of a power outage," said Nahid Rostami, a 43-year-old stylist. "When is this emergency situation going to end?' Fruit seller Hamid Hasanlu, 41, said his twins couldn't sleep Friday night with the sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft batteries firing. 'Leaders of both countries should know that people are suffering," he said. Bakeries also drew crowds as people sought to buy supplies including traditional Iranian bread, a staple of meals. 'I buy more bread since I think maybe there is no flour or electricity because of the war," said Molouk Asghari, a 56-year-old homemaker. 'I have children and grandchildren. I cannot see them in a hard situation without food, water and electricity." Across the country, people faced the continued strain of the conflict as Iran's airspace remained closed. 'Who knows what happens tonight?" said Rostami, the stylist.
Associated Press
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Anger and worry mix in Iran's capital after retaliatory strikes against Israel
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Anger mixed with worry as Iranians in the capital of Tehran woke up Saturday to images of their country's retaliatory attacks on Israel. Iranian state television, long controlled by hard-line supporters of the country's theocracy, repeatedly aired footage of missile strikes on Tel Aviv throughout the morning. The broadcaster also showed people cheering in front of a large screen set up in Tehran to follow the strikes as if they were watching a soccer match. Traffic was lighter than normal on the capital's streets. The change was due in part to the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir commemorating the Prophet Muhammad picking his successor, Ali, who is beloved as the first Shiite imam and whose assassination set in motion the splintering of Sunni and Shiite Islam. Even before the attacks began, many Iranians had traveled outside the city to enjoy days off in places along the nearby Caspian Sea. The holiday mood made news of the assaults that much more shocking, particularly when the strikes killed many ranking members of Iran's military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, something unseen since Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s. It's a new experience for many of Iran's 80 million people who weren't alive for that devastating conflict, which included a period known as the 'War of the Cities,' in which Iraq rained ballistic missiles, artillery fire and airstrikes on Iranian cities. 'Israel killed our commanders and what they expect in return? A kiss?' said Mahmoud Dorri, a 29-year-old taxi driver. 'We will go after them to punish them: an eye for an eye.' In downtown Tehran, 31-year-old teacher and mother of two Pari Pourghazi expressed her joy over Iran's attack, linking it to Israel's devastating war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 'Someone should stop Israelis. They think they can do anything they want at any time,' she said. 'Iran showed Israelis are wrong though they could suppress people of Gaza or Lebanon by heavy bombing.' Auto mechanic Houshang Ebadi, 61, also backed the Iranian strike but said he opposed a full-fledged war between Iran and Israel. 'I support my country. The Israelis made mistake in launching attacks on Iran but I hope this comes to end,' Ebadi said. 'War will not bear fruit for any side.' Others expressed concerns, verbally or through their actions. At one Tehran gas station, some 300 vehicles waited to fill up, with drivers growing frustrated. 'Sometime there is a queue because people fear that the refineries may be targeted, sometimes there is a line because of a power outage,' said Nahid Rostami, a 43-year-old stylist. 'When is this emergency situation going to end?' Fruit seller Hamid Hasanlu, 41, said his twins couldn't sleep Friday night with the sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft batteries firing. 'Leaders of both countries should know that people are suffering,' he said. Bakeries also drew crowds as people sought to buy supplies including traditional Iranian bread, a staple of meals. 'I buy more bread since I think maybe there is no flour or electricity because of the war,' said Molouk Asghari, a 56-year-old homemaker. 'I have children and grandchildren. I cannot see them in a hard situation without food, water and electricity.' Across the country, people faced the continued strain of the conflict as Iran's airspace remained closed. 'Who knows what happens tonight?' said Rostami, the stylist.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel and Iran exchange missile strikes with explosions heard in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Tehran
Update: Date: 2025-06-14T04:35:57.000Z Title: Opening summary Content: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East, where Iran has launched a wave of retaliatory attacks after Israel killed scores of people and injured hundreds in a surprise attack on Friday morning that it claimed was aimed at preventing its arch enemy from developing a nuclear weapon. Explosions were heard over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early on Saturday. Two people were reported to have been killed, one in Tel Aviv in an attack on Friday night and one in central Israel on Saturday morning. In Iran, fresh explosions were reported at an airport in Tehran that houses an air force base, and across the Hakimiyeh and Tehranpars neighbourhoods in the east of the capital. The Israeli military said its air defence systems were operating. 'In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the state of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted,' the Israeli military said. Rescue teams were working at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported, it said. In Iran, several explosions were heard in the capital, Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The Fars news agency said two projectiles hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, and Iranian media said flames were reported there. Close to key Iranian leadership sites, the airport hosts an air force base with fighter jets and transport aircraft. Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a loud boom was reported in Jerusalem. In other developments: Iran's envoy to the UN security council, Amir Saeid Iravani, said 78 people including senior officials had been killed in the Israeli attacks on Friday, and that more than 320 were injured, most of them civilians. He said the US was complicit in the attacks and accused Israel of seeking 'to kill diplomacy, to sabotage negotiations and to drag the region into wider conflict'. The US role in the attack remained murky with President Donald Trump giving conflicting accounts as to his approval and foreknowledge. In the run-up to the Israeli 200-plane attack, Trump had publicly urged Israel to give diplomacy more of a chance, before US-Iranian talks that were planned for Sunday. But on Friday, the US president insisted he had been well informed of Israel's plans and described the Israeli attack as 'excellent'. Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks on Israel early on Saturday, state media said, after Israel's military reported it detected inbound missiles from Iran. 'New round of Honest Promise 3 attacks,' state television reported, referring to the name of the Iranian military operation against Israel. Israel's ambulance service said 34 people were injured on Friday night in the Tel Aviv area, most with minor injuries. Police later said one person had died. On Saturday Israeli media quoted emergency services as saying one person had been killed and 19 injured by a direct Iranian strike on an area in central Israel. A top-level UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians scheduled for next week has been postponed, French president Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. France and Saudi Arabia had been due to co-chair the conference hosted by the UN general assembly in New York on 17-20 June, and Macron had been among leaders scheduled to attend. Dozens of Palestinians were killed and injured after Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting to receive aid near a checkpoint north of Nuseirat, Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif and Drop Site News reported, in the latest such massacre. More Palestinians were killed when Israeli gunboats targets the tents of displaced people on a beach north-west of Gaza City, al-Sharif reported. It was impossible to independently verify the reports as Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering the territory. It has also cut off internet to Gaza since Thursday. Israel closed all checkpoints to the Israeli-occupied West Bank as the country attacked Iran, a military official said Friday. The move sealed off entry and exit to the territory, meaning that Palestinians could not leave without special coordination.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Latest: Pakistan says India fired missiles at air bases inside the country and Pakistan responds
State-run Pakistan Television said Saturday that retaliatory attacks are underway after India fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan. It did not give details, and it was unclear which military locations in India were being targeted. 'Multiple locations in India are being targeted in the retaliatory attacks,' the state-run media reported. India fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan but most of the missiles were intercepted, Pakistan's army spokesman said Saturday. It's the latest escalation in a conflict triggered by a gun massacre last month that India blames Pakistan for. There was no way to independently verify all the actions attributed to Pakistan or India. Here is the latest: ___ Indian Border Security Force reports cross-border firing in Jammu India's Border Security Force in a statement Saturday said that Pakistani troops resorted to 'unprovoked' firing along the International Border in the Jammu region overnight. The BSF said it responded to the firing and destroyed what it called a 'terror launch pad' at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district, adding that Indian troops caused 'widespread damage to the posts and assets' of Pakistan border guards. It offered a video footage to support its claim. The incident couldn't be independently verified. ___ US and Turkey reach out to Pakistan The United States and Turkey contacted Pakistan's foreign minister, the ministry said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the escalating situation in South Asia and agreed to maintain close contact, the statement said. It added that Dar also held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan and briefed him on what he described as a deteriorating regional situation. ___ Indian air force denies destruction of S-400 air defense system in Punjab A spokesman for the Indian air force, Wing Commander Jaideep Singh, denied the claims made by Pakistan that it had destroyed an S-400 air defense system in Adampur, Punjab, using hypersonic missiles. 'Its fake. A fact-check will be up soon by the Press Information Bureau,' he told AP. Pakistan earlier said one of it air force JF-17 Thunder aircraft launched hypersonic missiles and had destroyed the site. There was no way to independently verify the attack. ___ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with Pakistan's army chief Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir earlier today. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said he continued to urge both parties to find ways to deescalate and offered U.S. assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts. ___ Indian army says it destroyed multiple Pakistani armed drones The Indian army said in a statement that it destroyed multiple Pakistani armed drones that were spotted flying over a military cantonment in northern Punjab state's Amritsar city early Saturday. 'Pakistan's blatant attempt to violate India's sovereignty and endanger civilians is unacceptable. Indian Army will thwart enemy designs,' the statement said. ___ Red alert SMS sent to residents in northern Punjab's Amritsar city In northern Punjab's Amritsar city, home to the famous Golden Temple, the local administration issued a red alert Saturday with sirens blaring in the area. In an SMS message to residents, the administration requested they stay indoors and stay away from windows. A red alert also issued in the town of Bathinda, in Punjab, which happens to be the location of a key air force station. ___ Pakistan says it targeted S-400 air defense system in India Pakistan's military said on Saturday that its retaliatory strikes against India are ongoing. According to a statement by the military, the Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 Thunder aircraft launched hypersonic missiles that struck a key Indian military facility in Adampur, in Punjab's Jalandhar district where India has an air force base. The military claimed that the Indian S-400 air defense system was destroyed in the strike on Adampur. India has not commented on any of the claims and there was no way to independently verify the information. ___ Indian prime minister held meeting with top security officials hours before Pakistan said India launched missiles Hours before Pakistan's claim of India launching missiles into its territories to target air bases, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with top security officials, including defense minister Rajnath Singh, national security adviser Ajit Doval and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force. A video released by Modi's office overnight showed one of the Indian military officials taking notes of the discussion. The video did not include sound. ____ At least one dead and two wounded from shelling in Indian-controlled Kashmir A civil administrator was killed and two others wounded in Pakistani shelling in a frontier town near the highly militarized Line of Control in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the official was killed when a Pakistani shell hit his house in southern Rajouri town early Saturday. Police said the official's two staff members were critically injured in the incident. Indian and Pakistani soldiers have heavily exchanged artillery and gunfire along the Line of Control that divides the disputed Kashmir region between two nuclear-armed rivals. Indian officials said Pakistani troops barraged their posts overnight with artillery, mortars and gunfire at multiple locations in Indian-controlled Kashmir. They said Indian soldiers responded. Saturday's killing takes the death toll in Indian-controlled Kashmir to 19 since Wednesday when the two countries' latest military standoff began. Pakistan has said Indian mortar and artillery fire has killed 17 civilians in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the same period. ___ Pakistan foreign minister says his country had no other option but to launch retaliatory strikes Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the country launched retaliatory strikes after exercising restraint for several days in the face of repeated Indian aggression. 'There was no other option because India showed no sincerity in response to the diplomatic efforts made by friendly countries,' Dar told Geo News. He said Pakistan had made it clear repeatedly that it reserves the right to respond under the provisions of the U.N. Charter, adding: 'We acted only after India continued firing drones and missiles.' He blamed India for the escalation, saying India gave no positive response to the efforts that were made by the international community to defuse the situation. Dar said the world wanted peace in the region, but India ignored all pleas from the international community. ___ India will abstain from IMF meeting on Pakistan aid New Delhi Finance Ministry says it will abstain from a key meeting at the IMF on Friday that was convened for a fresh tranche of bailout package to Islamabad. In a dissent note, New Delhi raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programs for Pakistan given its 'poor track record' and the possibility of 'misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross border terrorism,' a statement from India's finance ministry said. ___ Pakistan PM convenes National Command Authority State-run Pakistan Television reported Saturday morning that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body responsible for overseeing the country's missile program and other strategic assets. The meeting will be attended by the heads of the armed forces, the intelligence chief, and senior Cabinet members. It is expected to review the latest developments following Pakistan's retaliatory strikes against India. ___ Pakistan shuts down flights countrywide Pakistan has shut down every airport for all flight operations, according to the country's civil aviation authority. In a statement, it said the decision to close Pakistan's airspace for all flights was made because of the developing situation following the attacks made by India. ___ Explosions in India appear to have been near military bases, former Indian police official says Explosions were heard from areas that have military bases, said Shesh Paul Vaid, a former top police official for Indian-controlled Kashmir and a resident of Jammu. He added that it appeared army sites were being targeted. There was no immediate comment from India's defense and foreign ministry and its armed forces. ___ Support erupts in Pakistan's major cities for the country's retaliation against India Despite the Indian attacks, life in Pakistan's major cities remained normal on Saturday morning. As soon as people learned that Pakistan had carried out a retaliatory strike against India, residents of major cities across Pakistan were seen raising slogans in support of the country's armed forces. 'Thank God we have finally responded to Indian aggression,' said Muhammad Ashraf, 28, who had come to Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar for an early morning breakfast. In the city of Multan, Punjab, Muhammad Rizwan said that the Pakistani armed forces had won the hearts of the entire nation by taking strong action against India. 'The entire Pakistani nation is united against Indian aggression,' the young man said. 'My family and I are always ready to shed our blood for Pakistan and its armed forces,' he added. ___ Saudi Arabian official meets with Indian and Pakistani officials in effort to defuse conflict Saudi Arabia's junior foreign affairs minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir met senior officials in India and Pakistan this week as part of the Kingdom's efforts to defuse ongoing tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. In a statement issued Saturday on the social media platform X, the foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia said that during the visit it essentially called for 'de-escalation, ending ongoing military confrontations, and resolving all disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels.' ___ Gunfire heard in northwest Pakistan Blasts and gunfire were heard in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar on Saturday morning. A security official said a local air base had activated its defense system to take down a drone. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The official did not give further details, including the number of drones or if they were Indian. — Contributed by Riazat Butt ___ Resident says there were at least two explosions in India-controlled Kashmir Srinagar resident Mohammed Yasin said he heard at least two explosions. 'Our home shook and windows rattled,' he said. ___ Loud explosions heard at multiple places in Indian-controlled Kashmir, residents say The explosions on Saturday were heard in the disputed region's two big cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and the garrison town of Udhampur. 'Explosions that we are hearing today are different from the ones we heard the last two nights during drone attacks,' said Sheesh Paul Vaid, the region's former top police official and a resident of Jammu. 'It looks like a war here.' ___ G7 urges both India and Pakistan to exercise 'maximum restraint' The Group of Seven nations, or G7, has urged 'maximum restraint' from both India and Pakistan as hostilities flared. 'Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides,' a statement by Canada on behalf of G7 foreign ministers said Friday. 'We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,' the statement said. ___ India says drones sighted in 26 locations in border areas The Indian army said in a statement late Friday that drones were sighted in 26 locations in Indian states bordering Pakistan and in Indian-controlled Kashmir, including region's Srinagar main city. It said the drones were tracked and engaged. 'The situation is under close and constant watch, and prompt action is being taken wherever necessary,' the statement said. ___ Analyst says Pakistan exercised 'maximum restraint' before retaliating Syed Mohammad Ali, a defense analyst, says Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes after exercising maximum restraint. He said Pakistan is using its ballistic missiles to hit those Indian military facilities from where India launched the latest attacks on Pakistan. 'The world knows that Pakistan exercised maximum restraint. We gave diplomacy a chance when friendly countries made efforts to defuse the situation, but India kept on indulging in aggression,' he said. The Associated Press
Washington Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
The Latest: Pakistan says India fired missiles at air bases inside the country and Pakistan responds
State-run Pakistan Television said Saturday that retaliatory attacks are underway after India fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan. It did not give details, and it was unclear which military locations in India were being targeted. 'Multiple locations in India are being targeted in the retaliatory attacks,' the state-run media reported.
