Latest news with #HollyDagres
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Battle Lines: Is Trump about to topple the Iran regime?
In a bonus edition of Battle Lines, we are talking to Iranians themselves, those both inside and outside the country, pro and anti regime, to get a sense of how the nation is responding to these missile strikes, what the war could mean for both the regime and ordinary people, and what comes next. Emotions on the ground and amongst the diaspora are running high, and the stakes are even higher. Israeli strikes have hit targets across the country, in populated parts of Tehran and other cities. Huge traffic jams have formed as people have tried to flee the capitol. There are petrol shortage and shops are closed. Iran hasn't seen this kind of attack since the war with Iraq in the 1980s. Fereshteh Sadeghi is a freelance Iranian journalist based in Tehran, who considers herself a supporter of the regime. She shares the conversations she's had on the streets of her city about this war. Giving a very different perspective, we hear from Holly Dagres, author of The Iranist, a foreign policy newsletter for Iran watchers. Plus we hear from Ali Vaez, the Iranian born Director of the Iran programme at Crisis Group,who tells us why the diplomacy had fallen apart so suddenly and dramatically, and whether there is any hope it could restart. And author of What Iranians Want, historian Arash Azizi, joins us to attempt to explain exactly that; what do the Iranian people want? Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.
DW
16-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Iranians struggle amid escalating Israeli airstrikes – DW – 06/16/2025
Israeli airstrikes in Iran have entered a fourth day. With civilians "caught in the middle" and Iran's regime under mounting pressure, could the conflict mark a turning point in the Islamic Republic's future? The Israeli army said on Monday that its air force had struck command centers belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as Iranian military centers, in Tehran, as the latest Israel-Iran conflict entered its fourth day. Since Friday, Israel has carried out widespread airstrikes across Iran, killing senior military officials and nuclear scientists, and hitting military bases and nuclear sites. Its central aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Ordinary Iranians 'caught in the middle' Iranian media reported scores of people have been killed across the country — including women and children. Hundreds more have been wounded. One Tehran resident said: "We don't have access to a shelter. There are no shelters in the whole city. I don't think there are any places people can go to in an emergency." Iranian civilians are "caught in the middle" of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Iranian-American analyst Holly Dagres has told DW. Ordinary Iranians are "powerless" in this conflict, said Dagres, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute think tank, in an interview with DW TV on Sunday. Israel has targeted key Iranian figures, including the army chief and head of the Revolutionary Guards Image: MEGHDAD MADADI/TASNIM NEWS/AFP/Getty Images "Iranians are very shaken and scared right now," Dagres added. Mehdi Chamran, spokesperson for Tehran's City Council, suggested that local residents should also consider sheltering in underground parking garages. Iranian officials say schools and mosques are being used as makeshift shelters. However, mosques in Iran are not known for their structural strength, and it remains unclear how they could protect civilians from missile strikes. Some Iranians pointed out that while the Islamic Republic has spent the past 46 years since the 1979 Islamic Revolution declaring its readiness for war and seeking the destruction of Israel, it has made no meaningful effort to build shelters for its own people. Sara Bazoobandi, a non-resident research fellow at the Institute for Security Policy at the University of Kiel, suggested that many Iranians may even have more confidence in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) than in their own government. "They are much more confident that the IDF is not going to attack civilians than the Iranian government itself," Bazoobandi said on Sunday. "Last night in Narmak, in one of the neighborhoods in east of Tehran, an Iranian projectile just fell into a residential area, not an Israeli one." Growing possibility of regime change in Iran Israel's military spokesperson Effie Defrin said the current goal of the campaign is not regime change, but the dismantling of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and removing its capabilities "to annihilate us." Iranians protest Israeli strikes To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, when asked by Fox News whether regime change in Iran was one of Israel's objectives, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said: "It certainly could be the result, because the Iran regime is very weak." In recent years, Iran has witnessed several waves of anti-government protests, most notably the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in 2022, which erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. The 22-year-old had been arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. That movement saw widespread participation across Iran and abroad, and was met with a brutal crackdown, leaving at least 600 dead and nearly 20,000 arrested, according to reports. Public discontent has continued to rise, as demonstrated by historically low turnout in last year's presidential election. Even before the latest military confrontation with Israel, many observers anticipated a resurgence of large-scale protests. Following recent Israeli strikes, opposition parties claim that the Islamic Republic is at its weakest point, calling on citizens for renewed mass mobilization. Israel pounds Iran from west to east To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Netanyahu echoed this sentiment in a video address to the Iranian people on Friday, highlighting their opportunity to "stand up and let your voices be heard," repeating the phrase "Woman, Life, Freedom." Economic toll As the likelihood of further Israeli strikes on Iran's infrastructure increases, economic experts are warning of an unprecedented currency crisis. The US dollar could reportedly surpass 200,000 Iranian tomans in the open market — a development that could trigger a new wave of inflation and impose severe economic hardship on ordinary Iranians. For a regime already grappling with deep legitimacy issues, such a scenario could spark mass unrest on a scale even larger than previous uprisings. Amid the turmoil, many political analysts and social media users are framing the war not only as a geopolitical conflict but also as a historic opportunity for the Iranian people to bring about fundamental political change and move beyond the Islamic Republic. Middle East analyst Simon Mabon suggested that Netanyahu has perhaps concluded "that the only way for Israel to ensure its own security in the longer term is to destroy the very notion of the Islamic Republic of Iran." "That's not to say to kill the Iranian population, let's say, but rather to eradicate the system of government," he told DW. However, regime supporters and hardline groups are also echoing nationalistic sentiment to shore up their support. Edited by: Keith Walker
India.com
15-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Israel's Mossad 'played' with Iran, smuggled lots of..., Israeli commandos already..., vast spy network...
New Delhi: During the attack on Iran, the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has once again shown its power to the world. Mossad used Iran as its playground. This week, on the morning of Friday, June 13, when Israeli fighter jets launched attacks against Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, its spies had already set up their bases in enemy territory. While Israeli fighter jets were wreaking havoc from the sky, at the same time, spies of the intelligence agency Mossad were running operations on Iranian soil. Mossad destroyed Iran's defense installations Israeli security officials said that Mossad had smuggled weapons into Iran before the attacks. These weapons were used to target defense installations within Iran. Officials said that Israel had built a base to launch explosive drones inside Iran. Later the drones were used to target missile launchers near Tehran. After the attack on Iran, Mossad took an unprecedented step and released videos of some of its operations. In this, drones were shown attacking missile launchers. Mossad smuggled weapons into Iran Not only this, but precision attack weapons were also smuggled, which were used to target surface-to-air missile systems. The result of this mission of Mossad was that when Israel carried out more than 100 attacks with 200 aircraft on Friday morning, the way was clear for them. Mossad's plan to disable the Iranian defense system proved effective. Also, the intelligence received from Mossad gave the Israeli Air Force the ability to accurately target senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Mossad's spy network in Iran This operation of Mossad shows how deeply Israeli intelligence agencies have penetrated Iran's important secrets. These operations have made Mossad a nearly invincible force in Iran, capable of attacking its top-ranking officials and most sensitive sites. CNN quoted Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, as saying, 'Mossad has used Iran as its playground for years. From assassinating top nuclear scientists to sabotaging Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel has repeatedly proven that it has the upper hand in this proxy war and has been operating openly since the first Iranian attack in April 2024.' A second Israeli security source said Mossad's operations had been going on for several years, including both intelligence-gathering efforts and the deployment of Mossad commandos behind enemy lines. According to the security source, some of Mossad's commando forces operated in the Iranian capital itself.
Egypt Independent
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Israel's unprecedented attack shows Iran has become a ‘playground' for the Mossad
CNN — Before Israel launched an unprecedented Before Israel launched an unprecedented wave of strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders this week, its spies were already on the ground in enemy territory. Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of the strikes, according to Israeli security officials, and would use the weapons to target Iran's defense from within. The officials said Israel established a base for launching explosive drones inside Iran, and the drones were later used to target missile launchers near Tehran. Precision weapons were also smuggled in and used to target surface-to-air missile systems, clearing the way for Israel's Air Force to carry out more than 100 strikes with upward of 200 aircraft in the early hours of Friday local time. The plan to disable Iranian defenses seems to have been effective; Israel said all of its aircraft returned safely from the first waves of strikes, appearing to show Israeli air superiority over parts of a country hundreds of miles away. Intelligence gathered by the Mossad in Iran also gave Israel's air force the ability to target senior Iranian commanders and scientists. In an incredibly rare move, the Mossad released video from some of its operations, showing drones attacking what appear to be unsuspecting missile launchers. It is the latest operation to show how deeply Israel's intelligence services, including the Mossad, have penetrated some of Iran's most closely guarded secrets. The operations have made the Mossad appear a nearly unstoppable force in Iran, capable of hitting at some of its highest-ranking officials and most sensitive sites. 'Mossad has treated Iran like its playground for years now,' said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and curator of the Iranist newsletter. 'From assassinating top nuclear scientists to sabotaging Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel has proved time and time again that it has always had the upper hand in this shadow war that has now been playing out in the open since the first tit-for-tat strikes in April 2024.' An Israeli security source said the latest operation required commando forces operating deep within Tehran and across the country while avoiding detection from Iran's security and intelligence agencies. The source said Mossad teams targeted air defense missiles, ballistic missiles, and missile launchers as the attack from the Israeli Air Force began. A second Israeli security source said the Mossad operations were years in the making, involving both intelligence-gathering efforts and the deployment of Mossad commandos deep behind enemy lines. Some of the Mossad commando forces operated in the Iranian capital itself, according to the security source. A video shared with CNN appears to show a one-way attack drone targeting a missile launcher. Mossad In addition to the drone base established by the Mossad long before Wednesday's attack, Mossad commandos deployed 'precision-guided weapons systems' near Iranian missile air defense systems, which were activated at the same time as the Israeli air force began striking its targets. A second operation deployed sophisticated vehicle-mounted weaponry to target other Iranian defense systems. The Mossad operation also involved assassinations of top Iranian officials. Israel has shown – flaunted even – the Mossad's ability to operate with near impunity in Iran in the past. Starting in the early-2010s, Iran accused Israel of carrying out a campaign of assassinations against the country's nuclear scientists. Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon tacitly acknowledged the targeted killings when he said in 2015 that Israel cannot be held responsible 'for the life expectancy of Iran's nuclear scientists.' From 2007 to 2012 Israel allegedly carried out five covert assassinations, nearly all in Tehran, through remote-controlled bombings, or remote-controlled machine guns. Only one of Iran's key nuclear scientists survived the assassination attempt, Fereydoon Abbasi. Just last month, Abbasi told Iranian state media that any attack on production sites would have little impact on the timeline of developing a bomb, saying, 'our capabilities are spread all over the country. If they target production sites, it will be inconsequential to our timetable, because our nuclear materials are not stored above ground for them to hit.' Abbasi was one of the scientists killed in Israel's early morning attack in Tehran. The Mossad's actions soon became much more public. In early-2018, Israel stole Iran's nuclear archive from Tehran, displaying the intelligence coup in a live broadcast from Jerusalem. Speaking in English, Netanyahu showed off the archive, including what he said were copies of 55,000 pages of Iranian nuclear information and a display of discs he said were 55,000 files. Iran tried to dismiss Netanyahu's comments as 'childish' and 'laughable,' but the plundering of the archive showed the confidence Israel had in the Mossad's ability to function in Tehran. The operation, which would have required extensive planning and an intimate knowledge of the archive's location and security, pushed the first Trump administration to withdraw from the original nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Israel wasn't done yet. Military personnel stand near the flag-draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during his funeral in Tehran, Iran, on Monday, November 30, 2020. Iranian Defense Ministry/AP In November 2020, Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's chief nuclear scientist, while he was in a bulletproof car traveling with his wife. Fakhrizadeh's car was moving in a convoy with three security vehicles when he came under fire. Iranian state media said a remote-controlled machine gun opened fire on the nuclear scientist, who had been a long-time target for Israel. The operation, which Israel has not publicly acknowledged, was carried out with remarkable precision, and it displayed a deep knowledge of Fakhrizadeh's pattern of life. And yet despite its repeated inability to stop the Mossad, Iran has proven incapable of improving. Ram Ben Barak, the former deputy director of the Mossad, said the organization's continued success is 'due to a very, very disliked regime, even hated by most of the public, so this allows for intelligence penetration on one hand, and on the other, you have the sophistication and professionalism of the Israeli intelligence personnel.' After the start of the war in Gaza, Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran. A source familiar with the matter said Israel planted an explosive device in a guest house where Haniyeh was known to stay. The bomb was concealed in the room for two months before the targeted killing and detonated remotely once Haniyeh was in the room.
9 News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
Israel's unprecedented attack shows Iran has become a 'playground' for the Mossad
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Australian killed, another injured in Bali villa shooting incident Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of the strikes, according to Israeli security officials, and would use the weapons to target Iran's defence from within. The officials said Israel established a base for launching explosive drones inside Iran, and the drones were later used to target missile launchers near Tehran. Military personnel stand near the flag-draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during his funeral in Tehran, Iran, in November 2020. (Iranian Defense Ministry/AP) Precision weapons were also smuggled in and used to target surface-to-air missile systems, clearing the way for Israel's Air Force to carry out more than 100 strikes with upward of 200 aircraft in the early hours of Friday local time. The plan to disable Iranian defences seems to have been effective; Israel said all of its aircraft returned safely from the first waves of strikes, appearing to show Israeli air superiority over parts of a country hundreds of miles away. Intelligence gathered by the Mossad in Iran also gave Israel's air force the ability to target senior Iranian commanders and scientists. In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry, military personnel carry the flag draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist who was killed on Friday, in a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Monday, November 30. (AP) In an incredibly rare move, the Mossad released video from some of its operations, showing drones attacking what appear to be unsuspecting missile launchers. It is the latest operation to show how deeply Israel's intelligence services, including the Mossad, have penetrated some of Iran's most closely guarded secrets. The operations have made the Mossad appear a nearly unstoppable force in Iran, capable of hitting at some of its highest-ranking officials and most sensitive sites. "Mossad has treated Iran like its playground for years now," said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and curator of the Iranist newsletter. "From assassinating top nuclear scientists to sabotaging Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel has proved time and time again that it has always had the upper hand in this shadow war that has now been playing out in the open since the first tit-for-tat strikes in April 2024." Firefighters and people clean up the scene of an explosion in a residence compound after Israel attacked Iran's capital Tehran, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) An Israeli security source said the latest operation required commando forces operating deep within Tehran and across the country while avoiding detection from Iran's security and intelligence agencies. The source said Mossad teams targeted air defence missiles, ballistic missiles, and missile launchers as the attack from the Israeli Air Force began. A second Israeli security source said the Mossad operations were years in the making, involving both intelligence-gathering efforts and the deployment of Mossad commandos deep behind enemy lines. Some of the Mossad commando forces operated in the Iranian capital itself, according to the security source. In addition to the drone base established by the Mossad long before Wednesday's attack, Mossad commandos deployed "precision-guided weapons systems" near Iranian missile air defence systems, which were activated at the same time as the Israeli air force began striking its targets. A second operation deployed sophisticated vehicle-mounted weaponry to target other Iranian defence systems. The Mossad operation also involved assassinations of top Iranian officials. Israel has shown – flaunted even – the Mossad's ability to operate with near impunity in Iran in the past. Starting in the early-2010s, Iran accused Israel of carrying out a campaign of assassinations against the country's nuclear scientists. Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran on Friday, June 13. (AP) Former Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon tacitly acknowledged the targeted killings when he said in 2015 that Israel cannot be held responsible "for the life expectancy of Iran's nuclear scientists." From 2007 to 2012 Israel allegedly carried out five covert assassinations, nearly all in Tehran, through remote-controlled bombings, or remote-controlled machine guns. Only one of Iran's key nuclear scientists survived the assassination attempt, Fereydoon Abbasi. Just last month, Abbasi told Iranian state media that any attack on production sites would have little impact on the timeline of developing a bomb, saying, "our capabilities are spread all over the country. If they target production sites, it will be inconsequential to our timetable, because our nuclear materials are not stored above ground for them to hit." Abbasi was one of the scientists killed in Israel's early morning attack in Tehran. The Mossad's actions soon became much more public. In early-2018, Israel stole Iran's nuclear archive from Tehran, displaying the intelligence coup in a live broadcast from Jerusalem. Speaking in English, Netanyahu showed off the archive, including what he said were copies of 55,000 pages of Iranian nuclear information and a display of discs he said were 55,000 files. Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday, June 13. (AP) Iran tried to dismiss Netanyahu's comments as "childish" and "laughable," but the plundering of the archive showed the confidence Israel had in the Mossad's ability to function in Tehran. The operation, which would have required extensive planning and an intimate knowledge of the archive's location and security, pushed the first Trump administration to withdraw from the original nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In November 2020, Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's chief nuclear scientist, while he was in a bulletproof car travelling with his wife. Fakhrizadeh's car was moving in a convoy with three security vehicles when he came under fire. Iranian state media said a remote-controlled machine gun opened fire on the nuclear scientist, who had been a long-time target for Israel. The operation, which Israel has not publicly acknowledged, was carried out with remarkable precision, and it displayed a deep knowledge of Fakhrizadeh's pattern of life. And yet despite its repeated inability to stop the Mossad, Iran has proven incapable of improving. Ram Ben Barak, the former deputy director of the Mossad, said the organisation's continued success is "due to a very, very disliked regime, even hated by most of the public, so this allows for intelligence penetration on one hand, and on the other, you have the sophistication and professionalism of the Israeli intelligence personnel." After the start of the war in Gaza, Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran. A source familiar with the matter said Israel planted an explosive device in a guest house where Haniyeh was known to stay. The bomb was concealed in the room for two months before the targeted killing and detonated remotely once Haniyeh was in the room. World Iran Israel Middle East CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
