Iran has taken control of Israel airspace
18 Jun 2025 09:39am
Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on June 17, the fifth day of strikes in their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East. (Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP)
TEHRAN - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday said the Iranian armed forces now have control over Israel's airspace following a new wave of missile attacks., Mehr News Agency reported.
In a statement issued after the strikes, the IRGC said the operation was in response to what it described as the Tel Aviv regime's aggression on Iranian soil. Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 17, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on June 17, the fifth day of strikes in their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
The IRGC said it launched first-generation Fattah missiles targeting the occupied territories.
According to the statement, the missiles managed to penetrate Israel's missile defence systems and repeatedly struck shelters.
"Tonight's missile attack showed that we have gained complete control over the skies of the occupied territories,' it added.
Tensions have escalated sharply since Friday, when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes and drone attacks on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran. - BERNAMA-MEHR
More Like This
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Trump stakes reputation as dealmaker with tariff policy
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump is staking his reputation as a tough negotiator and slick dealmaker -- that has served him well throughout his life -- with his ultra-muscular, protectionist tariffs policy. On Friday, the White House released a picture of the US president seen with a smartphone pressed to his ear, with the caption: 'Making calls. Making deals. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Every trade deal announced by the president, who is convinced that tariffs are both a tool and manifestation of America's economic might, is celebrated by his supporters as a show of his negotiating prowess. This week's flurry of rate changes was no different. On Thursday, with the stroke of a black marker, the former real estate developer slapped fresh tariffs on dozens of US trade partners. They will kick in on August 7 instead of August 1, which had previously been touted as a hard deadline. The Republican leader's backtracking, frequently setting trade deadlines only to rescind or extend them -- he most recently granted Mexico a 90-day extension -- has given rise to the mocking acronym 'TACO' ('Trump always chickens out'). The jokes implying Trump is all talk and no action on trade have previously struck a nerve for the president. 'Not chicken' But analysts believe there will be no going back this time. Trump has 'not chickened out,' according to Josh Lipsky, an international economics expert at the Atlantic Council think tank. Lipsky told AFP the president is 'following through, if not exceeding' what he vowed during his campaign in respect to tariffs. Matthew Aks, a public policy analyst at Evercore ISI, said he did not anticipate a 'massive shift' on the latest order, aside from some economies like Taiwan or India striking deals during the seven-day buffer. Following crunch negotiations leading up to the tariffs announcement, Trump struck a series of compromises, notably with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, setting varying tax rates and touting high investments in the United States. The details of these agreements remain vague and leave the door open to key questions: Are exemptions possible? What will become of key sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors? And what of China? The US president and leaders of other countries 'have reasons to avoid going into detailed agreements' explained Aks, allowing all sides to present the deals in the most positive, or least negative, way possible to their public. The ability to conclude deals -- often with or without crucial detail -- is, for the 79-year-old Republican, an integral part of his political signature. 'Art form' In his book 'The Art of the Deal,' the billionaire wrote: 'Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That's how I get my kicks.' Trump explained in his book that he always 'protects' himself 'by being flexible.' 'I never get too attached to one deal or one approach.' But despite comments about his trade policy reversals, Trump has hardly budged from his trade strategy, and that could prove politically painful. In a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University published in mid-July, only 40 percent of respondents said they supported the president's trade policy, while 56 percent criticized it. The latest employment figures bear the marks of Trump's protectionist offensive, according to experts. Job creation in May and June was revised sharply downward, falling to levels not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. - AFP
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Up to 1 million young Catholics gather for Pope Leo vigil in Rome
ROME: Up to a million young Catholic believers are expected to gather for a night-time vigil led by Pope Leo XIV, the highlight of a week-long pilgrimage during the Jubilee holy year. The 'Jubilee of Youth' has drawn thousands of young pilgrims from around the world to Rome, with excitement building for the new pope's final address. Large groups of pilgrims have filled Rome's streets, waving flags and singing religious songs. 'I feel mainly curiosity, as we don't know him very well yet,' said Alice Berry, a 21-year-old student from Paris. 'What does he have to say to us? What is his message for young people?' The pilgrimage comes amid global economic uncertainty and rising climate anxiety among young people. Many attendees hope the Vatican will address pressing issues like climate change, war, and inequality. Samarei Semos, 29, who travelled from Belize, said, 'We are still trying to understand his leadership,' expressing hope for stronger advocacy for developing nations. The vigil will take place in Rome's Tor Vergata area, the same site used 25 years ago under Pope John Paul II. Over 4,300 volunteers and 1,000 police officers will assist in managing the event. In a modern twist, Pope Leo recently hosted a mass for Catholic social media influencers, reflecting the Vatican's embrace of digital outreach. Rome has heightened security to accommodate the influx of pilgrims and tourists, ensuring a safe and memorable experience for all attendees. - AFP
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Israel's Gaza blockade causing severe humanitarian crisis, says Tok Mat
SEREMBAN: The ongoing blockade imposed by Israel in Gaza has severely restricted the delivery of humanitarian assistance, leading to critical shortages of food, clean water, medical supplies and fuel, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan ( pic ). The Foreign Minister said these developments have raised urgent fears of an imminent famine, with starvation and malnutrition already severely affecting thousands of civilians, particularly children. "Malaysia expresses grave, continuing concern over the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a result of the relentless genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel's Zionist regime. "Since October 2023, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 150,000 injured, with 1.9 million Palestinians forcibly displaced amid the unrelenting aggression of Israel's Zionist regime," he said in a statement. Mohamad said Malaysia was also deeply alarmed by the unfolding humanitarian crisis that the world has witnessed silently for the past 22 months. He also condemned the brutal killings of more than 1,300 Palestinians waiting in line to receive aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since May of this year, adding that this must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. Malaysia, he said, wished to reiterate in the strongest terms that the Israeli government must stop the killings, cease all attempts at forced displacement of Palestinians, and immediately end all blockades of humanitarian access to ensure unimpeded access to aid. Failure by Israel is a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. "We note the outcome of the recent high-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Questions of Palestine and Implementation of the two-state solution held in New York, which saw widespread international support for the realisation of a two-state solution with a call for urgent and sustained humanitarian assistance as well as a raft of other initiatives. "We welcome the international community's shift to condemn Israel and move towards pragmatic, action-oriented measures to resolve the question of securing Palestinian statehood," he said. Malaysia, he said, reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination. It also remains steadfast in supporting the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and Palestine's rightful membership in the United Nations.
