Latest news with #IsraelStrikes
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel claims strikes on Iranian nuclear, missile sites
Israel on Thursday revealed its latest strikes targeted 'key sites' tied to Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. The facilities struck included an inactive nuclear reactor in the city of Arak, a weapons development site near Natanz and ballistic missile and air defense production facilities, according to the Israeli military. 'These facilities fuel Iran's drive for nuclear weapons and its attacks on Israeli civilians,' the Israeli military wrote in a post on social platform X. 'The IDF will continue operating to eliminate threats and defend the State of Israel.' The attack comes as Israel and Iran enter their seventh day of tit-for-tat strikes in the wake of the Israeli military's initial blow to Tehran's nuclear capabilities and as President Trump and his administration weigh whether the U.S. should intercede. Tension between Israel and Iran has been building, as the latter is a supporter of Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli military and Hamas have been fighting in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. On Wednesday, Trump avoided a question about whether he was leaning toward the U.S. launching a strike on Iran — a proposal that has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle concerned. 'You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question. Will you strike the Iranian nuclear component?' the president said. 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble,' he added, referencing the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks that have been stalled. 'And they want to negotiate. And I say why didn't you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction.' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that the U.S. would face 'irreparable damage' if the U.S. were to step into the fight and approve strikes on his country. 'It isn't wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender,' Khamenei wrote on X. 'What should the Iranian nation surrender to? We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone.' 'This is the logic of the Iranian nation. This is the spirit of the Iranian nation,' he added. Thursday's strike also comes a day after the Israeli military said it destroyed the headquarters for Iran's domestic policing arm. On the other side, missiles launched from Iran hit a hospital in southern Israel and injured more than 200 people. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
LIVE UPDATES: U.S. inserts itself into Israel-Iran war and strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites
The U.S. military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's effort to decapitating Iran's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But U.S. and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strikes. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that attacks targeted the country's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The agency did not elaborate. Iran's foreign minister said Iran reserves the right to retaliate. Here is the latest: Israel assessing damage from U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israel was still assessing damage from U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. At a press briefing, Defrin was asked whether enriched material had been removed from the Fordo site before the U.S. strike, and he replied that it was too early to know. Defrin said the strikes were carried out in coordination with the Israeli military. France 'has learned with concern' about U.S. strikes in Iran The French foreign minister says his country did not take part in the U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Jean-Noel Barrot said in a message on social media on Sunday that France 'has learned with concern' of the U.S. military action against three nuclear sites. 'It was neither involved in these strikes nor in their planning,' Barrot said, adding that France 'urges the parties to show restraint in order to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict.' Barrot also reiterated France's opposition to Iran gaining access to nuclear weapons. 'France is convinced that a lasting solution to this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,' he said. 'It remains ready to contribute to this in conjunction with its partners.' Iran's top diplomat says he'll meet Putin in Moscow on Sunday Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, responding to a question from a Russian outlet, said he'll travel to Moscow later on Sunday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites. 'We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,' he said, referring to Russia. Iran's foreign minister says diplomacy not an option after U.S. strikes 'The warmongering, a lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far reaching implications of its act of aggression,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a news briefing at a conference in Turkey. Araghchi said while the 'door to diplomacy' should always be open, 'this is not the case right now. Araghchi said that there is 'no red line' that the U.S. has not crossed in its recent actions against the Islamic Republic. 'And the last one and the most dangerous one was what happened only last night when they crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities only,' he said. Head of the Red Cross says 'the world cannot absorb limitless war' The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the escalation in the Middle East risks 'engulfing the region — and the world — in a war with irreversible consequences.' 'The world cannot absorb limitless war. Upholding international humanitarian law is not a choice — it is an obligation,' Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement. Images show damage on the mountainside at Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo Satellite images taken Sunday analyzed by The Associated Press show damage on the mountainside at Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facility. The images by Planet Labs PBC show the once-brown mountain had parts turned gray and its contours appeared slightly different than in previous images, suggesting a blast threw up debris around the site. That suggests the use of specialized American bunker buster bombs on the facility. Light gray smoke also hung in the air. Iran has yet to offer a damage assessment of the site. Other satellite images suggest Iran before the strike sealed up its tunnel entrances at Fordo. ___ This entry has been corrected to show Iran likely sealed up the tunnel entries to Fordo before the Sunday strike by the U.S. Iran's top diplomat throws cold water on calls to return to diplomacy with the U.S. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the U.S. strikes overnight have blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans. 'Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy,' Araghchi wrote on X. 'What conclusion would you draw?' He added that British and European Union comments for Iran to 'return' to the negotiating table is unfeasible now. 'But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?' he said. Britain was notified in advance of U.S. strikes on Iran Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News that Britain was notified as a key ally, though he didn't know the actual timing. He said the U.S. did not ask for support and Britain was not involved. 'Whilst the British government, the U.K., has not been involved in these attacks, we have been making extensive preparations for all eventualities,' Reynolds said. He said the government was working on how to look after British nationals as well as its military bases, personnel and infrastructure in the region. Bahrain warns drivers to stay off main roads after US strikes in Iran Showing the growing concern in the Gulf Arab states, the island kingdom of Bahrain issued a notice Sunday to drivers to stay off main roads if possible. Bahrain's Interior Ministry wrote on X: 'In light of recent developments in the regional security situation, we urge citizens and residents to use main roads only when necessary, to maintain public safety and to allow the relevant authorities to use the roads efficiently.' Authorities also said they activated work-from-home protocols for some 70 per cent of the country's government workers. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet and long been a threatened target of Iran. Israel says it took out 2 of Iran's F-5 fighter jets Israel says it hit the aircraft at Iran's Dezful airport. The F-5s are part of Iran's aging fleet of fighter jets from the era of the shah. Israel released black-and-white footage showing one of the aircrafts being destroyed. Israel previously hit F-14 Tomcats flown by the Iranian military in the war. However, it isn't clear if these aircraft were airworthy as many have been grounded over the years due to a lack of parts. Israel also said it struck other sites, including around Isfahan's airport. Iran has not acknowledged losses of aircraft or other materiel in the war so far. Meanwhile, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched 40 missiles, including its Khorramshahr-4, during the attack on Israel on Sunday morning. Iran has said the Khorramshahr-4 can carry multiple warheads. Israel gives latest number of its injured The Israeli Health Ministry says Iranian attacks overnight and into Sunday have wounded more than 80 people. The vast majority, more than 70, were lightly wounded, it said. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 4, health officials say A hospital in central Gaza says it received the bodies of four people who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Awda hospital said it also received 22 people wounded in an Israeli attack on a gathering waiting for aid trucks south of Wadi Gaza area. Meanwhile, aid group World Central Kitchen said it resumed cooking and distribution of hot meals in Gaza on Saturday, the first time after six weeks of a forced hiatus. The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog says he'll convene an emergency meeting on Monday The head of UN's nuclear watchdog posted on X that given the U.S. intervention in the Israel-Iran war, he will be convening an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors on Monday. Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been the target of much Iranian criticism in recent days for what they describe as conflicting statements that incited Israel's initial attack. Iran says it fired one of its biggest ballistic missiles targeting Israel after U.S. strikes Iranian state TV showed what appeared to be previous test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, with an on-screen caption saying it was used on Sunday in a barrage on Israel. The Khorramshahr-4 has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometre range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. Iranian says the missile has a 2,000-kilometre (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. The missile is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century — in what is now Saudi Arabia. Iran's Foreign Ministry says the U.S. has 'launched a dangerous war against Iran' The ministry statement says the U.S. strikes came 'during an ongoing diplomatic process' and thereby 'betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime.' 'Now, by completing the chain of violations and crimes committed by the Zionist regime, the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran,' it added. The ministry also said Iran 'reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests.' Iranian missiles wound 16 in Israel as new Israeli strikes on Iran are reported The Magen David Adom rescue service says one of those wounded was a 30-year-old man in moderate condition and the other 10 were lightly wounded. Shortly after the Iranian missile barrage, Israel announced its warplanes were conducting strikes on 'military targets' in western Iran, without immediately elaborating. Iran executes a man accused of spying for Israel The judiciary's Mizan news agency identified the man as Majid Mosayebi and said he was hanged on Sunday after charges of spying in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. The case wasn't previously reported. The development raises fears of Tehran stepping up executions in the country in retaliation for the U.S. attacks. Iran is one of the world's top executioners. The UN nuclear watchdog says no increase in radiation levels off sites hit by the U.S. The International Atomic Energy Agency says in a message on X that there has been 'no increase in off-site radiation levels' after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. 'The IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,' it said. The 'IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available.' Iranian missiles hit areas in northern and central Israel after U.S. strikes on Iran The Israeli rescue service United Hatzalah said it was dispatching first responders. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel since Israel launched a surprise attack on its military and nuclear facilities last week. Israel's sophisticated air defences are able to shoot down most but not all of the missiles and drones. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded. Democratic lawmaker: Last intel briefing showed 'Iran posed no immediate threat' U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy posted on X that he and other senators received a classified briefing last week from intelligence officials who indicated that Iran did not pose an immediate threat through its nuclear program. 'Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon,' Murphy said. 'The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.' Iran's ally Hamas and Yemen's Houthi rebels condemn U.S. strikes The Houthi rebels in Yemen are vowing to support Iran in its fight against 'the Zionist and American aggression.' Their statement called for the Muslim nations to join the holy war and act as 'one front against the Zionist-American arrogance.' The militant Palestinian group Hamas says the U.S. aid strikers on Iran are a 'direct threat to international peace and security' and 'a blind pursuit of the rogue Zionist occupation's agenda.' Iran asks for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over U.S. strikes Iran's ambassador to the United Nations called on Sunday for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America's 'heinous attacks and illegal use of force' against Iran. In a letter, obtained by the AP, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the U.N.'s most powerful body must 'take all necessary measures' to hold the U.S. accountable under international law and the U.N. charter. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on 13 June against Iran's peaceful nuclear sites and facilities,' the letter continued. Israel's army says Iranian missiles are incoming, asks people to go to shelters The Israeli military says it's identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of Israel and says its defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. The public has been asked to go to shelters and protected areas and remain there until further notice. Iran's top diplomat warns U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites 'will have everlasting consequences' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on X that Tehran 'reserves all options' to retaliate. He's the first ranking official to comment on the strikes on Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz by the Americans. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' Araghchi wrote. He added: 'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' Flames seen at Fordo nuclear site in Iran after U.S. strike, report says Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency has published an account by one of its reporters, saying flames could be seen after the bombs hit the Fordo facility. Fars, which is believed close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said its reporter heard anti-aircraft fire around 2:05 a.m. local time and explosions two minutes later. 'When I reached the vicinity ... the air defence system was operating intensely, and its activity was clearly visible in the sky,' the reporter said. Later on, the reporter said, 'flames suddenly erupted from the direction of Fordo.' Simultaneously with the flames, a faint trail of smoke and a significant amount of dust rose in the area, Fars quoted the reporter. It offered no photos or video showing the attack Israeli officials lauded the strikes Israeli officials lauded the strikes in sweeping and dramatic language. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, thanked Trump and said the strikes marked a 'decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.' Israel's defence minister congratulated Trump on what he described as a 'historic decision.' The Associated Press
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
What is Iran's Fordow nuclear site and why was a US strike needed?
President Donald Trump on Saturday said that a US attack on Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Esfahan and Fordow had led to the 'obliteration' of its key enrichment facilities. Later Iranian media acknowledged part of the Fordow site had been 'attacked by enemy strikes'. 'Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horrible destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment facility,' said Trump on Saturday night. 'The strikes were a spectacular military success.' The decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. Buried under a mountain and protected by anti-aircraft batteries, the Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant appears designed to withstand airstrikes. Taking Fordow offline – either diplomatically or militarily – is seen as central to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found the site had enriched uranium to 83.7% – close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. Israel has appealed to Trump for US bunker-busting bombs, the 30,000lb GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode. It can be delivered only by the B-2 stealth bomber, which is only found in the American arsenal. After the strikes, Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's move, adding that the 'awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history'. The Israeli prime minister said in a video address, the US 'has done what no other country on Earth could do'. In turn, Trump thanked Netanyahu, saying they 'worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before', and gone a long way towards 'erasing this horrible threat to Israel'. The bomb carries a conventional warhead, and is believed to be able to penetrate about 200ft (61 metres) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast. The bombing on Saturday came after B-2 bombers had been sent to Guam, according to US sources. A US official told Reuters that B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Justin Bronk, an aviation expert with the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) thinktank, said 'multiple impacts' would almost certainly be required to destroy Fordow, 'with the second bomb affecting inside the hole made by the first'. Though a B-2 can carry two bunker-busting bombs, a serious assault by the US designed to eliminate the facility would probably require the deployment of more than one bomber. Bronk said: 'An attack would require redundancy since the weapons have to function and be delivered perfectly to get down into the facility and explode at the right depth to cause critical damage.' Trump told Fox News six bunker buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites including Natanz. Natanz, the country's other principal enrichment site, was attacked by Israel at the start of its campaign. Diplomats with knowledge of Natanz describe its underground fuel enrichment plant as being about three floors below ground. There has long been debate about how much damage Israeli airstrikes could do to it. Last week Donald Trump suggested to officials it would make sense for the US to launch strikes against Iran only if the so-called 'bunker buster' bomb was guaranteed to destroy the critical uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Some defence officials has privately warned that using conventional bombs, even as part of a wider strike package of several GBU-57s, would not penetrate deep enough underground and that it would do enough damage only to collapse tunnels and bury it under rubble.
SBS Australia
7 days ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Morning News Bulletin 22 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT Reports the US is relocating B-2 bomber aircraft as Donald Trump considers a potential airstrike in Iran The grandfather of an Indigenous man who died in police custody writes a letter to the Prime Minister In cricket, Sam Konstas replaces Marnus Labuschagne ahead of Australia's opening Test match against the West Indies The United States is reportedly moving B-2 bomber aircraft to the Pacific island of Guam - as President Donald Trump weighs whether the United States should take part in Israel's strikes against Iran. According to US media reports and tracking data, multiple B-2 bomber aircraft have left their base in Missouri, headed for Guam. It is unclear whether the bomber deployment is tied to tensions between Israel and Iran. The B-2 is capable of striking Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities. The Pentagon has not responded to a request for comment. Israel and Iran have exchanged more strikes, as the conflict enters its second week. Israel is claiming it has killed three of Iran's commanders - Saeed Izadi, Behnam Shahryari and Aminpour Judaki. Iran has not confirmed the deaths. This man in Iran says he wants to see the fighting stop. "I'm not in that situation to decide which one has the winning point at the moment. I just think about my family, my people, and that's it. No matter for me the names - Iran, Israel, I don't know, United States. We are thinking about peace and we hope it happens. The only thing that is important is people. People should be safe." The grandfather of a 24-year-old Indigenous man who died in police custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling for the federal government to step in and address problems in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader's grandson Kumanjayi White died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May. In the letter, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves wrote that the justice system in the Territory was "in crisis", telling Prime Minister the federal government has total power over the NT - and saying "this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came amid protests in Sydney and Alice Springs demanding justice for Mr White. Pope Leo has recognised the work of South American journalists who uncovered sexual abuse by leaders of a dissolved Catholic group. The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae group, founded by Catholic laity and priests in 1971, was investigated by the Vatican, which concluded in 2017 that its leader, layman Luis Fernando Figari, abused along with three other former members, 19 minors and 10 adults between the 1970s and 2000s. In Lima, Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu read the leader written by the Pope, ahead of the premiere of a theatrical production that exploring the abuse scandal. "I want to thank those who have persevered in this cause, even when they were ignored, disqualified and even legally persecuted. In this time of deep social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who long for a solid and participatory democracy." In cricket, Sam Konstas says he is ready to go again after being picked to play for Australia in their opening Test match against the West Indies on Wednesday. The 19-year-old has replaced Marnus Labuschagne in the squad following the latter's poor form in the recent World Test Championship final. Konstas made a stormy entry to the Tests against India at last year's Boxing Day Test match and scored a half century that contained some audacious shots against the world's best fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The opening batter says he still reflects on the moment but has also been working to further improve his game. "To be honest I've been watching it quite a bit. Even some of my mates still send it to me but yeah I still can't believe it. I don't know what was going through my mind at that time but no I thought it was the right time in the moment and yeah it was good fun. It was my first few Test matches... the emotion probably got to me with the crowd and obviously it was good reflecting having a bit of time off, trying to strengthen my game up and yeah hopefully we get to win the start in the next Test match." The three-Test series against the West Indies starts this Wednesday in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
U.S. moving B-2 bombers to Guam amid Middle East tensions, sources say
The United States is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump weighs whether the United States should take part in Israel's strikes against Iran. It was unclear whether the bomber deployment is tied to Middle East tensions. Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facility, prepares for 'prolonged campaign' The B-2 can be equipped to carry America's 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program, including Fordow. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to disclose any further details. One official said no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. They did not say how many B-2 bombers are being moved. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
