Latest news with #Khorramshahr-4
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Israel assassinates IRGC members in Iran as missile strikes hit nuclear sites
Members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) navy participate in an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Listen to article At least 10 members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were assassinated in Israeli air strikes on the central province of Yazd on Sunday, Iranian media stated. Iran has not yet responded publicly to the reported deaths in Yazd. The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran's military reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plays a central role in the country's foreign operations and oversees its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. It comprises around 190,000 active personnel and was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019. An unspecified number of other IRGC personnel were also wounded in the strikes, which mark one of the deadliest Israeli attacks on Iranian territory since tensions escalated earlier this month, reported semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Israel has not officially confirmed the strike in Yazd but claims it has assassinated around two dozen Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists since June 13. Israeli air strikes have killed several top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, including the commander of the IRGC Hossein Salami, in one of the most direct and deadly escalations between the two countries to date. IRGC has begun using the Kheibar Shekan missile—also known as the Khorramshahr-4—which was unveiled in 2022 and is believed to carry the heaviest payload among Iran's ballistic missiles. IRGC said its latest missile strikes targeted Ben Gurion International Airport and several research sites in Israel. Read: Timeline of Iran's nuclear programme Meanwhile, Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of at least four senior military officials in Israeli strikes, including Salami, Armed Forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and General Gholamali Rashid. The attacks also killed six prominent nuclear scientists and wounded hundreds, as Israel targeted key infrastructure sites across Iran, including the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz. After the assasinations, Khamenei appointed Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC chief and Majid Mousavi as head of its aerospace division. The initial wave of Israeli strikes, involving approximately 200 fighter jets, hit multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Arak, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. In Kermanshah, near the Iraqi border, an underground ballistic missile storage facility was reportedly destroyed. Iranian authorities initially reported at least 80 people killed and over 320 wounded in the first round of attacks. However, updated figures from Human Rights Activists (HRA), a Washington-based monitoring group, indicate that Israeli strikes have killed at least 950 people and injured more than 3,450 across Iran to date. Read more: Global turmoil If Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz — but Pakistan may get a pass HRA reported that among the dead are 380 civilians and 253 members of Iran's security forces. The group, known for documenting the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, cross-checks local reports with an independent network inside the country. Iran's government has not issued consistent nationwide casualty updates during the conflict. Its most recent count, released by the Health Ministry, reported 400 deaths and over 3,000 injuries—figures significantly lower than HRA's estimates. Among the injured is senior Iranian diplomat Ali Shamkhani, who has been leading negotiations with the United States. He is reported to be in critical condition following the strikes.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Iran's Khamenei vows ‘retaliation' in first reaction to US strikes, says Israel ‘being punished'
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first reaction after the US bombed three key nuclear facilities in Tehran, vowed continued punishment for the 'Zionist enemy', a reference to Israel. 'The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now,' he said. Khamenei also posted an image showing what appeared to be air strikes, with a skull bearing a 'Star of David' — a symbol associated with the Israeli flag and Jewish identity, on its forehead. #همین_حالا مجازات ادامه دارد دشمن صهیونی یک اشتباه بزرگی کرده، یک جنایت بزرگی را مرتکب شده؛ باید مجازات بشود و دارد مجازات میشود؛ همین حالا دارد مجازات میشود.#الله_اکبر — | فارسی 🇮🇷 (@Khamenei_fa) June 23, 2025 His statement came a day after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, including the powerful Khorramshahr-4 missile, in direct response to the US airstrikes. According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), at least 40 missiles were fired following the US action. Earlier on Sunday, Khamenei's aide, Hossein Shariatmadari, issued a stark warning of imminent retaliation and suggested closing off a key global oil route: 'It is now our turn to act without delay. As a first step, we must launch a missile strike on the US naval fleet in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French ships,' he told Iranian media. Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn't over, enriched materials,#indigenous_knowledge, #political_will remain. With #legitimate_defense right, political and operational initiative is now with the side that plays smart, avoids blind strikes. Surprises will continue! — علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) June 22, 2025 Tensions between Iran and Israel have intensified since Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' on June 13, targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on Israeli cities. On Sunday, the US escalated the conflict by joining Israeli military action, striking Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in Operation 'Midnight Hammer'. The Fordow site, considered Iran's most fortified facility, was hit with 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles, and coordinated strikes from B-2 stealth bombers, F-22 Raptors, and F-35A fighters. In his first message after the attack, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran: 'If they do not [make peace], future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes,' he said.
Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
'You may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it': Iran warns 'gambler' Trump
Recent hostile action by the United States expanded the scope of legitimate targets for Iran's armed forces, a spokesperson for its Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a video shared on Zolfaqari said the US should expect heavy consequences for its actions. "Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said in English at the end of his recorded statement. After the attacks, on Monday, Trump claimed that "monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran". .Khorramshahr-4: Iran's monster missile used against Israel. "The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social earlier called on Iran to forgo any retaliation and said the government "must now make peace" or "future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier."(With Reuters inputs)
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran PUNISHES Israel, Launches Massive Counterattack With Missile Strikes On Jerusalem, Haifa
Iran DEVASTATES Israel With 3,000 Pound Missile Warhead For First Time Since War, Reveals IRGC The Iranian military claimed that it fired its largest missile yet amid tensions with Israel and our 'strike on its nuclear sites. Iranian state TV showed test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile. An onscreen caption said that it was used today in a barrage on Israel. The Khorramshahr-4 has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet. Iran says the missile has a 2,000-kilometer range and is capable of carrying a 1,500-kilogram warhead. Watch this video to know more. 11.9K views | 3 hours ago
Gulf Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Images show damage to the entryways at Iran's Fordow nuclear site after US strikes
Satellite images taken on Sunday and analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to the entryways to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facility. The images by Planet Labs PBC also appeared to show damage to the mountain itself that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. 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. A satellite picture shows damage to the entryways at Fordow nuclear site in Iran. AP The United States attacked three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the Iranian nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Tehran accused Washington of launching "a dangerous war." U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites were "completely and fully obliterated" in an address to the nation from the White House. There was no independent damage assessment. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. It was not clear whether the U.S. would continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Iran for nine days. Countries around the globe are calling for diplomacy and caution. Trump acted without congressional authorization, and he also warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against U.S. forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. Iran's Foreign Ministry said Washington had "betrayed diplomacy" with the military strikes in support of Israel, and said that "the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran" now. "The Islamic Republic of 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," the ministry said in a lengthy statement. Hours after the American attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-story building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its entire façade torn away to expose the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed.
