Latest news with #OperationRisingLion
Leaders
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Leaders
US, Pakistan Discuss ‘Durable Peace' between Israel, Iran
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explored the ways of ensuring 'a durable peace between Israel and Iran,' with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a call on Thursday, according to Al Arabiya. 'The two leaders acknowledged the importance of working together to promote a durable peace between Israel and Iran,' the US State Department said in a statement. During the call, Rubio stressed that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump unveiled a ceasefire between Israel and Iran to put an end to a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. Trump also held a meeting last week with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House to discuss the latest tensions between Israel and Iran. Since Tehran does not have diplomatic relations with the US, a section of Pakistan's embassy in Washington represents Iran's interests in the US. Escalating Tensions On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed several Iranian nuclear scientists in line with its goal to eliminate Iran's nuclear program. US Achieved No Gains In his first public statement since the announcement of the ceasefire, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities on June 13, according to The Associated Press. The Supreme Leader also stated that Iran has 'delivered a hand slap to America's face' on Thursday by attacking the US base in Qatar. He revealed that the US intervention in the war was basically driven by its feeling 'that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would be utterly destroyed.' However, the US had not achieved any gains from this war, he added. Related Topics: Erdogan Urges Permanent Iran-Israel Ceasefire, Calls for Gaza Truce US-Iran Talks to Take Place Next Week: Trump Israel Accuses Iran of Ceasefire Breach, Tehran Denies Short link : Post Views: 6
ABC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
The voices inside Iran the regime doesn't want you to hear
In a country where dissidents face arrest or even execution, 10 Iranians put themselves at risk to document the war. It's 2am in Iran when a message pops up on my phone. "They are bombing us now. I can hear it. I'm at my mum's. There is no shelter. I'm terrified. Pray for us. We may die." The text is from Zahra, a young woman who lives in Tehran, and she is risking her life to send it. It's difficult to get a sense of how ordinary Iranians have been feeling during the past fortnight. Foreign journalists are rarely allowed into Iran, and media in the country is tightly controlled by the regime. People who speak out face arrest, even execution, and rolling internet blackouts help authorities tighten their grip on information. One of my contacts was arrested and held in jail just last year. But throughout the war, several Iranians — including a teacher, a mother, and a labourer — have been sending me information as the war unfolded. They want the outside world to know what's happening in their country. Here are their stories. 'It felt like an earthquake': The war begins People described the first attacks as feeling "like an earthquake". ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Under the cover of darkness, Israel begins Operation Rising Lion on June 13. People wake to explosions and bright clouds of light in the sky. Panic and confusion sweep the streets. ZAHRA: It felt like an earthquake happened. I was terrified, it was almost close to my house. It was 2:30am and suddenly I saw a yellow-orange light … I brought my head up and heard booooooooooom. It all happened in a second. FARAH: My mum heard the booms at about 3am. And she started screaming. They attack our neighbourhood, behind my house, and everything is shattered and destroyed. ZAHRA: I called my mum and begged her to go to the basement. I was running the steps down, calling the neighbours to come down … my dog was following me. You have no idea how I was shaking, no idea! My spine was shaking, my whole body, my legs were shaking so much that I couldn't stand on them. Then it kept going, the night after and the night after. FARAH: In the streets, it is heart-wrenching. I feel so heartbroken to see the kids and young people, ordinary ones who are not in the army, are all killed. And near my house, there is a girl who is killed, she was 20-something, and I keep thinking about her because I remember that I had so many dreams when I was 20. Anyway, that's war. 'No-one is in the streets': Thousands flee Tehran People were told to evacuate Tehran, but several residents told the ABC it was difficult. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Hours after the attack, Iran's leaders declare war and fire barrages of missiles back at Israel. Israel's military continues to bomb nuclear sites and assassinate senior military leaders and nuclear scientists. Civilians are also killed. People are told to evacuate Tehran — but not everyone can leave. FARAH: We left our city Tehran yesterday. Usually it takes four to five hours to reach to the north part of Iran and yesterday it took us 11 hours. It was very crowded, all the roads and the highways. And I just drive 500 metres in 10 minutes. It's horrible. ZAHRA: I am still in Tehran, it is almost empty. Shops are closed, no-one is in the streets. Some people spend more than 12 hours in traffic getting out of Tehran. In other cities, food and fuel is already scarce. FARAH: I just went to the petrol station here [in northern Iran] and they told me that I can just take the 30 litres, no more. And I heard from my friends in Tehran that you can just get 15 litres for your car per day and not more. So petrol is like a crisis. 'There is no place to hide': Fear intensifies People told the ABC they felt like "nothing" was in their control. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Five days into the war, Israel's bombing campaign continues. The official death toll in Iran has climbed past 200. It's unclear how many are civilians. People fear the war will continue for years. FARAH: It's been less than a week that they started the war and in just few days everything collapsed and destroyed. And we lost so many beautiful lives and minds. YASMIN: Nothing is in our control. It's not in the hands of the people here either. But we've gotta keep our spirit strong. We've been through so much through the years — and it's made us thick skinned … really thick. FARAH: Innocent people, they are killed, they stay in their home, and there is no alarm, there is no place to hide, there is not shelter, there's no food. I don't know what are we doing? ZAHRA: It's war. It's Israel. It's scary. 'They will kill us': Some hope war will topple regime Some people said they hoped the war would lead to the end of the regime. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) There's talk that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could be assassinated. Hundreds of men from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — the military group that protects the theocratic regime — have also been killed. Amongst the fear, there is hope among people who despise the regime that it could fall. ZAHRA: I hate these paradoxical feelings. On one hand, I am glad that those [in the IRGC] who killed our children, blinded them, imprisoned us are dead. On the other hand, our national pride has been attacked and I/we feel humiliated. Some are angry with the regime and feel happy about eliminating the leaders. Some are not happy with the war and they think it's encroaching our country. KAMRAN: It's this strange feeling, like people were relieved the war started, just because they thought maybe everything else — all this madness — would finally end. ALI: If foreign attacks shatter the regime's grandeur and that fear shatters, it will definitely lead to regime change. ZAHRA: I just woke up, we're still at war. We want it all gone. The regime must go. If they stay after this war, they will kill us all. And we know it. Israel must end up eliminating the regime's men. If not, they will arrest us, they will kill us. 'This might be the last chance': Panic as US bombs Iran People were afraid of what the US joining the war could lead to. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Just after 2am on June 22, nine days after the first strikes, America joins the war. US forces drop massive "bunker-busting" bombs on several nuclear sites. People inside Iran fear this means real war — not just with Israel, but the start of something that could destroy all of their country. ZAHRA: They bombed Fordow and other sites. It was like an earthquake. Fordow was a place that Israel couldn't bomb so Trump did it instead. But Israel won't stop now. They will finish the Islamic Republic. LENA: State media is telling us that the enriched uranium was moved elsewhere and that nothing has happened. Right now, we don't even have satellite access. Many people don't know what actually happened. For example, I didn't know myself. I went out this morning [and] found out there that the US had struck. FARAH: Nobody knows what's going on and what will happen next. The nuclear leaks, maybe. Maybe we won't be like alive in the next few hours? Who knows? Now this American attack … I can't stop my tears. LENA: The regime doesn't let us access the news or talk to each other. They've shut everything down on us. ZAHRA: This might be the last chance for us. FINISH them. America will finish them. 'I am full of anger': Mixed feelings over sudden ceasefire Iranians had mixed feelings after the ceasefire was announced. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) A day after the US bombs Iran, Donald Trump announces a ceasefire. There's shock and disbelief inside Iran. Could the war really be over？ There's also a growing anger, at what some see as a missed opportunity to topple the regime. FARAH: For now I am full of anger … this mullah's regime is still here and our country is destroyed, many people have been killed for nothing!!!!!! This morning I was crying when I heard the news. They promised us to change the regime. They said that they're going to kill Khamenei, they're going to bring better days but it's all lies, empty promises. YASMIN: Nothing is in our control. It's not in the hands of the people here either. My brain is throbbing. I don't want to give this s*** anymore energy I'm done for today, I'm done with it all. With those f***ers, with politics. FARHAD: I would have preferred Israel to destruct and weaken the regime led by Khamenei even more. If they continue the war, they [Iran's regime] might get weaker, their economy might further weaken and the people could have greater courage to start an uprising. KAMRAN: If they go ahead and announce a permanent ceasefire, after all the damage that's been done to the Islamic Republic's infrastructure, our lives will only get worse. Much worse. 'I still have hope': People disappointed regime remains The Iranian regime, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has tight control over the media. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Anger quickly turns to fear with the realisation the war is over, but the regime remains. Some predict the weakened regime will crack down even harder — especially on those who oppose the regime — as it fights for its survival. FARAH: Right now the regime will have a lot of excuses — that if [you] don't behave like they what they want, according to them, based on Islamic rule, then it's enough for them to label you a spy — you are working for Israel, you are American spy. Then they kill you easily. AVA: I'm disappointed … I thought maybe this could be it. I still have hope that it [the ceasefire] won't last — because otherwise, the people will have to pay for this war. KAMRAN: If I'm being real, I've kind of lost faith, I'm disappointed. Maybe it's all just some psychological game they're playing, I don't know. FARAH: We went to do some shopping yesterday. On the way there, there were more than 10 checkpoints with lots and lots of young policemen with huge guns. I saw they stopped many young men and all kind of lorries and big cars. We came back in the evening, there were lots of checkpoints too with policemen but different types of uniform which I didn't recognise and we've never seen them before. Scary. 'Twelve days of horror': Iranians question what the war achieved Several people told the ABC the cost of food and fuel is already soaring. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) The war is over, but it's not time to celebrate. People in Tehran report massive damage and say the city will need extensive repairs. They say the regime and its henchmen are already jacking up the prices of petrol, oil, and food — likely to raise money to pay for the reconstruction. Some feel like the war was for nothing. KAMRAN: We're going to be the ones expected to pay for the damage — in every sense of the word. Any loss, any destruction — they'll find a way to get people to make up for it. They'll squeeze us. They'll justify it by saying, "We gave you peace. We gave you stability." In every possible sense — especially economically, we'll be crushed. We'll be struggling just to stay afloat, nothing more. BIJAN: We have been notified that for three or four days now, no imports are coming into Iran. Iran's stock exchange has been closed for a week. That affects the economy. FARAH: We don't know how to be happy. What did they achieve from this kind of war? It's just 12 days of horror and shocks and stress. They destroyed all the buildings. They destroyed our homes. They killed innocent, ordinary people … I feel like my heart is bleeding. ZAHRA: Yes we are tired … yes we are disappointed. But, change takes time. You should know the history of Saddam and Gaddafi? The same thing happened. So we will be patient. Change will happen. Credits: Reporting: Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn Additional reporting: Kaveh Akbari, Fariba Sahraei and Nassim Khadem Illustrations: Sharon Gordon Digital production and editing: Leonie Thorne and Toby Mann
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Inspired by Game of Thrones, Israel's deadly Red Wedding operation took out 30 Iran generals in minutes
Inside Israel's Operation Red Wedding that Killed 30 Top Iranian Generals in Minutes- Israel's Operation Red Wedding has shocked the world with its speed, strategy, and deadly precision. Launched on June 13, the operation saw Israel eliminate 30 senior Iranian military officials in just the first few minutes of a 12-day war. This bold strike, part of a larger campaign known as Operation Rising Lion, was a preemptive move to neutralize Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities before they could pose a greater threat. Here's a detailed breakdown of the operation, how it unfolded, and what it means for the future of Middle East security. How did Operation Red Wedding begin and what was Israel's real plan? Israel launched Operation Red Wedding as part of a wider military effort under Operation Rising Lion. The plan was carefully crafted to deal a major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions and military leadership. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the goal was clear: strike first, neutralize Iran's response capability, and take out key command structures. Within minutes, 30 Iranian generals were dead—most notably Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force. He and other IRGC missile and drone officials were meeting underground to plan Iran's retaliation. Israel's timing was precise—this meeting was specifically targeted in a coordinated, multi-front strike. What role did deception and surprise play in Israel's strategy? The name 'Red Wedding' was inspired by the brutal betrayal scene in Game of Thrones , and the strategy behind it echoed that fictional massacre. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly faked taking time off for his son's wedding while finalizing plans for the surprise attack. Even his wife Sarah and son Avner were unaware that the event was a cover to lull Iran into complacency. Israeli intelligence played a major role in gathering data on high-level targets and orchestrating the perfect moment to strike. This included feeding false signals to Iran, which helped pull together key military figures into one location. What were the results of Israel's simultaneous operations? Within hours, Israel expanded the attack. Operation Narnia, another covert strike, targeted Iran's nuclear scientists. Nine senior Iranian scientists working on nuclear weapons were killed in separate but timed strikes. This all happened as more than 200 Israeli jets conducted raids on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities. In total, the IDF hit 100 strategic targets using 330 precision munitions. These included uranium enrichment plants, ballistic missile launch sites, and command centers. Israeli forces also crippled Iranian air defenses and drone systems. By the end of the 12-day campaign, Israel claimed to have fully met and exceeded all military objectives. Was Mossad operating from inside Iran? One of the most shocking revelations came from reports that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, had smuggled commandos and weapon systems into Iran ahead of the strike. Video footage published by Israeli media appeared to show Mossad operatives guiding drone strikes from within Iranian territory. These agents were reportedly stationed at a secret base inside Iran, playing a direct role in the early strikes on missile batteries. Their role was to provide real-time intelligence and mark critical targets for precision strikes, adding another layer of coordination to the operation. Live Events How did the United States support the mission, and what was Trump's role? U.S. President Donald Trump, still in office, supported Israel by deploying advanced American weapons to join the mission. On June 22, the U.S. dropped twelve GBU-57 'bunker buster' bombs—each weighing 30,000 pounds—on Iran's hardest-to-reach underground nuclear facilities. These strikes added significant pressure to Iran's already crumbling defense posture. Within 24 hours of these attacks, Iran launched a weak counterstrike targeting a U.S. air base in Qatar. But the attempt failed, as Iran had provided early warnings, allowing all rockets to be intercepted. A ceasefire was brokered shortly after. How is Iran reacting, and what is the Ayatollah's next move? Despite suffering heavy losses—including dozens of top military leaders and nuclear scientists—Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory. Speaking from a hidden underground bunker, Khamenei declared that Iran had delivered a 'severe slap' to both Israel and the United States. However, analysts say his speech was more propaganda than fact. Israel retains air superiority over Tehran, and the IDF dismantled Iran's strategic weapons systems in under two weeks. Khamenei, now 86, has not been seen in public for over two weeks and remains in hiding amid fears of further assassination attempts. What does this mean for the future of Iran and the Middle East? Calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder in the wake of the conflict. Many within the Iranian public and global observers are pushing for a democratic transition. Meanwhile, President Trump hinted at supporting this movement, posting 'Make Iran Great Again' on Truth Social. Still, the White House clarified that official U.S. policy doesn't yet include regime change. Tensions in the region remain high, and while the ceasefire holds for now, the political and military fallout from Operation Red Wedding is far from over. FAQs: What is Operation Red Wedding in Israel's attack on Iran? Operation Red Wedding was Israel's surprise mission to kill top Iranian generals in a preemptive strike. How did Israel target Iran's nuclear scientists in Operation Rising Lion? Israel used drones and airstrikes to kill nine top Iranian nuclear scientists working on bomb development.
International Business Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Who Is Catherine Perez-Shakdam? The 'Mossad' Spy Who Reportedly Helped Israel Strike Iran From Within
In what is being called one of the most precise and damaging operations in recent memory, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, 2025. The nighttime aerial assault involved warplanes and drones breaching Iranian airspace, targeting key military and missile infrastructures. The operation was not just a military success—it was also an intelligence triumph years in the making. At the center of it all is Catherine Perez-Shakdam, a French-born Mossad agent who penetrated deep into Iran's leadership circles. Reports suggest that the operation led to the deaths of nearly 15 senior Iranian commanders. While the strike seemed sudden to the world, Israeli intelligence had spent years crafting this mission. Much of its success is now being credited to Shakdam, a woman whose journey from Paris to Tehran reads like a modern-day spy thriller. Catherine Perez-Shakdam was raised in a secular Jewish family in France. In a carefully planned move, she married a Muslim Yemeni man she met in London, converted to Islam, and eventually moved to Yemen. Her transformation gave her a new identity, allowing her to write for regional media and gradually earn credibility as a voice sympathetic to Iran. By 2017, she was working as a journalist with Russian state broadcaster RT and had started forming links with Iran's top brass. Shakdam was eventually invited to Iran, where she not only embraced Shia Islam publicly but was also given access to influential government officials. She met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, General Qassem Soleimani, and later President Ebrahim Raisi. Over time, she gained the trust of key regime members, particularly the wives of top military officials. Using her charm and journalistic cover, Shakdam was allowed into homes, meetings, and even sensitive military zones. While publicly penning articles that aligned with Iran's ideological views, she secretly collected valuable intelligence. Photographs she took and articles she wrote were used as tools to feed data back to Israel. Her writings even appeared on Khamenei's official website before being swiftly erased once her identity was exposed. Catherine's exact whereabouts remain unknown. She disappeared just three days before the June 13 attack. Iran has since launched a nationwide manhunt and executed several suspected collaborators. Some believe she has assumed a new identity and is living under the radar, continuing to work for Israeli intelligence. Her story has become a symbol of high-stakes espionage—where a single individual, through calculated deception, charm, and intelligence, can reshape the course of geopolitical conflicts. Shakdam's case underscores how warfare today isn't just fought with weapons, but also with information and infiltration.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
My Take 5 (Edition 47): The week that was in international affairs
Welcome back to another edition of My Take 5, your roundup of top international news. It has been a week of heavy geopolitical developments centred on the 12-day Iran-Israel war. So let's get to it: Iran-Israel war: After an intense 12-day conflict between Iran and Isreal that saw the US bomb Tehran's nuclear sites, a tentative ceasefire appears to be holding. But the big question everyone is asking is: What was it all about? Israel claims Iran was weeks away from making a nuclear bomb. Hence it had to act quickly and destroy Iran's capabilities. Thus, it launched Operation Rising Lion by hitting Iranian military assets and nuclear sites. Note, however, that Netanyahu has been making statements about how close Iran is to a bomb for years. Nonetheless, the US joined him this time to hit Iran's nuclear programme. Now there's a big debate whether the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites actually served their purpose, especially the targeting of the facility in Fordow buried deep below a mountain. Some initial assessments say the damage was something that can be repaired by the Iranians within months. Add to this reports that Iranians may have moved critical equipment and uranium stockpiles much in advance of the strikes, and the whole 'degrading Iran's nuclear programme' narrative begins to look iffy. Read full story on TOI Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
