Latest news with #militaryCommanders
Washington Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Russia ramps up offensives on two fronts in Ukraine as both sides seek an advantage before fall
KYIV, Ukraine — An emboldened Russia has ramped up military offensives on two fronts in Ukraine , scattering Kyiv's precious reserve troops and threatening to expand the fighting to a new Ukrainian region as each side seeks an advantage before the fighting season wanes in the autumn. Moscow aims to maximize its territorial gains before seriously considering a full ceasefire , analysts and military commanders said. Ukraine wants to slow the Russian advance for as long as possible and extract heavy losses.
Free Malaysia Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Over 900 killed in Iran during 12-day war with Israel
Israel launched a major bombing campaign against Iran on June 13. (EPA Images pic) TEHRAN : At least 935 people were killed in Iran during its 12-day war with Israel, Iranian state media reported today, nearly a week since a ceasefire took hold. 'During the 12-day war waged by the Zionist regime against our country, 935 martyrs have been identified so far,' the official Irna news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying. The death toll included 132 women and 38 children, Jahangir said. Israel on June 13 launched a major bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and atomic scientists. The Israeli strikes hit military bases, nuclear sites as well as residential areas across Iran. Iran retaliated with waves of missiles and drone strikes which hit major cities in Israel including Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing 28 people, according to Israeli authorities. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24.
CNN
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Iran's supreme leader is facing is gravest challenge yet – and has few options left
For nearly four decades, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has navigated internal dissent, economic crises and war, but the unprecedented strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran mark his greatest challenge yet. What he decides next will have huge significance for Iran and the rest of the Middle East. But such is the cost of the assault his options are few. It's a huge test for an 86-year-old in declining health with no designated successor. The extent of the damage inflicted on Khamenei's regime remains uncertain, but it struck at the heart of its power. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a key military force upholding the Islamic Revolution's ideals, suffered the loss of a string of seasoned commanders. Iran's nuclear facilities, where near-weapons-grade uranium was being enriched, were severely damaged, and key scientists driving the program's advancement were assassinated. Khamenei's regional armed proxy groups were already severely weakened by Israeli attacks, and billions spent on his regime's nuclear program were lost in 12 days – another economic wound at a time of sanctions and soaring inflation. So penetrating were the Israeli strikes that Khamenei delivered his speeches during the conflict from an undisclosed location, signaling lingering concern over his safety. He was not among the hundreds of thousands attending nationwide funerals for the assassinated military commanders and nuclear scientists on Saturday. And it was several days after the ceasefire took effect before the supreme leader delivered a defiant video message to the Iranian people. 'This president (Donald Trump) exposed that truth – he made clear that the Americans will only be satisfied with the total surrender of Iran, and nothing less,' Khamenei said. He also, predictably, declared victory over Israel and the US – a message that triggered a blunt response from Trump. 'Look, you're a man of great faith, a man who's highly respected in his country,' Trump said. 'You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell.' Once a nimble leader who used political and economic maneuvering to secure his regime's survival, the aging Khamenei now governs an eroding and rigid state. With uncertainty surrounding his succession, the state of his nuclear program, and the strength of his proxy groups, he faces a critical choice: rebuild the same regime or open up in a way that could threaten his hold on power. Over the decades, Khamenei has confronted a relentless cascade of challenges that together have shaped his regime. Inheriting a nation that in 1989 was wrecked and isolated by war with Iraq, he faced the daunting task of resurrecting his fractured economy and society. He had to manage internal dissent and rivalries within Iran's complex clerical circles, confront unyielding international economic pressures, all while preserving the revolutionary ideals of sovereignty and independence. He has enforced harsh internal repression amid waning public support, notably when women's rights protesters demonstrated for weeks the death of a woman at the hands of the 'morality police,' and when mass protests erupted in 2009 over alleged electoral fraud. Exiled Iranian groups established 24/7 media outlets broadcasting anti-regime propaganda and separatist groups leaked the secrets of his nuclear program. Israel's spy agencies appear to have deeply infiltrated Iran, assassinating nuclear scientists and launching cyberattacks against Iran's infrastructure. Iran says an Israeli strike on the notorious Evin prison killed 71 people. Iranian news outlets report the victims included prison staff, inmates, and visitors. But not once – until now – has he had the world's strongest military strike his country, and a US president talk about his possible assassination in a social media post. Israeli and American strikes on Iran, long-anticipated but widely doubted, marked only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a foreign nation directly attacked the country, following Iraq's invasion under Saddam Hussein in the 1980s. Khamenei's main external leverage points – an advanced nuclear program and a network of proxy groups encircling Israel – are now paralyzed. Internally, Khamenei remains Iran's most powerful figure, backed by a loyal support base and institutions built to safeguard his authority. Yet, with Iran reeling from recent attacks and Khamenei in hiding, the aging leader may intensify repression to preserve the revolution's conservative ideals. 'Iranian doctrine was built around the projection of power in the region and the deterrence of adversaries, but the former is ebbed and the latter has failed. Set against a minimal goal – survival – the regime lives to fight another day, but no doubt it is weakened,' Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, said. Amidst the chaos, the Iranian regime must now address these internal and external problems, Vaez said, this requires 'more fundamental rethinking than Khamenei is likely to entertain.' 'Even if there is quiet on the military front, there must be a reckoning within the system and likely considerable finger-pointing behind the scenes. The intelligence failure has been comprehensive, upper echelons of the military have been wiped out, and Iran must still contend with deep challenges that preceded the war – an economy in difficult straits, deep social and political discontent,' Vaez said. Facing unprecedented pressure and dwindling options, Khamenei, who previously issued a fatwa forswearing the development of nuclear weapons, might consider weaponizing Iran's nuclear program as its best form of protection. Parliament last week signaled its intent to halt cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. Developing a nuclear bomb would be a major reversal in Iran's public stance – Israel says its offensive was aimed at stopping Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, but Tehran has always insisted its program is peaceful. When asked if he would consider bombing Iran again if intelligence reports conclude that Tehran could enrich uranium at concerning levels, Trump said: 'Sure, without question, absolutely.' But Trump claimed 'the last thing' Iran is 'thinking about is a nuclear weapon.' One possibility for Khamenei is to seize an opportunity to harness the rare unity in Iran against Israel's strikes, for example, by introducing further reforms. In his speech, he reflected on the moment as one of collective strength. 'By God's grace, a nation of nearly 90 million stood as one – united in voice and purpose – shoulder to shoulder, without any divisions in demands or intentions,' he said. But as Vaez argued, Khamenei may have a limited appetite for a fundamental political and economic rethink. That conservatism may also preclude another option – embracing a warming neighboring region and pursuing a new agreement with Washington. Iran's Arab neighbors historically saw Iran's expansionist policies as a threat, but more recently have opted to repair ties with Tehran, and expressed a desire to cooperate to avoid costly conflict. But Khamenei's distrust of the West, deepened by Trump's unilateral abrogation of a nuclear treaty in his first term and Israel's unprecedented strikes this month – launched two days before an Iranian delegation was due to hold a new round of talks with the US – leaves uncertainty over how he will approach any upcoming negotiations. In an intensifying attempt to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table, the Trump administration has discussed possibly helping Iran access as much as $30 billion to build a civilian-energy-producing nuclear program, easing sanctions, and freeing up billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds, CNN reported this week citing four sources familiar with the matter said. Trump denied the report. But if Trump wants a deal with Iran, his unorthodox public messaging to Khamenei, including implicitly threatening his assassination, could ultimately derail the talks, Iranian officials said. 'If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted to X on Friday. In his latest speech, the supreme leader projected an image of unyielding resilience, signaling to the United States and Israel – both nuclear powers – that military action alone cannot dismantle his damaged yet still fortified, republic. But with unclear succession to his rule, and the loss of his powerful leverages, he now faces the task of guaranteeing the survival of the Islamic Republic he inherited.
LBCI
26-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli army claims killing Radwan Force and surveillance unit commanders in South Lebanon
The Israeli army announced on Thursday that it had killed a commander from Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force and another from the group's surveillance unit in two separate strikes in southern Lebanon. According to a statement from the military, one of the targeted commanders was killed in an airstrike on Beit Lif, while the other was struck in Baraachit.
Al Jazeera
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
How extensive are Israel's intelligence operations inside Iran?
Intelligence operations years in the making were behind Israel's targeting of key military positions and leaders in Iran this month, according to the Israeli press. The strikes that took out much of Iran's key defensive infrastructure and killed military commanders are credited to an Israeli intelligence service that is claimed to have infiltrated much of Iran's security apparatus. Inside Iran, scores of people have reportedly been arrested and accused of spying for Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, providing media support for Israel or disturbing public opinion. Just a few days ago, the Iranian government ordered senior officials and their security teams not to use smartphones connected to the internet to avoid Israeli hacking of sensitive communications. Iranian security services, meanwhile, are understood to have asked the public to report any building they have rented to companies or individuals in the last couple of years. Iran's crackdown follows what has been framed as an unprecedented Israeli intelligence operation that led to its recent strikes on the country, but how extensive has the infiltration been, and how long has it been in the works? How large a role did Israeli intelligence play in its initial strikes on Iran? A significant one. Shortly after Israel's strikes on Iran, stories of the intelligence operations that preceded the 'unprecedented' attack flooded the media. In interviews given by senior members of Israel's intelligence community, details were given about how both human intelligence and AI were used in tandem to stage the attack, which they claimed hobbled much of Iran's air defences. On June 17, just days after the strike, The Associated Press published interviews with 10 Israeli intelligence and military officials with knowledge of the strike. 'This attack is the culmination of years of work by the Mossad to target Iran's nuclear program,' Sima Shine, the former research director of Mossad, told the AP. The piece also detailed how Israeli agents were able to smuggle in a series of drones and missile systems into Iran, which were then used to strike numerous targets determined by a United States AI model working on data provided to it by Israeli agents within Iran, as well as information gained from previous strikes. Are the intelligence operations ongoing? They appear to be. Israel claimed that the locations of two senior officers in Iran's Quds force, Saeed Izadi and Behnam Shahryari, who were killed over the weekend, had been determined by its intelligence networks. Earlier, on June 17, Israel was able to locate and kill one of Iran's most senior military figures, Major-General Ali Shademani, and that was just four days after the assassination of his predecessor in a targeted air strike. 'I don't think people realise how much audacity we have,' Israeli military intelligence specialist Miri Eisin told The Observer in the United Kingdom, noting that a target would have to entirely rid themselves of any electronic devices that could connect to the internet to avoid detection. 'Most people don't take themselves off the grid,' she said. 'You can get to anybody.' 'Israel likely has around 30 to 40 cells operating inside Iran,' defence analyst Hamze Attar told Al Jazeera from Luxembourg, 'with most of those made up of collaborators, rather than Israeli agents, which also makes Iran look weak,' he said, citing the assembly instructions found on the hardware seized by authorities. 'Some of those cells will be responsible for smuggling weapons from Israel, others for carrying out attacks and others for intelligence gathering,' he said. How long has this been going on? Israeli intelligence operations inside Iran are nothing new. According to analysts, operations designed to monitor, infiltrate, sabotage and undermine Iranian defences date back to the Iranian revolution of 1979. Speaking in November 2024, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged the extent of Israeli operations in Iran, telling the ISNA news agency that the 'problem of infiltration had become very serious in recent years'. 'There have been some instances of negligence for years,' the former parliamentary speaker and nuclear negotiator added. The detonation of communication devices used by the armed Lebanese group Hezbollah in September 2024 was only possible after the infiltration of the group's supply chain by Israeli intelligence. Likewise, the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was carried out after details of his location were obtained by Israeli agents. Similar subterfuge was also used in the targeted assassination of Hamas's political chief Ismael Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024, when an explosive device placed in his residence weeks before was detonated. In the last two decades, Israel has killed a number of Iran's nuclear scientists, including Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated by a remote-controlled gun mounted on the back of a pick-up truck. Israel was also responsible for the release of the Stuxnet computer virus in 2010, which was thought to have infected 30,000 computers across at least 14 nuclear facilities in Iran. Does Iran also spy on Israel? Absolutely. In late October, Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, announced the arrest of seven Israeli citizens on suspicion of spying for Iran. A day earlier, authorities had detained another group of seven in Haifa, alleging they had assisted Iran's Ministry of Intelligence during wartime. At the time, Israeli police sources indicated that additional covert networks with ties to Iran may be active within the country. If this is a covert operation, why do we know so much about it? Because, according to analysts, publicity can also be a powerful tool in an intelligence agency's toolkit. Publicising the degree to which an opposing country's security infrastructure can be infiltrated and sabotaged undermines that country's morale while scoring points at home. 'It's psychological warfare,' Attar said. 'If I keep saying that I've broken into your house and you keep denying it, then I present proof of having done that, how do you look? You look weak. Israel will keep bragging about the extent of their infiltration in the hope that Iran will deny it, then they'll provide further proof of it.'
