Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Israeli Amb.: Whether Ayatollah Lives or Not ‘Is Irrelevant’, We’re Ensuring They Don’t Get Nukes

On Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “OutFront,” Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter stated that Israel will “prosecute this war, whether the ayatollah survives or not. We are not going to allow the Iranian regime, under his control, to have a nuclear bomb. Whether he’s alive or not is irrelevant.”

Leiter said that “Once we take out this race by the Iranian regime to achieve a nuclear bomb, the entire region will change. … This is going to be Abraham Accords 2.0, as soon as the Iranian mullahs, with their intention of eliminating Israel, are neutralized.”

Host John Berman then asked if Israel knows where Iran’s supreme leader is. Leiter responded, “I’ll tell you what I do know. I know that, Friday morning, the ayatollah woke up, he looked over his left shoulder for his nuclear scientists and found none. Then he looked over his right shoulder for his generals of the IRGC — those guys who were spreading the terrorism around the world — he didn’t see any of them either. So, he’s kind of alone right now. He appointed a new chief of staff. He lasted about four days. So, the ayatollah may be many stories underground right now in hiding. That’s where he belongs. And we’re going to prosecute this war, whether the ayatollah survives or not. We are not going to allow the Iranian regime, under his control, to have a nuclear bomb. Whether he’s alive or not is irrelevant.” (Source)

Iran’s nuclear program has been hit hard, but won’t be knocked out if Fordo remains

Taking the podium at his first press conference since deciding to strike Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday read out Israel’s achievements in Operation Rising Lion.

The list is impressive. Israeli forces have taken out Iran’s military leadership, hit hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of launchers, wiped out half of Iran’s UAVs, and established air superiority in western Iran.

On the nuclear front, Netanyahu also has much he can point to. Israel has killed 10 senior nuclear scientists, and promises to reach more. It has caused extensive damage to key nuclear sites as well. But – as Israel has learned in Gaza – impressive tactical achievements do not automatically amount to operational success, and damage to some core elements of Iran’s nuclear program does not necessarily mean Israel has set it back very far. “The blow is not yet critical,” said Raz Zimmt, director of the Iran and the Shiite Axis research program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. (Read More)

Israel will achieve goals in Iran within a week or two, including in Fordo, IDF says

Air force striking ballistic missiles launchers and stores, air defense systems and radar sites; IDF believes smaller salvos now being launched at Israel due to successful strikes. The Israeli military estimates it will achieve its objectives against Iran’s nuclear program within a week or two, Israel Defense Forces officials told reporters on Tuesday.

The estimation came as Israel continued to operate against the Islamic Republic’s forces and nuclear program, with the Israeli Air Force conducting a wave of airstrikes against Iranian ballistic missile launchers in western Iran, the IDF said.

The military said fighter jets hit dozens of launchers and other facilities. IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Tuesday evening that 60 Israeli Air Force jets set out for an “extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran” several hours earlier, targeting launchers aimed at Israel. He said that because of Israel’s strikes in recent days, Iran’s forces have withdrawn to central Iran. “Now, they are putting efforts into launching [missiles] from Isfahan.” “They withdrew from western Iran, but we are coming after them,” he said. (Read More)

Iran's Supreme Leader says any US strikes on Iran will have serious consequences

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement read by a television presenter on Wednesday that his country will not accept US President Donald Trump's call for an unconditional surrender.

In his first remarks since Friday, when he delivered a speech broadcast on state media after Israel began bombarding Iran, Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic.

"Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender," he said. "The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage." Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran on Wednesday after Israeli warplanes bombed the city overnight, and a source said Trump was considering options that include joining Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. (Ed note: This is getting to be weird. This guy is delusional and does not have a grip on reality!)  (Read more)

Israel: 60 Jets over Iran, Wiping Out Missile Batteries


The Israel Defense Force (IDF)
said Tuesday evening that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had 60 fighter jets over western Iran, wiping out dozens of ballistic missile batteries to end the Iranian threat to Israeli civilians.

The Times of Israel reported: “IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says 60 Israeli Air Force jets set out for an ‘extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran,’ a few hours ago, targeting ballistic missile launchers aimed at Israel.

In a video, Defrin said that Iran had been “pushed back into central Iran” and was firing missiles from “the area of Isfahan.” “We are aiming at military targets,” Defrin added. “They are attacking civilian homes.” Israel has complete freedom of operation above the skies of Iran — an achievement that President Donald Trump claimed for himself, though few Israelis were complaining about who received the credit. What was more important to Israelis was Trump’s demand on Tuesday for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” — a demand not heard from a Western power since World War II. (Read More)

Katz: No negotiations with Iran, IDF to hit ‘very significant targets’ soon

The only talks taking place between Israel and Iran are those “between our missiles and their targets,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, warning of impending attacks on “very significant targets.”

“We are not engaged in any negotiations, and we will not allow harm to Israeli citizens,” said Katz during a visit to the site of an Iranian missile impact in the coastal city of Herzliya. “Today, we are about to strike very significant targets—strategic targets, regime and infrastructure targets—inside Tehran,” he revealed, noting that “the Persian IDF spokesperson will call on residents to evacuate.”

“Fordow is an issue that will also be addressed,” he said of reports that the Israel Defense Forces might attack the underground nuclear plant. (Read more)

New geopolitical reality emerges as Israel reshapes the Middle East


In just four days, Israel’s actions have already significantly weakened Iran’s grip and emboldened its adversaries. On October 7, 2023, the brutal Hamas attack on Israel prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare, “We will reshape the Middle East.” Since then, Israel has launched a multifaceted campaign to dismantle Iran’s network of terrorist proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen.

Last week, this effort culminated in “Operation Rising Lion,” a pre-emptive strike targeting Iran’s leadership, military installations, and nuclear sites.This audacious operation has sparked intense debate about its geopolitical ramifications, but Israel is confident it can win this war, destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and change the Middle East for the better.

Israel’s strikes mark a pivotal moment in a region long plagued by Iran’s expanding influence. Prof. David Menashri, an expert at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University, told JNS that the Middle East’s geopolitics “has changed significantly” since October 7, and particularly since Iran’s April 2024 attack on Israel with drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. (Read More)

Iranians Trapped Without CASH! IRGC Shuts Down Banks & Internet

The combination of relentless cyberattacks, IRGC imposed internet outages, and widespread banking failures has plunged Iran into chaos, leaving citizens unable to access their money and fueling expectations of an impending uprising against the regime.

There is nothing more terrifying and nerve racking than not being able to access your own money when you need it most. This is what is happening to citizens in Iran, and for a myriad of different reasons. Tech blackouts due to strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blocking internet access, as well as banks going completely offline. Israeli officials have hinted that they are pursuing ongoing cyberattacks on Iran as another facet of their warfare.

However, some evidence suggests these attacks may be coming from inside Iran itself, from rebel groups pushing for regime change. If this is the case, their actions are causing havoc among ordinary Iranians, who are caught in the crossfire of a shadowy cyber war. On June 17, 2025, Iranians faced a dual crisis: a financial blackout and widespread internet outages. Bank Sepah, Iran’s first bank and a key financial institution, was crippled by a cyberattack that knocked out online banking services, shuttered branches, and rendered ATMs inoperative. (Read More)

Wild Reports Emerge of Iranians Celebrating Israel’s Attack: Here’s Why

As tensions continue to flare between Israel and Iran, reports of Iranians rejoicing have been going viral. It might seem like a strange reaction — residents of a nation being attacked by a perceived enemy expressing elation. But Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, said the situation inside Iran is so bleak and difficult that this response from residents makes perfect sense.

“The immediate reaction that we got from Iran was, for want of a better word, celebration,” she told CBN News. “I’ve seen videos going viral on social media with young people throwing parties literally as they watch the missiles coming down … It’s been surreal looking at that thinking, ‘Wow, these are people under attack and yet they welcome it.'”

Silk said she’s even seen messages from Iranians personally thanking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “for finally doing something about this brutal regime.”While Silk acknowledged that some of the joy might have been tempered by the realities of war, including food and gas shortages, evacuations, and other issues, the elation is still present. (Read More)

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Israel Expects U.S. to Join Attack on Iran Within Hours


Fordow may be the first target
. Netanyahu to convene war cabinet. Trump demands: “Unconditional surrender.” Israeli defense officials now believe that the United States is on the verge of entering the war — with a likely first target being Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear facility in Fordow. Israel has reportedly requested U.S. assistance in destroying the underground complex, which is buried deep in the mountains and beyond the reach of conventional munitions.

According to sources, if President Trump gives the order, it will be a full-scale strike — designed to make history, not headlines. Earlier today, Israeli F-15s escorted U.S. B-52 bombers across Israeli airspace in what many interpreted as a clear signal of readiness. American air refueling aircraft are already in position — over 30 U.S. tankers have been deployed to enable deep Israeli sorties across Iran.

CNN and the Wall Street Journal confirm that CENTCOM is actively planning a range of operational scenarios, from limited air support to deeper direct involvement. President Trump has made no secret of his intentions. In a series of posts on Truth Social, he wrote:
“We know exactly where the ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He’s an easy target — but we’re not killing him. At least not yet.” 
“We don’t want rockets fired at civilians or American troops. Our patience is running out.” “Unconditional surrender — now!”

Trump also appeared to take partial credit for the Israeli offensive, saying:
“We have total control over Iran’s skies. They had good surveillance systems and lots of defensive gear — but nothing compares to what the U.S. developed, invented, and built. Nobody does it better than good old America.” (Read More)

Trump: "I expect a complete surrender from Iran"


U.S. President Donald Trump
told CBS correspondent Jennifer Jacobs aboard Air Force One that he is not seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but rather a “real end”—defined as Iran’s full abandonment of its nuclear ambitions. “I never said I’m looking for a ceasefire,” Trump clarified, emphasizing that Tehran must “completely surrender” its nuclear program. He predicted that Israel would not slow its military offensive: “You’ll see in the coming days. No one has slowed down so far.”He added, "The pace of the attacks will not slow down."

When asked about calls for evacuations in Tehran, Trump stated that his priority is ensuring “people are safe.” He also noted that he should be at the White House, not Canada, to stay “deeply informed” and avoid relying on phone briefings.

Asked whether he would dispatch negotiators such as Witkoff or Vice President Vance to meet with Iranian officials, Trump replied, “Maybe,” adding, “It depends on what happens when I get back.” On potential threats to American interests, Trump issued a clear warning: “Tehran knows not to touch our people. If they do, we’ll hit them very hard.” Pressed on whether he had received military action plans from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs or the Secretary of Defense, Trump declined to answer: “I can’t tell you that.” As for U.S. involvement in a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear program, Trump expressed hope that “it’ll be wiped out long before that’s even necessary. (Read More)

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly in "poor mental state," still possible Israeli target


Iran
International reports that the Supreme Leader is devastated by the loss of many of his friends in power. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reportedly in a "poor mental state" due to the elimination of most of his senior government colleagues, according to a report by Iran International.

Khamenei was evacuated to a secure location following the launching of Operation Rising Lion, during which the IDF eliminated many senior Iranian military leaders. According to reports, Israel had an operational window to eliminate him during the first day, but decided to give him one more chance to agree to dismantling the country's nuclear weapons program.

When asked on the matter during a press conference today (Monday), IDF Spokesperson Effi Defrin declined to comment on whether or not Khamenei is presently a target of Israel's, though Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it clear he does not consider Khamenei's death to be an escalation and would in fact deescalate tensions.  (Source)

IAEA: All 15,000 centrifuges at Iran’s main enrichment plant likely ‘severely damaged’

Damage at Natanz
believed to be result of airstrike on the facility’s power supply, leading to an outage, which in turn harmed fragile machines that spin at extremely high speeds. It is very likely all the roughly 15,000 centrifuges operating at Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz were badly damaged or destroyed because of a power cut caused by an Israeli strike, the UN nuclear watchdog chief told the BBC on Monday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General Rafael Grossi had previously said the centrifuges at the underground enrichment plant at Natanz may have been damaged as a result of an airstrike on its power supply, even though the hall housing the plant itself did not seem to have been hit.

“Our assessment is that with this sudden loss of external power, in great probability the centrifuges have been severely damaged if not destroyed altogether,” Grossi said in an interview with the BBC. (Read More)

Trump leaves G7 early, issues warning: Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!


President Trump calls for the immediate evacuation of Tehran, warning Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. Minutes later, explosions reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities. White House says Trump will leave the G7 summit early due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
US President Donald Trump issued an unusual warning on his Truth Social platform on Monday, calling for the evacuation of Tehran. "Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. 

I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" he wrote. n a subsequent post, Trump wrote, "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" A few minutes after Trump's initial warning, there were reports in Iran of explosions and heavy anti-aircraft fire in Tehran. Additional strikes were reported at other locations in Iran, including Natanz.

A White House official explained to CNN that Trump’s social media post “reflected the urgency of the need for Iran to come to the table. The official said that Trump has been receiving regular updates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials throughout the day while in Canada for the G7 summit. (Read More)

Why Are Large Numbers Of U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotankers And KC-46 Pegasus Tankers Flying East Across The Atlantic?


Did President Trump just pull the trigger on a major decision? When dozens of U.S. Air Force tankers started taking off from their bases, all sorts of speculation started to erupt on social media. And then when those tankers started flying east across the Atlantic, the level of speculation escalated to a frenzy. As I write this article, the Pentagon has still not explained what all of these tankers are doing. But TWZ has accurately noted that what we are witnessing is “very peculiar”

"Over two dozen U.S. Air Force KC-135R and KC-46A tankers from across the United States appeared on flight-tracking software yesterday evening, taking off from their bases and heading east over the Atlantic. It isn’t clear if they were ‘dragging’ any combat aircraft with them, but there wasn’t any obvious signs of that.

While tanker movements in this direction are far from abnormal, such a large, near-simultaneous migration of the jets was very peculiar, especially at a time of extreme crisis in the Middle East. The exact reason for the mass deployment is unclear, although many of the potential answers would indicate a change, or preparations for a potential change, in the current conflict between Israel and Iran." (Read More)

‘Preparations for any contingency,’ military expert says of US deploying refueling planes to Europe


The Pentagon shifted a “large number” of refueling planes and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, suggesting that Washington “is greatly strengthening its air power for potentially sustained operations, as Iran and Israel trade blows in unprecedented open warfare,” Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials.

A flight tracking website stated that “more than 31” refueling planes were deployed, according to Reuters. Later in the day, Pete Hegseth, the U.S. secretary of defense, stated that he directed that “additional capabilities” be sent to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

A U.S. defense official told JNS that “consistent with the duty to protect U.S. forces in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command   of responsibility to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel.”“In the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, the U.S. Navy continues to conduct operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of U.S. national security objectives,” the official said. ( Read More)

Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades Threaten ‘Great Satan’ U.S. on Iran’s Behalf

Multiple Iraqi militias
known to serve as proxies for the Iranian terror regime issued statements this weekend threatening the United States in response to the ongoing military campaign against Iranian leaders by the nation of Israel. Among those issuing threats were the Hezbollah Brigades or Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), which lost its leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in an American airstrike in 2020, also eliminating one of Iran’s most powerful terror masterminds, Qasem Soleimani. President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike on Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, in January 2020 after Iran-backed militias in Iraq attacked America’s embassy in Baghdad, leaving graffiti on the premises reading, “Soleimani is our commander.”

Duty requires the Iraqi government, the brothers in the Coordination Framework, and the sincere leaders to bear responsibility and take a courageous stance to prevent the expansion of the war zone,” KH said in a statement on Sunday, “by closing the embassy of the great Satan [US] and expelling the American occupation forces from the country.”The KH statement reportedly added that it would attack American military bases and other stops in the region if it considered that America had “intervened” in the conflict. 

“If America intervenes in the war, we will act without any hesitation against its interests and bases in the region,” the statement read. KH is part of a broader coalition of militias known as the “Popular Mobilization Forces” (PMF) which were active against the Islamic State prior to the fall of that group’s “caliphate” in 2017. Since then, they have been integrated into the Iraqi armed forces, but many remain active terrorist organizations. (Read more)

Iranian missile attack causes minor damage to US embassy office in Tel Aviv

The U.S. Embassy branch in Tel Aviv suffered minor damage from an Iranian ballistic missile overnight Sunday, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. “Some minor damage from shock waves of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in @TelAviv but no injuries to US personnel,” he wrote on X. He noted American embassies and consulates in the country remain closed, with a shelter-in-place order still in effect.

The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem under the first Trump administration in 2018, but still maintains a branch office in central Tel Aviv. Huckabee said on Saturday that Iran was not only targeting Israelis with indiscriminate rocket fire, but also threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of American citizens living in the Jewish state.

“If you hear ‘Israel is no concern to USA’ remember 700,000 AMERICANS live in Israel. That is equivalent to a full House District,” Huckabee tweeted over the weekend. He noted that more Americans live in Israel than in any other country outside the United States except Mexico. (Source)

Former Mossad Official: "Iranian Submarines in the Mediterranean may Pose a Direct Threat to U.S. Forces and Israel"


Iranian subs operating in the Mediterranean
could target American assets, Israeli territory, and key maritime routes. A former Israeli Mossad agent, speaking to Jfeed on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Islamic Republic of Iran currently has submarines operating in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the former official, both the Israeli and American publics remain largely unaware of this fact.

While Iran’s navy received extensive media attention in the years leading up to the current war, it has seen little real operational activity and has generally been perceived as lacking any significant capability to act.

In previous years, Iran carried out several international maritime violations in key shipping lanes, using naval assets that have since all but vanished from public attention  (Source)

Oil Markets On Edge: How Iran Could Send Prices Through The Roof


The Strait of Hormuz is more than a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman -- it is the lifeblood of the global oil market. Nearly 20% of the world's petroleum passes through this choke point daily, making it one of the most strategically vital passages on earth.

Yet, amid escalating tensions with Iran, the specter of Tehran closing or severely disrupting traffic through the Strait has thrown oil markets and global economies into a state of anxious uncertainty. The potential ramifications could be nothing short of catastrophic, sending oil prices soaring beyond current records and triggering shocks felt worldwide.

How Could Iran Close the Strait? ran's geographic advantage is stark: the country controls both shores of the Strait's northern edge, giving it enormous influence over maritime traffic. Closing or blocking the Strait is not merely theoretical. Tehran has demonstrated a willingness to use asymmetric naval tactics to threaten international shipping, employing fast-attack boats, mines, submarines, and anti-ship missiles.

ranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval units frequently conduct aggressive maneuvers, shadowing commercial vessels and military ships alike. The regime's ability to deploy underwater mines--cheap, stealthy, and deadly--could quickly force a shutdown by making the waters too dangerous for passage. Even the threat of mined waters can paralyze tanker traffic, as companies will avoid risking their ships and crews. (Read More)

10 Reasons This Is Not The Gog/Magog War Described In Ezekiel 38


As war rages between Israel and Iran, many believers are asking a serious question: Is this the war prophesied in Ezekiel 38--the apocalyptic conflict known as the War of Gog and Magog? With missiles flying, alliances shifting, and prophetic anticipation rising, it's understandable why many feel that something biblically monumental may be underway.

But before we rush to label today's headlines as a direct fulfillment of ancient prophecy, we must carefully examine what Ezekiel actually describes. Bible prophecy is precise--God gave us detailed conditions for a reason. And while the current conflict may indeed foreshadow coming events, it does not yet meet the biblical and theological criteria of Ezekiel 38. Here are ten key reasons why this war--however serious--is not yet the war of Gog and Magog.

1. Russia Has Not Yet Taken the Helm Ezekiel 38, the prophetic spotlight falls on Gog, the leader of the land of Magog, often identified by leading prophecy scholars as a future Russian leader. This Gog leads a coalition of nations against Israel, acting not merely as a participant but as the instigator and commander. It is a massive, coordinated military operation--and Gog is the driving force behind it.

Today, Russia has certainly raised its voice. It has condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza and Iran, accusing the Jewish state of disproportionate force and calling for restraint. And there are whispers--unconfirmed but spreading--that Russia may soon bolster Iran's arsenal with advanced weapons systems or intelligence support. The geopolitical tension is real, and Moscow's sympathies are not hidden. (Read More)

Monday, June 16, 2025

Over a third of Iran’s missile launchers destroyed


The Israeli Air Force continues to target the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile stockpiles and arms production sites. The Israeli Air Force has destroyed more than 120 missile launchers since the start of “Operation Rising Lion,” comprising a third of the Iranian regime’s total missile launchers, the military said on Monday.

During attacks on Sunday night involving 50 fighter jets and other aircraft, more than 20 missiles were destroyed simultaneously, minutes before they were fired at Israel. In one of the strikes, a launch squad was eliminated and the surface-to-surface missiles destroyed. Around 100 military targets were attacked in total, including missile storage sites, launchers and launch headquarters.

The IDF reported on Monday afternoon that the IAF had identified and targeted several trucks carrying weapons—including surface-to-air missile launchers—traveling from western Iran toward Tehran in an effort to evade Israeli strikes.  Ed note: Jeremiah 49:35  "...Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, The finest of the finest of their might."     (Read More)

Iranian ‘weapons group’ was close to weaponizing nuclear program—report


The Israel Defense Forces launched “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran after an intelligence breakthrough revealed that Tehran was close to weaponizing its nuclear program, Israel’s Army Radio reported on Sunday.

Israeli intelligence reportedly uncovered “golden information” that the Islamic regime had assembled an elite “weapons group” in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel. While Tehran already possessed enough enriched uranium for roughly 15 bombs, the weapons group had reached the experimental phase over the past months, with successful tests confirming rapid technical progress.

Israel’s defense establishment concluded that the Islamic Republic was mere weeks away from being capable of assembling a working nuclear weapon, with warnings indicating that its true capabilities might even be further developed, according to Sunday’s Army Radio report. Early on Friday, Israeli Air Force fighter jets launched attacks on dozens of targets, including military and nuclear sites, in a “preemptive, precise, combined offensive” campaign against Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.   (Read more)

Fordow Nuclear Alarm: Iran Reportedly Begins 90% Enrichment, Triggering Global Crisis - Massive Explosions Reported Near Reactor Site


A series of rapid and alarming developments surrounding Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility has thrust the site back into the global spotlight, raising serious fears of a nuclear confrontation:.
Earthquake or Something Else?

Initial reports spoke of a minor 2.5-magnitude earthquake near Fordow - Iran’s most heavily fortified underground nuclear facility. Now, video evidence suggests it may have been no earthquake at all, but a massive explosion in the immediate vicinity of the site
Explosions Near Tehran


Shortly after, Iranian media reported loud explosions in the Malard area west of Tehran, with additional reports from eastern districts like Hakimiyeh and Tehranpars. .
Israel Requests U.S. Bunker-Buster Support Simultaneously, Iran International reported that Israel has formally requested operational assistance and bunker-buster bombs from the United States, specifically in preparation for a potential strike on Fordow.

Uranium at 90% - Monitoring May Have Stopped Perhaps most critically, Wall Street Journal correspondent Laurence Norman reports that Western sources believe Iran may have begun enriching uranium to 90% purity - weapons-grade level - inside the Fordow facility. At the same time, there are indications that international monitoring at the site may have been suspended, adding urgency to the unfolding situation.

Taken together, the events around Fordow represent a dangerous convergence of nuclear escalation, intelligence gaps, and military posturing. Enrichment at 90% without active monitoring would cross a widely recognized red line for Israel, the U.S., and their allies. (Read More)

IDF strikes missiles sites, reportedly attacks targets in Natanz, Parchin

Surface-to-surface missile sites in central Iran have been struck by the IDF overnight between Sunday and Monday, the military said. Saudi state-owned news source Al-Arabiya reported that Israeli forces had struck targets in the area of the city of Natanz in central Iran. Other initial reports stated Israeli forces were simultaneously carrying out large-scale attacks on other nuclear sites across Iran.

The IDF is reportedly trying to thwart a launch by Iran by striking their soil, after they detected that Iran was attempting to send missiles towards Israeli territory. Alert was given to civilians to stay near protected spaces regardless The DF's Home Front Command, as a result, issued an alert to civilians in Israel to stay near protected spaces, as they were striking the launchers. A few hours earlier, the IDF put out a statement saying it weakened the Islamic Republic of Iran's weapons production capabilities after completing a wave of strikes on infrastructure belonging to the IRGC's Quds Force in Tehran. 

The military also said that the Israel Air Force and Israel Navy had intercepted over 100 drones fired by Iran since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion. Hours before the Israeli strikes, a 2.5 magnitude earthquake was reported in the Qom Province near the Fordow nuclear facility, according to the Iranian Seismological Center. (Source)

Ships, trucks, and suitcases: How Israel reportedly got its attack drones into Iran

Israel smuggled attack drones into Iran using a variety of means, including trucks, shipping containers, and even suitcases,
The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the Mossad operation. When Israel launched its shock campaign in Iran early Friday morning, it also used explosive-carrying quadcopter drones, rockets, and other sophisticated equipment located inside Iran for precision attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists, military leaders, anti-aircraft batteries, and surface-to-surface missiles.

It was previously reported that Israel spent years preparing for the operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country.

Unnamed sources revealed more details in the Journal report, saying Israel spent months smuggling bomb-laden quadcopter drone parts into Iran via suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers. In some cases, business transactions were made with partners who were unaware of the cargo being shipped. Mossad agents inside Iran then gathered the equipment and handed it out to teams who prepared the drones for use.

Team leaders were trained outside Iran and then returned to pass on the skills to the teams on the ground. When the airstrikes began, the teams used the weapons to take out air defense systems while also hitting surface-to-surface missile launchers as they emerged from shelters and were being set up to fire in retaliation at Israel, the sources said. (Read More) 

Chief of Staff: 'Citizens, I promise that anyone who harms you will pay dearly'

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir
addressed the Israeli public this evening (Sunday) with a special message amid the ongoing war with Iran. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed the Israeli public this evening (Sunday) with a special message amid the ongoing war with Iran. “Citizens of Israel, we are now on the third day of Operation Rising Lion. This is a historic and unprecedented military campaign aimed at delivering a significant blow to the existential threat Iran has been building for years with the goal of destroying us. We are operating according to a detailed, methodical, and evolving plan. 

In the past 24 hours, we completed an aerial breakthrough route to Tehran and carried out an air assault. Israeli Air Force pilots are flying at great distances, hundreds of kilometers from Israeli territory, while striking hundreds of diverse targets with precision. At the same time, we are identifying and destroying missile launchers firing at our territory,” said ZamirHe continued, “From the moment we launched the campaign, we acted with surprise and deception.

The opening strike eliminated the top of the Iranian military command. We will continue to increase the intensity of our operations to strengthen our security for years to come. Protecting the home front is a central part of this campaign. As I told you from the outset, there will be difficult moments. We are in the midst of a challenge unlike any we’ve faced before.” (Read More)

Iranian ballistic missile damages US embassy in Tel Aviv

Iran launches a new barrage of ballistic missiles on Monday, targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. One missile struck near the US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, causing structural damage but no injuries. Tensions soared on Monday as Iran launched a fresh wave of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli infrastructure, including parts of Tel Aviv. Among the strikes, one impacted the vicinity of the US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, inflicting minor structural damage but thankfully causing no injuries to US diplomatic personnel.

The missiles triggered air‑raid sirens across central Israel. The fallout near the embassy included shattered windows and debris scattered around the compound’s exterior. According to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, embassy staff sheltered in place, and although the site sustained damage from the blast’s concussion wave, they emerged unhurt.

Huckabee stressed: "Some confusion--there were NO INJURIES to US Personnel at US Embassy Branch--the minor damage to property were from the shock waves (i.e. 'concussions') from the nearby blast. Not human concussions. Repeat--NO INJURIES thank God!" In response to the attack, embassy operations in Tel Aviv remained temporarily suspended today. US officials confirmed the branch closure as a precaution, prioritizing staff safety while assessing structural integrity. (Read more)

A Tel Aviv suburb reels from a deadly Iranian missile strike


BAT YAM, Israel
—Dazed, shaken but determined, a seaside Tel Aviv suburb awoke on Sunday to a tableau of death and destruction after an Iranian missile slammed into an apartment building overnight, turning a residential street into a warzone.

At least seven people were killed, including an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, and scores were injured in the 2:45 a.m. attack, with two others still unaccounted for as of the late afternoon, in the most lethal Iranian attack on Israel in the current war. (Four others were killed, including a mother and two daughters, in a separate barrage of missiles on the Israeli-Arab town of Tamra in the Galilee.)

“We were in the bomb shelter as soon as we got an alert on our phone, and then we heard a tremendous explosion that sent the door flying,” Snezhana Yaacovlev, 36, told JNS. “There was total darkness; we couldn’t see anything, and when we got out, there was dust all around and the smell of burning. We were all in shock.” The apartments in the nondescript building, just opposite the taller eight-story building that was directly hit by the missile, were demolished and had been cordoned off by security officials assessing damage. (Read more)

You can help: Iranian strikes on homes causes emergency housing crisis


One night of Iranian missile terror displaced many Israeli families - and they need shelter tonight. Last night at 2:30 AM, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones directly into Israeli residential neighborhoods, killing and injuring Israelis In Bat Yam, an Iranian missile struck a residential building directly, killing several Israelis, including two children - an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy.

The destruction is unprecedented. Bat Yam's mayor reported 61 buildings damaged, with 6-7 requiring complete demolition, possibly reaching double digits. "This is unprecedented for the number of buildings we'll need to demolish from a single strike", he said.

Rescue teams treated almost 200 wounded at the Bat Yam site alone. Search and rescue operations continue for 3 missing people trapped under the rubble. The human cost extends far beyond casualties. Hundreds of families lost their homes and all possessions in a single night. The mayor described the scene: "Even before most rescue forces arrived, the street was covered with metal debris. There was dust on all cars and people lying on the street - images that reminded us of the Twin Towers tragedy". (Read More)

ISIS reactivating fighters amid resurgence across Syria and Iraq: report

Fears are mounting that Islamic State fighters are regrouping in Syria and Iraq, exploiting security gaps to revive operations and launch attacks. Intelligence and military sources are concerned the group is moving weapons, activating sleeper cells and recruiting amid reduced U.S. troop presence and political instability.

More than 20 sources, including regional diplomats and officials from Syria, Iraq, the United States and Europe, voiced concern to Reuters that IS (also known as ISIS or ISIL) is attempting to stage a comeback after its territorial defeat in 2017.

In recent months, IS has shifted personnel from remote desert areas to urban centers such as Deir al-Zor, Hasakah and Kirkuk, targeting oil facilities, power lines and other vulnerable infrastructure, according to the Straight Arrow News. Sleeper cells have reemerged in these cities, taking advantage of scaled-down coalition patrols in eastern Syria. A January report from the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute warned that IS "gradually rebuilt its capabilities since 2022 in the central Syrian desert — where regime forces infrequently and ineffectively patrolled — and gradually infiltrated then-regime-held towns along the Euphrates River." (Read More)

Sunday, June 15, 2025

'Tehran is burning:' Israel attacks Iran oil sites, over 200 Iranians killed

Israel attacked Iranian oil infrastructure on Saturday in an escalation of a campaign it started two days before which in total has killed over 200 Iranians according to a rights group, as Tehran again hit Israel with missile barrages. The Iran-focused human rights group HRANA reported that Israeli attacks on Iran since Friday killed 215 people and wounded nearly 700, mostly civilians. Over 50 were confirmed to be military personnel, it added, saying figures were preliminary.

An Iranian missile salvo on the northern Israeli city of Haifa killed three people, Israeli medics said, hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of escalation if Tehran kept attacking. The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing to reality the fact that they, and in particular the residents of Tehran, will pay a heavy price for the criminal harm to the citizens of Israel," Katz said.

"If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front - Tehran will burn," he added in a statement on Saturday. Later in the day he tersely   (Read More)

Tehran is burning: Significant strike in Iran's capital

Dozens of IAF fighter jets launch massive strike in Tehran, targeting central fuel terminal and weapons depots.
Defense Minister Israel Katz: 'Tehran is burning.' Dozens of fighter jets struck multiple targets in Tehran within less than an hour, including a major fuel terminal in the city and weapons stockpiles. Saturday night’s strike in Tehran is the largest carried out in the Iranian capital since the start of the war. Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on social media: “Tehran is burning.”

IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, stated on Sunday evening that Israeli Air Force pilots continue to strike across Iran. He noted that the wave of attacks has persisted for nearly 40 hours, targeting more than 150 sites, with the latest strikes concentrated on Tehran.

“Tehran is no longer immune — thanks to the Air Force’s strikes and years of precise intelligence gathered by the Intelligence Directorate, we’ve broken through to the heart of Iran,” Defrin said. He added that after a systematic assault on Iran’s air defense systems, “hundreds of aircraft and aerial platforms now maintain air superiority over western Iran and Tehran.” Defrin revealed that one of the sites targeted in western Iran was an underground missile launch facility. “At this site, launch shafts and dozens of missiles were discovered in tunnels beneath the ground. 

This is a significant site that was even showcased in a propaganda video by the Iranian regime in the past. Senior officials who had visited the site were also eliminated,” he stated. He further explained, “The missiles stored there were intended to be launched, on command, against Israeli civilians or even against forces of other Western countries in the Middle East. These are missiles that could have been launched at Israel last night. Our preemptive planning and intelligence enabled us to foil part of Iran’s attack plan.”   (Source)

Israel: 2 Iran Nuclear Sites Significantly Damaged

Iran's Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites
were significantly damaged due to Israeli strikes on the two facilities, an Israeli military official said Saturday.

The official said that it would take more than a few weeks for Iran to repair damage at the two sites, adding that the strikes also killed nine senior nuclear Iranian scientists.

Israel attacked over 150 targets in Iran with hundreds of munitions, the official said, adding that the aerial road to the Iranian capital Tehran was effectively open. He said that Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel, most of which were intercepted. (Source)

Iran’s nuclear facilities damaged, not destroyed: Experts

Israel's strikes on Iran have taken aim at its nuclear facilities, amid fears that the Islamic republic is seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- an accusation Tehran denies. Experts told AFP that while the attacks might have caused some damage to Iran's nuclear programme, they are unlikely to have delivered a fatal blow.

What is the extent of the damage? Israel's operation included strikes on Iran's underground uranium enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow, and a uranium conversion facility at Isfahan, according to the UN's International IAEA said on Friday that a key, above-ground component of Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed, also citing Iranian officials.

There was "extensive" damage to the site's power supply, according to a report from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based organization specializing in nuclear proliferation, which analysed satellite images. A loss of electricity to underground facilities can significantly damage the site's centrifuges, the machines used to enrich uranium, the ISIS institute said.

If backup power is lost, "at the least, the enrichment plant is rendered inoperable for the time being", it said. Iran has said the damage to Fordow, south of Tehran, was minor. Energy Agency (IAEA), citing information from Iranian officials.  (Read More)

Officials confirm: Israel requested US assistance in eliminating Iranian nuclear threat

Israeli officials say US involvement is essential to neutralizing Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. Israel has formally requested that the United States join its military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear program, according to a report by Axios citing two Israeli officials  In recent days, Israeli officials have urged the Trump administration to support a targeted strike against Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility. The site, which is deeply embedded in a mountain, lies beyond the operational reach of the Israeli Air Force. 

The United States, however, has the necessary heavy munitions and long-range bombers within striking distance. Despite the Israeli request, the Trump administration has so far refrained from involvement. US officials reportedly conveyed that any American participation—even a single airstrike—would constitute direct engagement in the conflict. They further asserted that an Iranian attack on US interests in response would not be justified.

One Israeli official told Axios that President Donald Trump had hinted during a recent conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US might consider participation if necessary. While a White House official denied this on Friday, another senior official speaking to Axios on Saturday left the door open, stating, "Whatever happens today cannot be prevented." The official added that peace remains attainable if Iran is willing to abandon its nuclear weapons program. (Read more)