June 22: Netanyahu: Israel has ‘interesting intel’ on whereabouts of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium

Iranian media reports Israeli strike on ambulance in central Iran

At least three people were killed after an ambulance was hit in an Israeli strike in central Iran, local media reports.

“The ambulance… was en route to transfer a patient when it was severely damaged by a drone strike,” ISNA news agency reports, quoting Hamidreza Mohammadi Fesharaki, the governor of Najafabad county in the central Isfahan province.

“All occupants of the ambulance — including the driver, the patient, and the patient’s companion — were martyred,” he says, adding that the “impact of the drone caused the ambulance to veer off course and collide with a passing vehicle.”

Israeli fighter jets complete latest wave of strikes on Iran, says military

The Israeli Air Force completed another wave of strikes in western Iran and Tehran a short while ago, targeting missile sites and air defenses, the military says.

Some 20 IAF fighter jets were involved in the strikes, dropping more than 30 munitions on several targets, according to the military.

As part of the wave of strikes, the IDF says fighter jets hit infrastructure used to store and launch ballistic missiles at Israel, as well as satellites and radar sites in Kermanshah and Hamedan “used for aerial intelligence gathering.”

Additionally, an air defense system was bombed in “the heart of Tehran,” the military adds.

The IDF says the strikes are part of efforts to “degrade the military capabilities of the Iranian regime.”

UN nuclear watchdog chief warns of ‘violence and destruction’ without diplomacy

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi tells an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that the US attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites threaten a widening of the Israel-Iran conflict, but also offer a return to diplomacy.

“If that window closes, violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels, and the global nonproliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall,” the International Atomic Energy Agency director general says.

Grossi urges a return to diplomacy, and for Iran to allow IAEA inspectors to go back to its nuclear sites to account, most importantly, for the 4,400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent.

He says IAEA inspectors are in Iran, but they need a cessation of hostilities to go to nuclear sites, assess damage, and protect nuclear materials and equipment.

Grossi also tells the meeting that craters are visible at the Fordo site, indicating the US use of ground-penetrating munitions, but the underground damage cannot be assessed yet.

At the Isfahan site, he says, additional buildings were hit, some related to converting uranium, and “entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit.”

At the Natanz nuclear enrichment site, Grossi says the fuel enrichment plant has been hit again.

“At this time, no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to assess the underground damage at Fordo,” Grossi says.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca tells the council that Iranian state media reported that the three sites had been evacuated and that the highly enriched uranium stockpile was transferred in advance of the US strikes.

UN chief warns of ‘descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tells an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Iran that “we cannot – and must not – give up on peace.”

“The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling,” he says. “We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.”

He urges immediate and decisive action to halt the fighting and return to “serious, sustained negotiations” on Iran’s nuclear program to find a verifiable solution with full access by UN nuclear inspectors and a restoration of trust.

In urging a return to diplomacy and a peaceful solution, Guterres stresses Sunday that one path leads to wider war and the other to de-escalation and dialogue. “We know which path is right,” he says.

Ex-Mossad chief calls for Israel to carry out regime change in Iran, eliminate Khamenei

Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen calls for Israel to carry out regime change in Iran, diverging from the official Israeli line.

“I would recommend to the prime minister and to the enlightened world… to take advantage of this phenomenal opportunity that we have to cause the complete fall of the regime,” Cohen says in an interview with Channel 12 news. “I think that the intelligence on this exists.”

Cohen says that there is “a huge people in Iran, a smart and modern nation, which wants to charge ahead to democracy, and I think we need to put this opportunity in its hands — only if we can complete this mission and eliminate Khamenei’s regime entirely.”

Cohen says that “to the best of my knowledge,” the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites overnight “succeeded in fully stopping the Iranian nuclear project, certainly at this point.”

He accuses the Biden administration of “wasting years” not countering Iran, and thanks the Trump administration for its actions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have all said that regime change is not a part of Israel’s plans in its current operation, although they have suggested that it would be a welcome outcome.

PM: Israel has ‘interesting intel’ on whereabouts of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium

Israel has “interesting intel” on the whereabouts of Iran’s 400 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a prerecorded press conference, but does not go into detail.

Israel “had to act” against Iran because Tehran was rushing toward nuclear weaponization after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, says Netanyahu.

He also cites Iran’s plan to build 300 ballistic missiles a month.

Netanyahu shared his concern with US President Donald Trump, he says: “I told him of our need to act, and he understood it very well. And I knew that when push comes to shove, he would do the right thing. He would do the right thing for America. He would do the right thing for the free world. He would do the right thing for civilization.”

Turning to the war in Gaza, he says it “could end tomorrow. It could end today if Hamas surrenders, lays down all its arms, release all the hostages. It’s over in a moment.”

“We think we can give Gaza a different future,” he says.

“I have a plan for a permanent peace,” Netanyahu insists, adding that “we’re prepared to go into negotiations right now on the proposal that Mr. Witkoff gave.”

He says the contacts with mediators are continuing, and Israel is trying to get Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire during which half the hostages are released.

Anti-Israel groups rally in support of Iran in New York City

Anti-Israel activist groups hold a rally in support of Iran in New York City’s Times Square. The protest is organized by pro-Palestinian and socialist activist groups including the People’s Forum, the ANSWER Coalition and the Palestinian Youth Movement.

“We demand an immediate end to US and Israeli attacks on Iran and its sovereignty,” the groups say in a statement. “Trump and his war hawks are launching a new war that puts the world at risk.”

Several dozen protesters chant, “Feed the people, not the war,” and, “No war on Iran,” to the beat of a snare drum, according to videos shared by the activists.

Some in the crowd hold signs that say, “Stop the war on Iran,” and, “No new war in the Middle East.”

The same groups gathered in the same location the day after Hamas’s October 2023 invasion of Israel to celebrate the terror onslaught. Anti-Israel groups have been holding near-daily protests in the city since Israel launched its offensive against Iran last week. The groups are holding concurrent protests in Washington, Chicago and San Francisco.

The Israel-Iran conflict has also drawn a response from law enforcement in the city. Mayor Eric Adams says police have stepped up protection of religious, cultural and diplomatic sites out of “an abundance of caution.” Police made a similar announcement last week after Israel’s opening strikes on Iran.

Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch received a briefing on how the conflict could affect the city from international liaisons earlier today, Adams says. Jewish security groups have also urged vigilance since the start of hostilities. There are no reports of known, concrete threats to Jewish communities.

IDF chief speaks with parents of soldier Shay Levinson after his body recovered from Gaza

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke this evening with the parents of slain hostage soldier Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, whose body was recovered by the military overnight from the Gaza Strip, along with two other civilian hostages.

“I am sending you a strong hug,” Zamir says to Kochav and Shlomit Levinson, according to remarks provided by the military.

“Shay, may his memory be blessed, has returned for burial in Israel. We carried out a complex operation, following a period of intelligence gathering. We will do everything to bring all the hostages back. It is our duty,” Zamir adds.

Netanyahu: Israel ‘will not be dragged into a war of attrition,’ but will keep working toward goals

Israel will continue to operate at full tilt in both Iran and Gaza, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a prerecorded press conference.

“We are advancing step by step toward [our] goals,” he says. “We are very close to achieving them.”

US strike “did very serious damage” to the Fordo facility, says Netanyahu. “We are sending them back, we are removing the threat,” he says of the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program, without going into detail on the damage done.

Israel “will not be dragged into a war of attrition,” he promises, “but we will not stop this historic operation before we achieve our goals.”

At the same time, “we are not taking our eyes off Gaza,” insists Netanyahu, adding that the attacks in Iran help Israel achieve its goals in Gaza. “Without the Iranian scaffolding, it all collapses.”

Israel has taken out over half the ballistic missile launchers in Iran, says Netanyahu.

Netanyahu says he believes that the operation in Iran will ultimately lead to an expansion of the Abraham Accords: “Extraordinary opportunities are being opened up here,” he says.

Israel’s show of strength “is opening up opportunities that we can’t even imagine,” the premier adds.

“I can imagine a massive expansion of the peace agreements,” he continues. “I can see collaborations that might seem fantastical right now but maybe you understand they’re not fantastical.”

“We will see a bright future of security, of prosperity, of hope, and also of peace.”

IAEA says entrances to tunnels at Iran’s Isfahan site hit by US strike

Entrances to tunnels at Iran’s sprawling Isfahan nuclear complex were hit in US military strikes overnight, the UN nuclear watchdog says in a statement.

“We have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted,” the International Atomic Energy Agency says.

Officials said that before Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13, much of Iran’s most highly enriched uranium was stored underground at Isfahan.

Iranian FM arrives in Moscow for talks on ‘regional and international developments’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Moscow for talks after a US attack on key nuclear facilities, state media reports on the 10th day of the war with Israel.

“Abbas Araghchi… arrived in Moscow to hold consultations with the [Russian] president and other senior officials of Russia regarding regional and international developments following the military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran,” the official IRNA news agency says.

8 incidents reported last week of settler violence against Palestinians, says watchdog group

The Yesh Din organization, which monitors settler violence, counts some eight incidents over the course of six days last week in which settlers allegedly attacked Palestinians or their property in the West Bank.

According to Yesh Din, which opposes the settlement movement, settlers set fire to trees and vandalized property in the Palestinian villages of Huwara and Burin in the northern West Bank on June 15, while Palestinian motorists were stopped and assaulted by “armed settlers” close to the village of Mu’arrajat, east of Ramallah on June 16.

Settlers also reportedly threw stones at homes in the Palestinian hamlet of Susiya in the South Hebron Hills on June 17 and assaulted one of the residents, leaving him with a head wound, while another stone-throwing incident by settlers was reported not far away in the Jabal Jalas neighborhood of Hebron.

On June 18, 19, and 21, Susiya was the subject of vandalism attacks and assault by settlers, Yesh Din says.

And on June 19, land belonging to the village of Surif north of Hebron was set ablaze and villagers were shot at, resulting in the death of a 48-year old Palestinian man, the organization said, and was reported by Wafa, the official news agency of the Palestinian Authority.

“Under the cover of war and with public attention focused elsewhere, settlers across the West Bank continue to attack, harass, and harm Palestinian residents as they please, without being bothered by Israeli law enforcement,” says Yesh Din.

Israel carrying out new wave of strikes in Tehran, western Iran, says IDF

Israeli Air Force fighter jets are carrying out a new wave of strikes against Iranian military sites in Tehran and western Iran, the IDF announces.

Iranian news websites report a large explosion heard in the Western city of Kermanshah.

Report: Trump finalized Iran attack plan last Wednesday, with Vance fully on board

US President Donald Trump decided last Wednesday to launch this morning’s strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Channel 12 reports, without naming sources.

Only a handful of senior Israeli officials were informed of the decision, according to the Hebrew network.

Despite reports that US Vice President JD Vance had reservations against attacking, Channel 12 says he ultimately fully backed the move.

The decision reportedly followed intense lobbying by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who urged Trump “to take part in history.”

As part of the arrangement, the US insisted on overseeing the diplomatic and media messaging surrounding the operation.

Those briefed on the plan included Netanyahu, Dermer, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to the unsourced report. The other members of the security cabinet were not informed, the network reports.

Yesterday, ahead of the strike, Netanyahu delayed a planned afternoon cabinet meeting to the late evening, in an effort to avoid drawing attention by convening a rare Sabbath-day session. During the evening meeting, he informed ministers of the imminent attack.

They reportedly watched the strike live from the control center.

“We saw history being written live before our eyes,” unnamed sources present in the room told Channel 12.

Over 1,000 passengers slated to leave Israel tomorrow when outgoing flights restart

Transportation Minister Miri Regev says more than 1,000 passengers are expected to leave tomorrow on special outgoing flights departing from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, after departures were effectively barred for the past 10 days, given the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“We expect local airlines to operate 24 incoming repatriation flights arriving from global destinations flying Israelis home on Monday and on each of these flights taking off there will be a limit of 50 passengers leaving on outgoing planes,” Regev says. “We need to limit the number of passengers on planes that are on the tarmac during this challenging period when the airport can be a target.”

“I believe that by the weekend we will be able to weigh whether we are able to increase the number of passengers leaving on outgoing flights, as well as hours of flight operations, subject to the security situation and guidelines by the Home Front Command,” Regev adds.

Starting tomorrow, outgoing flights will operate exclusively from Ben Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3. Entry to the terminal will be permitted only to passengers with valid tickets (with exceptions for those assisting travelers with special needs or unaccompanied minors).

Passengers on outbound flights are advised to arrive by public transportation no more than two hours before their scheduled departure. For those arriving by private car, only quick drop-offs will be permitted. Cafés in the departure hall and near the departure gates will be open. Duty-free shops will remain closed to limit time spent in the terminal.

Trump says US strikes on Iran took the bomb ‘right out of their hands’

US President Donald Trump says last night’s US strike against Iran took “the ‘bomb’ right out of their hands.”

“We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the ‘bomb’ right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!),” he writes.

Trump makes the declaration in a Truth Social post tearing into Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has criticized the strike by arguing that it will lead to the US getting dragged into another Middle East war.

“Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is. Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him,” Trump writes.

“He’s a simple minded ‘grandstander’ who thinks it’s good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ at every chance they get,” he continues.

Trump pledges to campaign against Massie in the latter’s next Republican primary, urging his supporters to abandon the isolationist lawmaker.

While some influencers in Trump’s base had expressed their opposition to US involvement in the war before Trump authorized the strike, many of them have fallen in line to support the president. Massie is one of the few Republican lawmakers who has come out against the US strike after the fact.

Adviser to Khamenei says bases used in US strikes on Iran are ‘legitimate targets’

An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader says that bases used by US forces to launch attacks on Iranian nuclear sites “will be considered legitimate targets.”

“Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,” says Ali Akbar Velayati in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency.

Velayati adds that the United States “no longer” has a place in the Middle East after its overnight strikes.

“There is no longer any place for America or its bases in this region and the Islamic world,” says Velayati.

“America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences, because the Islamic Republic does not tolerate any insult or aggression against itself,” he adds.

Over 200 places in Tehran hit in Israeli strikes since start of war, says governor

Over 200 places in the Iranian capital have been hit in Israeli strikes since the start of the war 10 days ago, Tehran’s provincial governor says.

“More than 200 locations have been attacked by the usurping Zionist regime,” governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian tells state TV.

He says more than 120 residential housing units “have been fully destroyed” while 500 others suffered “damages.”

Israeli jets hit ballistic missile engine production site in central Iran, says IDF

Israeli Air Force fighter jets hit an Iranian ballistic missile engine production site near Iran’s Shahrud last night, some 2,000 kilometers from Israel, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says in a press conference.

According to the military, the strike hit “planetary mixers and critical machinery used to manufacture missile engines,” the kind that have been fired at Israel in recent days.

“The targeted site is part of the effort to disrupt the Iranian regime’s surface-to-surface missile production industry, which is intended to produce thousands of missiles in the coming years,” the IDF adds.

Iranian president says US ‘must receive a response’ to its nuclear strikes

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says the United States must “receive a response” to attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,” Pezeshkian tells the French leader, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Pezeshkian took part in a protest in Tehran today denouncing US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to images broadcast on state TV.

“Revenge, revenge!” protesters shouted with their fists raised, as the president was seen making his way through the crowd gathered in a square in central Tehran.

At least 15 reported dead in ISIS suicide bombing in Damascus church

At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria’s capital Damascus, security sources say.

The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.

Syria’s interior ministry says the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State. He entered the church, opened fire, and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry adds in a statement.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, says two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.

A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defense, the White Helmets, shows scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.

IDF chief: Israel has reached a ‘turning point’ after US strikes, but there are ‘still objectives to complete’

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says Israel has reached a “turning point” in Operation Rising Lion, following a “precise and lethal” US strike overnight on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

“This strike was made possible thanks to the courageous leadership of our partners in the United States and a combined diplomatic and military effort,” Zamir says, noting his close coordination with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Daniel Kaine and CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla.

“We see the coordination between our militaries as a significant strategic asset for the State of Israel,” he adds.

Zamir emphasizes that the campaign is far from over: “We still have targets to strike and objectives to complete. We are continuing to increase the pace of our attacks in accordance with the plan and are prepared to continue for as long as required.”

In a parallel operation, IDF and Shin Bet forces recovered the bodies of three hostages from Gaza: Ofra Keidar, Jonathan Samerano and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson.

“We are continuing to do everything we can to bring all the hostages home. This remains a central mission to which the IDF is committed at all times,” Zamir stresses.

With continued rocket fire on Israeli communities, he praises civilian resilience and vows: “Anyone who challenges us will pay a heavy price. We will not compromise on the security of [our citizens].”

Rubio: US doubts Iran relocated enriched uranium from Isfahan ahead of nuclear strikes

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US believes a significant amount of Iran’s stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium was located in the Isfahan facility ahead of Washington’s attack on Iranian nuclear sites, including Isfahan, this morning.

In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Rubio says that, while “no one will know for sure for days,” he doubts that Iran’s uranium stockpile was relocated before the operation.

“I doubt they moved it… they can’t move anything right now inside of Iran. I mean, the minute a truck starts driving somewhere, the Israelis have seen it, and they’ve targeted it and taken it out. So our assessment is, we have to assume that that’s a lot of 60% enriched uranium buried deep under the ground there in Isfahan,” he says.

“That really is the key,” adds Rubio, saying Iran should now “bring [the stockpile] out of the ground and turn it over. Multiple countries around the world will take it and down blend it. That’s what they should do with that.”

Iran should agree to have zero enrichment capability, Rubio says further, and to instead pursue “a civil nuclear program like dozens of countries around the world have,” with reactors to create electricity and imported enriched material.

“If that’s what [Iran] wanted, if what they want is a civil, peaceful nuclear program, the route has always been there. The problem is that everything they’re demanding has nothing to do with a peaceful program. They are all the things you would want if you want to retain the option of one day weaponizing the program,” Rubio says.

Netanyahu knew of US strikes on Iran ‘at least 24 hours before,’ says Israeli official

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found out about the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites “at least 24 hours before,” an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.

Israel does not expect any drastic escalation by Iran, says the official: “We expect more of the same, like what they’ve done this morning.”

Israel is willing to end the bombing campaign if Iran agrees to dismantle its nuclear program. “It depends on Iran, not on us,” says the official. “We are happy to wrap it up now, if there’s an agreement at the end, Israel will be content with the result.”

Israeli strikes in central Iran kill 9 Revolutionary Guards, say media

At least nine members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed today, in Israeli attacks on central Iran, local media report.

“Following the aggression of the barbaric Zionist regime and its mercenaries against two military centers in Yazd city, seven Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps personnel and two conscripts were martyred,” the Tasnim news agency reports, quoting an IRGC statement.

Others were injured in the attack, it adds. The Fars news agency had earlier said Israeli strikes targeted two military sites in Yazd.

The IDF said earlier today that it targeted an Iranian ballistic missile facility in the Yazd area, where it says Iran stored long-range Khorramshahr missiles.

France, Germany, UK urge Iran to engage in nuclear negotiations

The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany urge Iran not to take any actions that would further destabilize the region, following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities overnight.

“We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security,” the government heads of the three countries say in a joint statement.

“We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program,” the leaders add.

Democratic senator criticizes Trump for not notifying Congress of Iran strikes

US Sen. Tim Kaine chides the Trump administration for not notifying Congress before its attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities early this morning.

Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, says the act violated the US Constitution.

“The United States should not be in an offensive war against Iran without a vote of Congress,” Kaine says. “The Constitution is completely clear on it. And I am so disappointed that the president has acted so prematurely.”

Kaine says he will force a floor vote in the Senate this week on a resolution that would require a vote ahead of military action against Iran.

“This is the US jumping into a war of choice at Donald Trump’s urging, without any compelling national security interests for the United States to act in this way, particularly without a debate and vote in Congress,” he adds.

57 Muslim nations condemn Israeli ‘aggression’ against Iran, urge de-escalation

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation says it will set up a ministerial contact group to establish regular contact with international and regional parties to support de-escalation efforts, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a joint declaration following a meeting of the 57-member group’s foreign ministers in Istanbul, the OIC condemns “the aggression of Israel” against Iran, stressing “the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks and their great concern regarding this dangerous escalation.”

It also urges the international community to take deterrent measures against attacks on Iran and “make Israel accountable for crimes committed.”

While the joint declaration from the meeting in Istanbul does not mention the overnight US strikes, the group also agreed on a separate 13-article resolution on the Israel-Iran conflict, in which it condemns both the Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, adding the OIC was in full solidarity with Tehran.

It also calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency to “unequivocally condemn those attacks and to report those attacks to the Security Council,” adding the “barbaric attacks” violated international law, according to a draft of the resolution.

It says the OIC also calls on Israel to “join without delay the treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and place all its nuclear facilities and activities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.”

OIC members also reaffirm Iran’s “inherent right to self-defense and to take all necessary measures to fully protect its sovereignty and citizens, and to prevent recurrence of such criminal acts against its territory in future,” the text shows.

Suicide bombing attack reported in Damascus church

Syrian media report a suicide bombing attack at the “Mar Elias” Church in Damascus.

According to the Syrian news agency, a suicide bomber detonated himself inside the building using an explosive belt.

Syrian outlets also report that security forces imposed a cordon around the area to evacuate the dead and wounded. So far, no exact number of casualties has been released.

فيديو متداول من داخل كنيسة "مار الياس" في منطقة #الدويلعة، شرقي العاصمة السورية #دمشق، يُظهر الأضرار التي لحقت بها جراء الانفجار.#سوريا #الميادين pic.twitter.com/MFK6OZG8xL

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) June 22, 2025

Iran says it is ready to defend itself by ‘all necessary means’

Iran says that it is ready to defend itself by “all necessary means,” after unprecedented US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

“Iran is resolutely determined to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, and people by all necessary means,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posts on X, condemning what he describes as an “unconscionable act of aggression — perpetrated by a nuclear-armed state… against a non-nuclear weapon country.”

Netanyahu visits Western Wall, hailing ‘wonders and miracles’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where 10 days ago he placed a note in the wall alluding to the name of upcoming operation against Iran.

“The nation has risen like a lion,” he writes on the note, a play on the Biblical prophecy about the children of Israel rising like a lion.

“We will continue to perform wonders and miracles to ensure the eternity of Israel for generations,” says Netanyahu, wearing a prayer shawl. “I am proud of our people.”

Speaking to UK counterpart, Sa’ar urges world to ‘compel Iran to change its behavior’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar discussed the conflict in Iran as well as the efforts to free Israeli hostages in Gaza with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy by phone this afternoon, Sa’ar’s office announces.

In the conversation, Sa’ar hailed the United States’ overnight attack on Iranian nuclear sites, saying Washington “acted as the leader of the free world,” according to a statement from Sa’ar’s office.

“Israel continues its operations in Iran in accordance with the objectives and plans set by the security cabinet,” Sa’ar added.

The minister emphasized that “for decades the international community has been weak and helpless in the face of [the Iranian regime’s] destabilizing conduct, its encouragement of terrorism, and its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” and urged the international community “to compel Iran to change its behavior.”

Following the US strikes, the United Kingdom stated that it did not participate in the offensive and urged Iran to reach a diplomatic solution.

Sa’ar also updated Lammy on the IDF’s recovery last night of the bodies of three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and reaffirmed “Israel’s commitment to securing the release of all its hostages” and its desire to reach a deal based on the framework laid out by US envoy Steve Witkoff, which would pause the war in Gaza for some 60 days in exchange for about half of the hostages.

Iran: None of those wounded in US strikes show ‘signs of radioactive contamination’

Iran’s health ministry acknowledges that US strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities wounded an unspecified number of people, but none “showed any signs of radioactive contamination” after seeking treatment.

“For years, the Ministry of Health has set up nuclear emergency units in the nearest medical facilities to nuclear sites,” ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour says on X. “Fortunately, none of the injured individuals who were transferred to these centers following the American bombardment showed any signs of radioactive contamination.”

IDF publishes footage of strikes on Iranian ballistic missile facility 2,200 km away

The IDF publishes footage of its strikes earlier today on an Iranian ballistic missile facility in the Yazd area, where it says Iran stored long-range Khorramshahr missiles.

According to the military, Israeli Air Force fighter jets flew some 2,200 kilometers (1,400 miles) from Israel to strike the site.

From the facility, some 60 missiles had previously been fired at Israel, the IDF said earlier.

“In broad daylight, we surprised the Imam Hussein missile headquarters in central Iran, the furthest target we’ve struck to date,” says IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar in remarks published by the military. (The deepest strike in Iran was actually last week’s IAF bombing of the Mashhad airport, over 2,300 kilometers from Israel.)

“We destroyed Khorramshahr missiles before they were launched at Israel and struck tunnels used to store the missiles,” Bar says.

“We are continuing waves of strikes across Iran, disrupting the enemy’s ability to launch salvos into Israeli territory, degrading their firepower capabilities, and operating decisively to defend the Israeli home front and reduce rocket fire,” he adds.

Footage published by the IDF on June 22, 2025, shows strikes on an Iranian missile facility near Yazd, Iran. (Israel Defense Forces)

US orders departure of family members and non-emergency US personnel from Lebanon

The US State Department orders the departure of family members and non-emergency US government personnel from Lebanon, citing the volatile security situation in the region, a State Department notice emailed to US citizens in Lebanon shows.

The US had last year ordered the departure of family members and non-essential staff during Israel’s war in Lebanon that had dealt severe blows to the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, but that order was later lifted.

Ukraine says US, Israeli strikes on Iran are justified to stop nuclear threat

Ukraine says that US and Israeli strikes on Iran were justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, praising the military intervention as a “clear signal.”

“Ukraine is convinced that Iran’s nuclear program must be stopped so that it never again poses a threat to the countries of the Middle East or any other state,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry says.

Hostage’s father Ruby Chen says Iran conflict could be ‘opportunity’ to end Gaza war

Ruby Chen calls the IDF return today of the bodies of three hostages — Yonatan Samerano, Shay Levinson and Ofra Keidar — “a gut check.”

“It just means it can happen to us,” says Chen, whose soldier son Itay Chen was killed and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. “At any moment, we can get that knock on the door,” letting them know that IDF forces recovered his son’s body.

At the same time, Chen sees the current escalation with Iran as an opportunity to show Hamas that it’s in a worse position than it was just 10 days ago.

“The question is, can Israel also identify that this change is an opportunity and end the smaller conflict in Gaza and focus on the bigger one in Iran,” says Chen. “Everyone knows that Hamas isn’t as strategic a threat to Israel as Iran is. A victory could be the release of the hostages, to say to Hamas, ‘Look, you can’t count on Iran or Hezbollah, and if you want to survive somehow, this is a deal for you.'”

Chen was in Washington when Israel preemptively attacked Iran on June 13. When his flight home was diverted to Europe, he spent several days in Germany meeting with a number of officials from the country’s new conservative government.

“Germany has been in a back seat when it comes to this,” says Chen, noting that Germany had more than two dozen dual citizens killed on October 7 and eight taken hostage.

Chen says the international playing field is changing with the US attack on Iran following Israel’s attacks.

“When there’s change, there’s opportunity for Germany to be more involved and take better care of its citizens which it has not done until now,” says Chen. “It can be a big, beautiful deal, ending the hostilities in Iran and Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.”

3 IRGC members reportedly killed in Israeli strike in western Iran

An Israeli airstrike killed three members of Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, semiofficial news agencies in the Islamic Republic report.

The Mehr and Tasnim news agencies report the attack took place in Zanjan province in western Iran.

The IDF said earlier that it carried out strikes today on missile launchers, air defense battery production sites, a headquarters of an Iranian drone regiment and a drone storage facility.

Vance: US decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites stemmed from its own intel

US Vice President JD Vance says he believes Iran’s nuclear program has been set back “many years” by Washington’s strikes this morning, and that the operation was motivated by US intelligence assessments, not Israeli ones.

Vance tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he feels “very confident that we’ve substantially delayed [Iran’s] development of a nuclear weapon,” and that, while he can’t provide an official assessment, he suspects it would be “many, many years” now before Iran could reach the bomb.

Asked if US President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for the operation based on US or Israeli intelligence assessments of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Vance says, “it was our intelligence” that led to the decision.

“Of course we share intelligence with a lot of agencies, British, Israeli and so forth, but it was our intelligence that motivated us to act,” says the vice president.

Vance explains that the US identified that “Iran was producing highly enriched uranium that was only consistent with them wanting to build a nuclear weapon,” and while “there’s of course an open question about whether they were weeks away or whether they were months away… they were way too close to a nuclear weapon for the comfort of the president of the United States, which is why he chose this action.”

The US vice president emphasizes that, although the US felt nuclear talks with Iran were somewhat productive in March, by mid-May, “the Iranians seemed to be stonewalling” the negotiations, which was “really the hidden story here… The Iranians stopped negotiating in good faith, and that was the real catalyst” for the decision to attack.

Asked if the US would support an Israeli assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vance claims that such a move is “up to the Israelis” and reiterates that the US position is “we don’t want a regime change.”

World is ‘safer and more stable’ after US strikes on Iran, says Rubio

The US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities made the world more secure, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts, rejecting fears that the action could ignite a wider conflict.

“I think the world today is safer and more stable than it was 24 hours ago,” he tells Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program, warning the Islamic Republic that it risks further reprisals if it insists on maintaining a “secret” nuclear program.

Rubio accuses Iran of entering into “fake negotiations” ahead of the strikes in a bid to “play” US President Donald Trump.

Starmer: UK moving military equipment to Mideast to protect its interests

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his focus is on curbing the Iran-Israel war and negotiating a solution, as he warns of escalation spreading beyond the Middle East.

Starmer would not say whether the UK would be drawn into the war if Iran targets US bases, but says it is moving military equipment into the area to protect its interests, people and allies.

“I’m not going to speculate about what may happen, because all of my focus is on de-escalation,” he says.

The UK has sent additional Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager tankers to Cyprus since the Israel-Iran war started more than a week ago. Iran had threatened to attack US, French and British bases in the region if those countries helped Israel.

IAEA chief: Extent of damage at Fordo unclear, but there are ‘clear indications of impacts’

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog says he does not know the extent of damage at the key Fordo nuclear facility after US airstrikes overnight.

“There are clear indications of impacts,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi tells CNN, “but as for the assessment for the degree of damage underground, on this we cannot pronounce ourselves.”

“No one could tell you how much it has been damaged,” he continues. He adds that because of observed changes in the shape of the sites, “one cannot exclude that there is significant damage there.”

Grossi says that the Natanz above-ground facility has been “completely destroyed,” while its underground halls “suffered a lot” because of cuts to electricity as the result of Israeli attacks.

The Isfahan site has also suffered “very significant damage,” Grossi says.

Fordo, says Grossi, would not be damaged by powers cuts because it has internal emergency electricity sources.

Grossi stresses that the IAEA “did not have elements to prove that Iran had a plan toward a nuclear weapon.”

Rubio: Iranian retaliation to US strikes would be ‘the worst mistake they’ve ever made’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns Iran against retaliating against US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saying such an action would be “the worst mistake they’ve ever made.”

Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, makes the comments on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo” show.

He says that the offer for diplomacy with Iran is still open, and that regime change is “not the goal” of the United States.

British Airways cancels its flights to the UAE and Qatar

British Airways canceled flights today from London to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar after the US attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities.

All flights from Heathrow Airport to Dubai and Doha were canceled for the day. The airline diverted a Dubai-bound airliner last night to Zurich. Flight BA109 was turned around after reaching Saudi Arabia, the airline says.

The airline says it is offering flexible rebooking for customers scheduled to fly to the two cities through Tuesday.

30 Israeli fighter jets strike dozens of targets in four areas of Iran, says military

The Israeli Air Force carried out a wave of strikes with 30 fighter jets in four areas of Iran earlier today, targeting missile and drone sites, the IDF says.

Dozens of targets were hit simultaneously in Isfahan, Bushehr, Ahvaz, and, for the first time, also Yazd, according to the military.

The IDF says some 60 munitions were dropped by the fighter jets in the strikes.

“As part of the wave of strikes, fighter jets targeted for the first time the ‘Imam Hussein’ strategic missile headquarters in the Yazd area, where long-range Khorramshahr missiles were stored,” the military says, adding that from this facility, some 60 missiles had been fired at Israel.

Simultaneously, in Isfahan, Bushehr and Ahvaz, the military says it targeted missile launchers, air defense battery production sites, a headquarters of an Iranian drone regiment and a drone storage facility.

Amid the strikes, the IDF says an air force drone identified Iranian soldiers “arming missile launchers, and eliminated them shortly afterward.”

Footage released by the IDF on June 22, 2025, shows Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers and soldiers in Iran. (Israel Defense Forces)

UN Security Council to meet today on US strikes on Iran

The United Nations Security Council will meet later today — at the request of Tehran — after the United States hit Iran’s main nuclear sites in strikes with massive bunker-busting bombs, diplomats say.

Ministers delay planned increase in public transportation pricing

A planned increase in public transportation prices will not take place this week, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Transportation Minister Miri Regev decide.

In a statement, Smotrich’s office says that in light of recent increases and the current military conflict with Iran, “the expected price increase this coming Wednesday will not occur, so that there will be no further increase in public transportation prices in 2025.”

At the same time, Smotrich and Regev’s ministries are currently “working to improve the quality and reliability of public transportation in a way that will lead to increased use of public transportation and reduced congestion on the roads,” the statement adds.

6 reportedly killed by IDF fire while waiting for humanitarian aid in Rafah

Media outlets in Gaza report that six people were killed and dozens more injured this morning by IDF gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid distribution in western Rafah. A food distribution center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is active in the area.

Additional reports indicate that in central Gaza, where another aid center is located, around 22 people were injured while waiting for assistance. No footage from the incidents has been released so far.

The IDF told the Times of Israel that it is not aware of such an incident in recent hours.

Yesterday, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that 450 people have been killed while waiting for humanitarian aid since the new distribution mechanism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operating.

The Red Cross told The Times of Israel that between May 27 and June 19, approximately 1,874 casualties arrived at the field hospital it operates in Rafah, 100 of whom were declared dead. According to the organization, about 90% of the patients arrived during mass casualty events, and most reported to medical staff that they had been injured while trying to access humanitarian aid at or near distribution centers.

The US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says that it opens only two of its four aid distribution sites today, distributing 1.1 million meals in 19,200 boxes, according to its own figures.

“Our delivery numbers are lower than normal as we adjust our supplies and deliveries in response to the ongoing conflict with Iran and for delivery site maintenance for safety reasons,” says GHF interim director John Acree in a statement. “We will continue to provide daily food deliveries to the populations and hope to return to our higher delivery numbers very soon.”

Herzog praises Trump for ‘historic decision’ to strike Iranian nuclear sites

President Isaac Herzog praises his US counterpart Donald Trump for his decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites, saying the “historic decision” can “clearly shift the direction of the Middle East for a much better future.”

Speaking to CNN, Herzog won’t say that the Iranian nuclear program has been eliminated, but says it has been “hit very hard” by Israel and US attacks.

Herzog stresses that regime change is “not any of the official goals of this war, not at all,” but that it would be a “very blessed side effect.”

He expresses hope that the US strike creates the opportunity for peace in the region, including between Israel and the Palestinians.

Fresh satellite images show damage at Fordo nuclear site after US strikes

Additional satellite images show damage on the mountainside at Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site after US airstrikes targeted the facility.

The images by Maxar show at least six holes on the mountain, where the massive 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, dropped from B-2 stealth bombers, impacted.

The “bunker buster” bomb is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding.

Iran has yet to offer a damage assessment of the site.

Over 70,000 Israelis have returned home via sea, land, air since start of Iran campaign

Since Israel launched a campaign of airstrikes in Iran to decimate its nuclear and ballistic missile programs on June 13, more than 71,608 Israelis returned home via land border crossings, the sea and the air, according to data by the Population and immigration Authority.

Israel’s airspace has been largely closed since the Israel Defense Forces began carrying out airstrikes on Iran, with exceptions only for a very limited number of approved repatriation flights during daylight hours only.

The closure has left many thousands of traveling Israelis scrambling for a way to get back home. Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa started operating repatriation flights on Wednesday to gradually bring back the more than 100,000 Israelis estimated to be stranded abroad.

Between June 13 and June 21, 39,776 people entered the country via land border crossings with Egypt and Jordan, which have remained open since the conflict with Iran started, according to data by the Population and Immigration Authority. From the sea, 6,499 Israelis traveled back, mostly from Cyprus, and 25,333 Israelis flew home on repatriation flights.

From June 13 to June 21, 33,685 Israelis left the country. About 27,920 exited via land border crossings, 2,645 via the sea, and 3,120 on flights.

Hegseth: US attack was ‘intentionally limited,’ focused on nuclear sites; Iran should now negotiate; hails Israel’s ‘incredible’ military success

In concluding his briefing at the Pentagon, the US defense chief once again reiterates an unwillingness for America’s intervention in Iran to turn into a protracted war and labels the overnight strikes as “intentionally limited.”

“I would just say, as the president has directed and made clear, this is most certainly not open-ended,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says, adding that it doesn’t limit US ability to respond and it will do so if necessary.

“The most powerful military in the world is postured and prepared to defend our people,” Hegseth says.

Asked whether the US risked getting into a protracted war, he specifies that “the scope of this was intentionally limited” while “the capabilities of the American military are nearly unlimited,” and thus Iran should “take the path of negotiated peace.”

Hegseth hails US overall coordination with Israel, but says “this strike was US-operated and US-led.”

Israel, he notes, has had “incredible” military success — at the beginning of its attacks “and ongoing” — in degrading Iranian capabilities. He says it has been “incredible to watch what our ally Israel has been able to do.”

“Part of this operation was the defense of Israel, and the ongoing defense of Israel,” Hegseth says.

US Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adds that the US strikes “took advantage of some of the preparatory work that’s been done over the past week and a half in terms of access and approach” and that “we made sure we were not in the same piece of air space and sky” as Israel.

Hegseth says the US has conveyed public and private messages to the Iranians, giving them every opportunity to come to the negotiating table.

The US has made clear to the Iranians that “this was about nuclear sites, nuclear capabilities.”

Asked about previous US intel assessments suggesting that Iran was not advancing toward nuclear weapons, Hegseth says “the president concluded that the Iranian nuclear program was a threat,” and says yesterday’s attack also involved the “collective self-defense of ourselves and our allies.”

After US strikes, Iran says its nuclear know-how ‘cannot be destroyed’

Iran says its knowledge in the nuclear field “cannot be destroyed” after the United States carried out a series of strikes early this morning on atomic facilities in the Islamic Republic.

“They should know that this industry has roots in our country and the roots of this national industry cannot be destroyed,” says Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, according to Tasnim news agency. “Of course, we have suffered damage, but this is not the first time that the industry has suffered damage.”

Iran’s government, meanwhile, says there is no immediate danger to the public after the United States struck three of its nuclear sites.

“There is no danger to the people living on the outskirts of our nuclear areas,” spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani says on state television. “The people of Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo can continue their lives.”

Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan ‘sustained extremely severe damage,’ says top US general; Hegseth: Mission ‘not about regime change’

US Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says at a Pentagon news conference that the goal of the operation — destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — has been achieved.

“Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,” Caine says.

A Pentagon-provided map of the flight path taken by B-2 stealth bombers indicates that their approach to Iran took them over the Mediterranean and then over Israel, Jordan and Iraq.

It is not immediately clear when those three countries were made aware of the flights. Israel has said the US strikes were carried out in coordination with its military. The US said the strikes did not involve Israeli jets.

The Trump administration says its attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities was not about toppling the country’s government.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says at the briefing.

The Pentagon released the map to journalists as it gave details of the mission, which it described as causing “extremely severe damage and destruction” to three Iranian nuclear sites.

Top US general says they retained ‘element of surprise’ in Iran attack

Seven stealth bombers were used in the US attack against Iranian nuclear sites, which apparently saw little response by Iran’s military, top general Dan Caine says.

Describing the complex operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine says the “main strike package comprised of 7 B-2 Spirit bombers” flying 18 hours from the US mainland to Iran with multiple aerial refuelings.

“Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran’s surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission. We retained the element of surprise,” Caine adds.

He says the deployment of US bombers over the Pacific yesterday was a “decoy,” part of a wider deception effort known to only a limited number of the operation’s planners.

Lapid calls on government to establish ‘home front cabinet’ to aid missile victims

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish a so-called “home front cabinet” tasked with “providing a quick and effective response to missile victims, small businesses, protection, and the issue of compensation.”

“The opposition would be happy to appoint a representative on its behalf to facilitate flash legislation or the transfers of compensation if necessary,” he declares.

VP Vance: We’re not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program

US Vice President JD Vance says the United States has successfully set back Iran’s nuclear weapons program, adding that US President Donald Trump now hopes to pursue a diplomatic solution.

“We do not want to protract this or build this out anymore than it’s already been built out. We want to end their nuclear program,” Vance says, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.”

“We want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here,” he adds.

“We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” he says.

Hegseth says US strikes ‘obliterated Iran’s nuclear ambitions,’ tells Tehran to ‘seek peace’

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that US military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities were an incredible and overwhelming success that have “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The US strikes included 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft, in an operation the top US general, General Dan Caine, said was named “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

“Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,” Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing.

“We devastated the Iranian nuclear program,” Hegseth said, adding that the operation “did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”

Speaking after the secretary, Caine said it was too early to fully assess the impact of the attacks but that the “initial” battle damage assessment was that “all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.”

“No other country on planet Earth” could have conducted the operation, Hegseth added.

He also gave “recognition to our allies in Israel as well.”

Hegseth said the operation involved considerable advance planning, “misdirection” and security, and that the US bombers went “in and out without the world knowing.”

He added that the attacks marked the “first operational involvement” of the MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator).

Trump “seeks peace, and Iran should take that path,” Hegseth said.

France distances itself from US strikes on Iran, Macron to hold emergency meeting

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an emergency security cabinet meeting today to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities early this morning, the French presidency announces.

Macron, who has discussed the conflict with several Arab leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia and Oman, will speak further with European and regional leaders during the day, the French presidency says.

France distances itself from the US strikes and urges “all parties to exercise restraint,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot writes in a post on X.

“France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America,” says Barrot, adding that Paris “did not take part in these strikes, nor in their planning.”

The minister “urges all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid any escalation that could lead to a widening of the conflict,” and says that “the lasting resolution of this issue must come through a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” an effort France “remains ready to contribute to.”

“France has repeatedly expressed its strong opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons,” the top French diplomat adds.

Iran president condemns American ‘aggression,’ says US had to act due to Israel’s ‘obvious inability’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemns US strikes on nuclear sites, saying in his first response that the attack revealed Washington was “behind” Israel’s military campaign in the Islamic Republic.

“This aggression showed that America is the main factor behind the Zionist regime’s hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he says, according to IRNA news agency, adding that the United States acted after seeing Israel’s “obvious inability.”

Explosions heard in Bushehr, home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant

Explosions are heard this afternoon in the Iranian port city of Bushehr, three semiofficial Iranian media outlets report. It is not immediately clear what caused the blasts.

Bushehr is home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant, which is run with Russian assistance. Iranian authorities have not reported any problem at the plant.

Meanwhile, explosions also struck the city of Yazd in central Iran, with some suggesting it came from Israeli airstrikes targeting a power plant and a military garrison.

Three large explosions were heard in the Bushehr Air Base, southern Iran, according to Iranian media. pic.twitter.com/IUFP5rxZJe

— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) June 22, 2025

Hezbollah says no plans to attack Israel or US after American strikes on Iran

Hezbollah will not attack either Israel or the US, a spokesman for the Iran-backed terror group tells Newsweek after US President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“Iran is a strong country capable of defending itself, logic dictates that it can confront America and Israel,” says the official. “Hezbollah remains committed to all matters agreed upon since the ceasefire.”

“Despite the attacks carried out by the Israeli enemy,” continues the spokesman, “the party has remained committed to the agreement.”

Hezbollah signed a ceasefire with Israel in November after Israeli strikes took out the organization’s leadership and IDF ground forces conquered Lebanese border towns. It indicated at the outset of Israel’s air campaign against Iran that it was not going to get involved.

At scene of missile strike, Lapid says Iran’s targeting of civilians shows how it differs from Israel

Speaking with the press at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says the missile attack highlights “the exact difference between us and our enemies.”

“Israel has been attacking nuclear sites, attacking ballistic missiles, has been attacking launchers. They’re attacking civilians, women and children, because this is what this regime is,” he says in English.

“I congratulate from here President Trump and the brave American army for being part of a historical change,” he continues, asserting that since last night’s American attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities the world has become a “safer place.”

Knesset committee members briefed on operation against Iran

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi provides lawmakers in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee with a confidential briefing on Israel’s achievements in the war against Iran.

While the content of the briefing was not publicized, the talk was said to be highly positive, although Hanegbi did state that there was more work to be done.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv was removed from the committee for interrupting.

In a tweet, Gotliv slams committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, whom she accuses of working to “weaken” and “undermine” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

“I dared to ‘interrupt’ and ask substantive questions and he immediately removed me from the discussion,” she says. “As I said, Yuli Edelstein is a Trojan horse in Likud. Not only would I not let him be the chairman of the committee, the voters should not let him be a member of Knesset.”

IDF publishes image of top brass watching US strike on Iran nuclear sites

The IDF publishes an image showing Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and members of the military’s top brass at the IDF’s underground command center during the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and a hostage recovery operation in Gaza overnight.

“The chief of staff emphasized the importance of the strategic relationship and coordination between the IDF and the US military and emphasized that the IDF will continue operations until the objectives of the operation are achieved,” the military says in a statement.

“In addition, the chief of staff expressed appreciation for the forces operating to rescue hostages in the Gaza Strip, in parallel to Operation Rising Lion [in Iran], and added that the IDF shares in the sorrow of the bereaved families and will continue to operate utilizing all available efforts to bring the hostages home,” the statement adds.

The IDF announced earlier that it had recovered the bodies of three slain hostages.

Russia condemns ‘irresponsible’ US strikes on Iran as a ‘dangerous escalation’

Russia says that it “strongly condemned” the United States’s bombings of nuclear sites in Iran, calling the attacks “irresponsible” and a “gross violation of international law.”

“It is already clear that a dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,” the Russian foreign ministry adds in a statement.

Iran Red Crescent says no deaths in US strikes on nuclear sites

The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, says there were no fatalities in the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“Fortunately, we did not have any martyrs in last night’s events of the US aggression against Iran’s nuclear facilities,” he says according to state television.

Pope urges world not to forget Gaza’s need for humanitarian aid

Pope Leo XIV calls on the world not to forget the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as war in the Middle East broadened with overnight US strikes on Iran.

“In this context that includes Israel and Palestine, there is a risk that the daily suffering of peoples is forgotten, in particular in Gaza and other territories, where there is an ever greater urgency for adequate humanitarian aid,” the pope says following his weekly Angelus prayer.

Bathers warned that jellyfish season has started off Israel’s Mediterranean coast

The jellyfish season starts right on time with reports of mainly medium-sized creatures along the central and northern Mediterranean coast.

Marine ecologist and jellyfish researcher Dor Edelist of the University of Haifa in northern Israel says while it’s still comfortable to swim, people should be on the lookout for jellyfish.

He recommends wearing spandex outfits that protect the body from stings.

In case of a sting, he recommends washing the affected area with seawater and treating the sting with aloe vera gel or an ointment for burns.

The jellyfish season usually ends at the beginning of August.

Health Ministry updates guideline for hospitals discharging mother hours after birth amid war

The Health Ministry states that its recommendation of early discharge from hospitals for new mothers 12 hours after giving birth, begun soon after the start of Israel’s war with Iran to reduce the number of patients, is contingent upon approval from a neonatologist and a gynecologist following examinations of both the mother and newborn.

Medical information about newborns who have been discharged will be transferred to health management organizations.

“The early discharge of mothers and low-risk newborns is being carried out with concern for continuity of care, ensuring they receive full support,” says Dr. Sharon Alroy Preiss, head of the ministry’s public health division.

IDF says it has expanded counter-terror operation in West Bank

The IDF, Border Police, and the Shin Bet carried out a major expansion of Operation Iron Wall over the weekend, conducting simultaneous counterterror operations in 15 villages across the northern West Bank, the military says.

According to the IDF, approximately 10 battalions were deployed, arresting 13 wanted suspects and uncovering weapons caches, including M-16 rifles, improvised arms, and 10 pipe bombs. Troops also discovered a lathe used for producing weapons.

The raids focused on areas in the Jenin region, as well as villages in the area surrounding Nablus, where forces searched over 1,200 buildings and interrogated dozens of suspects.

The IDF says the operation is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure and ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.

Authorities say 9,000 Israelis displaced from their homes so far amid Iranian missile strikes

The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel reports that around 9,000 people have been displaced from their homes since Israel’s operation against Iran began.

Thousands are being accommodated in hotels, while others have moved in with friends and family.

Iran has fired barrages of missiles at Israel with many impacting in civilian residential areas, causing widescale damage.

Iranian FM to travel to Moscow to ‘coordinate positions’ with Putin

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, responding to a question from a Russian outlet, said he’ll travel to Moscow today to meet with President Vladimir Putin, after the US struck Iranian nuclear sites.

“We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he said, referring to Russia.

Arkia announces it will resume repatriation flights at 2 p.m.

Israeli carrier Arkia says it will resume repatriation flights to bring back Israelis stranded abroad once the country’s airspace reopens for takeoffs and landings at 2 p.m.

Israel closed the country’s airspace this morning following the US attack on Iran. Arkia reports that a repatriation flight from Paris that was diverted to Larnaca because of the airspace closure, will land today at Ben Gurion Airport. An additional flight from Bucharest to Tel Aviv is also expected to bring Israelis home today.

On Monday, Arkia plans to operate three flights, from Athens, Rome, and Larnaca, that were postponed because of the temporary closure of the airspace.

Customers who were assigned for flights today will receive a personal message with departure details. Passengers who were not assigned to today’s limited flight schedule will receive an update later today regarding their assignment to flights on Monday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard tells US to ‘expect regrettable responses’

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warns the United States to “expect regrettable responses” to its strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iran, it said, would “use options beyond the understanding… of the aggressor front, and the aggressors of this land must expect regrettable responses.”

The Guards also said they would continue to target Israel, which has been hit by multiple waves of missile and drone attacks since it struck Iran on June 13.

IDF publishes footage of strikes on Iranian ballistic launchers

The IDF publishes footage showing Israeli Air Force strikes on primed Iranian ballistic missile launchers, shortly before this morning’s missile barrage from Iran.

According to the military, the strike eliminated several Iranian soldiers at the launch site.

The IDF publishes footage showing Israeli Air Force strikes on primed Iranian ballistic missile launchers, shortly before this morning's barrage.

According to the military, the strike eliminated several Iranian soldiers at the launch site. pic.twitter.com/m9j5hFmjBD

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 22, 2025

IDF says US strike in Iran overnight was coordinated with Israel

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says the United States’ strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities overnight was coordinated with the Israeli military.

He says that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has been in contact with his American counterparts since the start of the war with Iran, and the coordination has become even closer recently.

“We have more objectives, and we are acting all the time to achieve them. We will continue to act to achieve these objectives,” Defrin says in a press conference.

Germany issues condolences after body of dual citizen hostage Shay Levinson returned from Gaza

German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert sends condolences to the family of dual German-Israeli citizen Shay Levinson, whose body was returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip in an overnight IDF operation after he was killed and abducted by the Hamas terror group on October 7, 2023.

In a post on X, Seibert notes that Levinson “was 19 when Hamas killed him.”

Shai Levinson, a German-Israeli, was 19 when Hamas killed him on 7/10. Now the IDF returned his body from Gaza. I just spoke to his father; our hearts are with his family and all others waiting for their loved one’s return. There must be a deal to get them out and end this war. pic.twitter.com/rCSh14MW5o

— Steffen Seibert (@GerAmbTLV) June 22, 2025

“I just spoke to his father; our hearts are with his family and all others waiting for their loved one’s return. There must be a deal to get them out and end this war,” the ambassador writes.

Diplomacy is not an option after US strikes on Iran, Iran’s top diplomat says

Iran’s foreign minister says diplomacy is not an option after a US strike on its nuclear facilities. Abbas Araghchi is speaking in Istanbul to journalists.

He says while the “door to diplomacy” should always be open, “this is not the case right now.”

Mountainside damaged at underground Fordo nuclear site after US strikes, satellite photos show

Satellite images taken today and analyzed by The Associated Press show damage on the mountainside at Iran’s underground nuclear site at Fordo after US airstrikes targeted the facility.

The images by Planet Labs PBC show the once-brown mountain had parts turned gray and its contours appeared slightly different than in previous images, suggesting a blast threw up debris around the site. That suggests the use of specialized American bunker buster bombs on the facility. Light gray smoke also hung in the air.

Iran has yet to offer a damage assessment of the site.

Other satellite images suggest Iran before the strike sealed up its tunnel entrances at Fordo.

Fordo hits, now compared to April imagery
Planet Labs PBC pic.twitter.com/T1V2wmPrSj

— avi scharf (@avischarf) June 22, 2025

On 21 June 2025, President Trump announced the US had struck Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Facility with GBU-57A/B MOP bunker busting bombs. High-resolution imagery taken on 22 June 2025 shows the site after it had been struck. pic.twitter.com/iXid2djIgU

— Open Source Centre (@osc_london) June 22, 2025

Germany calls on Iran to begin nuclear talks with US and Israel following American strikes

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls on Iran to start nuclear negotiations with Israel and the United States, following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities early this morning, says the chancellor’s spokesman, Stefan Kornelius.

During a meeting of the German government’s security cabinet this morning, “Chancellor Merz reiterated his call for Iran to immediately begin negotiations with the US and Israel in pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the conflict,” Kornelius writes in a statement.

“The federal government believes that significant parts of Iran’s nuclear program were impacted by the airstrikes. A precise damage assessment will only be possible at a later stage,” adds the statement.

Merz and German security cabinet ministers “will remain in close coordination with partners in the European Union and the United States regarding further steps,” the spokesman adds.

Hostage forum welcomes return of slain captives, urges government to use Iran momentum for deal to free all hostages

Hostage Families Forum welcomes the return of the bodies of three slain captives, Ofra Keidar, Jonathan Samerano, and Shay Levinson, and urges the government to use the momentum from the Iran war to secure a deal to free the remaining hostages.

“Our hearts are with the Keidar, Samerano, and Levinson families today. Alongside the grief and pain, their return provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days,” the forum says.

“We wish to express our deep gratitude to the IDF and security forces who acted with dedication and courage,” the forum says.”The return of all the hostages is an essential condition for the process of national healing and recovery.”

It urges the government to take advantage of the severe blows dealt to Iran, the main backer of the Hamas terror group.

“Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving any sort of victory,” the forum says.

“There is a historic window of opportunity — the significant regional achievements enable Israel to end the war from a position of clear strength,” the statement says.  “The return of all hostages through a comprehensive deal — this is in Israel’s interest, this is the next stage, and this is the victory of this war. There will be no victory until the last hostage returns.”

The forum requests that the media and the public respect the privacy of the Keidar, Samerano, and Levinson families.

IDF says it intercepted some 30 Iranian drones overnight

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force and Navy intercepted some 30 drones launched from Iran at Israel, the military says.

Since the start of the war with Iran, over 500 drones launched at Israel have been shot down, according to the IDF.

The military says the IAF also continues to target dozens of drones in Iran before they are launched at Israel.

The IDF releases footage showing the drone interceptions and strikes on drones in Iran.

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force and Navy intercepted some 30 drones launched from Iran at Israel, the military says.

Since the start of the war with Iran, over 500 drones launched at Israel have been shot down, according to the IDF.

The military says the IAF also continues to… pic.twitter.com/wspRB9gshK

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 22, 2025

Netanyahu hails return of bodies of 3 slain hostages, says efforts to free them all continue despite Iran war

Following the IDF’s announcement that it recovered the bodies of three slain hostages from the Gaza Strip in a joint operation with the Shin Bet overnight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails the mission and asserts that efforts to return the remaining hostages are ongoing alongside the conflict with Iran.

In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier thanks the commanders and soldiers for the “successful operation,” which recovered the bodies of Ofra Keidar, Jonathan Samerano, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, who were killed and abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, massacre.

Netanyahu extends his “heartfelt condolences to the dear families [of the hostages] and shares in their profound sorrow.”

“The campaign to return the hostages is continuing without pause and is being carried out in parallel to the campaign against Iran. We will not rest until we bring all our hostages home — both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu concludes.

Iranian FM Araghchi says US strikes ‘blow up’ diplomatic efforts

Iran’s top diplomat throws cold water on calls to return to diplomacy with the US.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posts on X that the US strikes overnight have blown up any possibility of diplomacy with the Americans or Europeans.

“Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy,” Araghchi writes on X. “What conclusion would you draw?”

He adds that acceding to British and European Union calls for Iran to “return” to the negotiating table are unfeasible now. “But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?” he says.

Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy.

This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy.

What conclusion would you draw?

To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must "return"…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025

Qatar calls for return to diplomacy after US strikes

Qatar calls for de-escalation and diplomacy and warns of “serious repercussions” in the region after the United States joined Israel’s strikes against Iranian nuclear sites this morning.

Doha “stresses the need to halt all military operations and immediately return to dialogue and diplomatic paths to resolve outstanding issues,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry writes in an Arabic-language post on X.

“The Foreign Ministry warns that the dangerous tension currently prevailing in the region will have serious repercussions at both the regional and international levels,” the post continues.

Qatar also affirms “its full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at resolving disputes and crises through peaceful means, in order to consolidate peace and stability in the region.”

Vigilante rapper detains foreign journalists at site of Tel Aviv missile impact

A civilian security squad led by far-right rapper Yoav Eliasi — known by his stage name “The Shadow” — detained a group of foreign journalists at a missile impact site in Tel Aviv this morning, only for a police spokesman to release them.

Footage shows the civilian police volunteers, operating under the auspices of the Israel Police, separating Israeli journalists from foreign ones in a stairwell and allowing the former group to proceed to the scene of an Iranian ballistic missile impact. Several foreign reporters were then detained, Haaretz reports.

Photojournalist Oren Ziv told the outlet that reporters had been on the roof of the building when a police officer told them to come down.

“On the way [down], the civilian security squad stopped us and asked where Al Jazeera was… They told Israeli photographers to pass through, and foreigners to wait. They mainly took the IDs of Arab photographers,” he said.

Upon arriving at the impact site, Tel Aviv District spokesman Shahar Gamzo immediately released the journalists.

After an appeal by the journalists’ union to the Tel Aviv District Police regarding the incident, police decided its civilian security squads would not interact with reporters at “various sites,” the union says.

"הצל" על מדי משטרה מחליט שמי שעיתונאי ישראלי יכול להיכנס לזירת הנפילה בתל אביב ומי שלא עיתונאי ישראלי – מעוכב בצד.
בסוף בא דובר משטרת ת"א, קצין משטרה שלא קיבל את הדרגות מבן גביר, והכניס את *כל* העיתונאים.
למה האיש הזה מנהל זירות? pic.twitter.com/jwyRopCRzT

— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) June 22, 2025

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has pledged to crack down on foreign media broadcasting the locations of missile impacts, calling it a “danger to state security.”

Responding to the incident, Ben Gvir hails Eliasi, a staunch supporter of the far-right minister, as a hero.

“The Shadow, whom you all are disparaging, is a hero,” he writes in an X post, lauding the civilian security team. “Instead of shaming, send them flowers — they are our shield.”

He continues, “The Al Jazeera channel and spies disguised as journalists — will not broadcast here. Period. That’s the policy. Get used to it.”

Last week, police halted the broadcast of several foreign outlets, saying their footage — which revealed “precise locations” — was being used by Al Jazeera, a Qatar-funded network banned in Israel since last summer.

IDF announces bodies of three slain hostages, Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Shay Levinson, recovered from Gaza

The bodies of three slain hostages, Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, were recovered in a joint military and Shin Bet operation from the Gaza Strip overnight, the IDF announces.

The operation to recover the bodies was carried out by the Gaza Division, and was “enabled by precise intelligence” obtained by the military’s Hostages Headquarters unit, the Military Intelligence Directorate, and the Shin Bet, the IDF says.

Keidar, 71, was murdered by Hamas-led terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7, 2023, onslaught, and abducted to Gaza.

Samerano, 22, fled from the Nova music festival to Be’eri with two friends, where they were murdered, and his body was abducted.

Levinson, 19, was a tank commander stationed on the Gaza border on the morning of the onslaught. He was killed while battling the invading Hamas terrorists near the Nova party, and his body was abducted to Gaza.

The three bodies were brought to Israel for identification at the Abu Kabir forensic institute, after which their families were notified.

Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are now holding 50 hostages, including 49 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 28 confirmed dead by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, Israeli officials have said. Hamas is also holding the body of an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.

Iran International says Iran abducted journalist’s family over Israel war coverage

Iran detained the family members of an Iran International journalist Saturday in retaliation for the channel’s coverage of the country’s war with Israel, threatening to hold them until the journalist resigned from her position.

The London-based Farsi news channel says in a statement that it strongly condemns the abduction of its journalist’s family, calling it “an appalling act of hostage-taking aimed at coercing our colleague into resigning from their post.”

“This deeply reprehensible tactic marks a dangerous escalation in the regime’s ruthless campaign to silence dissent and suppress independent journalism,” the news channel said.

The detainment marks the latest example of Iran’s longstanding effort to crack down not only on Iranian journalists inside the country but also those abroad who still have family and friends living in Iran. The Islamic Republic is one of the world’s top jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and in the best of times, reporters face strict restrictions.

The broadcaster says that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took the presenter’s mother, father and younger brother to an unidentified location. The journalist, whose name the outlet did not disclose, then received a phone call from her father early Saturday, urging her to resign from her role, according to Iran International. The voices of security agents could be heard in the background telling her father what to say.

“I’ve told you a thousand times to resign. What other consequences do you expect?” Iran International says her father told her. “You have to resign.”

Yemen’s Houthis say ready to attack Red Sea shipping after US strikes on Iran

Yemen’s rebel government says it supports a vow by its armed wing a day earlier to hit US ships in the Red Sea should Washington launch strikes on Iran.

“We affirm the Republic of Yemen’s commitment to the armed forces’ declaration that they were ready to target US ships and warships in the Red Sea,” the government says in a statement after the United States launched attacks on Iran.

Nuclear talks mediator Oman condemns US strikes on Iran

Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran,  strongly condemned US strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.

The Gulf sultanate “expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the official Oman News Agency says.

Father says body of slain hostage Yonatan Samerano recovered from Gaza

The body of slain hostage Yonatan Samerano was recovered from the Gaza Strip, his father Kobi announces.

“Yesterday was Yonti’s Hebrew birthday. On his 23rd birthday, on the very day he was born, our Yonti was rescued in a heroic operation by the brave soldiers of the IDF and the Shin Bet,” Kobi Samerano says on Instagram.

The IDF has not yet commented on the operation.

Samerano, 21, fled from the Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists attacked on October 7, 2023, to Kibbutz Be’eri with two friends, where they were murdered, and his body was abducted.

UK’s Starmer calls on Iran to return to nuclear talks following US strikes

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urges Iran to engage in renewed nuclear talks and pushes for a diplomatic solution to the heightened regional conflict after the United States joined Israel’s offensive against the Islamic Republic this morning.

“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” writes Starmer on X.

“We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis,” he says.

Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.

The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 22, 2025

Transportation Ministry says airspace to reopen at 2 p.m., repatriation flights to resume

Israel’s airspace is expected to reopen at 2 p.m. after a temporary halt of takeoffs and landings this morning following the US attack on Iran, the Transportation Ministry says.

With the reopening of Israeli airspace, the operation for the safe return of stranded Israelis home will continue in full force, the ministry says.

“We continue to act with determination while taking precautions to return all Israeli citizens to their homes,” says Transportation Minister Miri Regev. “This is a complex national security operation that requires close coordination between all agencies, and we will continue to operate until the last Israeli returns home safely.”

Israir says preparing to resume repatriation flights amid expectation Israel airspace will reopen at 2 p.m.

Israeli carrier Israir says it is preparing to renew its operation of repatriation flights amid expectations that Israel’s airspace will reopen at 2 p.m.

“We are awaiting detailed guidelines from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Airports Authority, and will update as soon as we receive them,” the airline says in a statement.

All Israeli airlines suspended their operations earlier today as the country’s airspace was closed following the US attack on Iran.

The Israel Airports Authority says it is preparing to open the airspace and resume flights.

“At present, no time has been set for the opening of the airspace,” the airports authority says. “It will open in accordance with developments in the situation and in coordination with the various parties.”

Iran’s Paris-based opposition head says time for Khamenei to go, after US hits nuclear sites

Maryam Rajavi, head of the Paris-based opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran, says that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was responsible for the nuclear program that had now “gone up in smoke” and needed to go.

“Now Khamenei must go. The Iranian people welcome the end of the war and seek peace and freedom,” she says in a statement, following unprecedented US strikes that President Donald Trump said had “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities.

“Khamenei is responsible for an unpatriotic project that, in addition to costing countless lives, has cost the Iranian people at least $2 trillion—and now, it has all gone up in smoke.”

IAEA chief calls emergency meeting for Monday after US strikes on Iran

The head of UN’s nuclear watchdog posted on X that given the US intervention in the Israel-Iran war, he will be convening an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors on Monday.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been the target of much Iranian criticism in recent days for what the Islamic Republic described as conflicting statements that incited Israel’s initial attack.

Health Ministry says 86 people treated for injuries after strikes, 2 moderately hurt

The Health Ministry reports that 86 injured people arrived at hospitals due to the latest round of Iranian missile strikes, including two in moderate condition, 77 in good condition, four victims suffering from acute  of anxiety, and three who are undergoing medical evaluation and whose condition has not yet been determined.

IDF says it destroyed 2 Iranian fighter jets, 8 ballistic missile launchers, among dozens of targets

The Israeli Air Force bombed two Iranian F-5 fighter jets at Dezful Airport in Iran a short while ago, the military says.

Additionally, strikes this morning destroyed eight ballistic missile launchers, including six that were primed for an immediate attack on Israel, the IDF says.

The military says that strikes last night carried out by 20 fighter jets in central Iran hit dozens of Iranian military targets.

The targets included “a military site containing components for the production of explosives, sites for the storage and production of weapons, and Iranian air defense systems,” along with military infrastructure at Isfahan Airport, to prevent the Iranian Air Force from using the site’s military facilities,” the IDF says.

A video issued by the IDF on June 22, 2025, shows strikes on Iranian F-5 fighter jets, ballistic missile launchers, and other military facilities in Iran. (Israel Defense Forces)

Shares on Tel Aviv Stock Exchange hit record highs after US strikes on Iran

Shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rise and and hit fresh all-time highs after the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear sites.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s benchmark TA-125 index jumps 1.6%.

The TA-35 index of blue-chip companies increases 1.5%. The TA-90 index, which tracks the shares with the highest capitalization not included in the TA-35 index, is up 2.1%, and the TA-Insurance and Financial Services index soars 3.2%.

Shares rose during all five sessions last week, gaining some 6%, as Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military targets.

Iranian lawmaker says US strikes give Iran legal right to exit nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Iran has the legal right to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) based on its Article 10, following US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, Parliament Foreign Policy Committee Head Abbas Golroo says on X on Sunday.

Article 10 states that an NPT member has “the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country.”

Iran claims it fired largest missile yet, with 1,500-kilogram warhead, in latest barrage

Iranian state TV shows what appeared to be previous test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, with an onscreen caption saying it was used today in a barrage on Israel.

The Khorramshahr-4 has the heaviest payload of Iran’s ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country’s supreme leader.

Iran says the missile has a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead.

The missile is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century — in what is now Saudi Arabia.

Israir cancels sale of regular flight tickets through July 7; repatriation flights to resume when airspace opens

Israir says it is suspending the sale of seats on all its scheduled flights through July 7, citing the ongoing uncertainty. Its repatriation flights for Israelis stranded abroad, currently suspended because Israel’s airspace is closed, will resume when the airspace reopens.

All passengers with flight reservations through July 7 can cancel their trip without fees. Passengers will be entitled to a credit voucher for the full purchase amount, which will be valid for two years on any future Israir flight.

Israir emphasizes that the option to cancel reservations through July and receive a two-year credit voucher does not include reservations for repatriation flights.

IDF says Haifa impact likely caused by misfired interceptor

The IDF Home Front Command suspects that an air defense interceptor malfunctioned and crashed in Haifa amid Iran’s ballistic missile attack, which was the reason for sirens not sounding in the northern city.

An early warning was issued via the cell broadcast system in Haifa, but no sirens sounded as no ballistic missiles were heading for the city.

During the attack, an air defense interceptor likely misfired and impacted in Haifa, according to a preliminary Home Front Command investigation.

“This is not a malfunction in the warning system,” the IDF says, adding that the incident is under further investigation.

The impact wounded three people, who medics say are in good condition, and caused damage.

At least 27 missiles were launched by Iran in the attack in two salvos.

One missile hit a residential area of Tel Aviv, wounding 13 people lightly, and another hit homes in Ness Tziona, wounding six lightly.

One man was moderately hurt by shrapnel on the Route 431 highway, near Be’er Yaakov in central Israel.

The Home Front Command is also investigating whether Iran used a cluster bomb warhead in the attack this morning, as it did last week, but thus far has not found any evidence of this.

Iran: US has ‘launched a dangerous war’ to support ‘genocidal and lawless Israeli regime’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says that “the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran” after America attacked three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.

The ministry make the remarks in a long statement posted this morning.

“The world must not forget that it was the United States — during an ongoing diplomatic process — that betrayed diplomacy by supporting the aggressive actions of the genocidal and lawless Israeli regime,” the ministry says. “Now, by completing the chain of violations and crimes committed by the Zionist regime, the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran.”

It adds: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against US military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran’s security and national interests.”

Iran claims it targeted Ben Gurion airport, biological research center

Iran’s armed forces say they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion Airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.

“The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power,” the armed forces say in a statement quoted by Fars news agency.

The targets included the airport, a “biological research center,” logistics bases, and various layers of command and control centers, it adds.

Missiles hit residential areas of Tel Aviv, Nes Tziona and Haifa.

Rescue work continues at site of impact near elder care facility in central Israel

Emergency services are still working to evacuate residents of a heavily populated area in central Israel, over an hour after the barrage of ballistic missiles was fired from Iran.

The situation is complicated by the fact that a large elder care facility was damaged in the attack.

“There was a massive explosion. Everything shook. I don’t know what happened,” says a tearful witness.

Dazed families walk around carrying small bags with their important possessions, as security forces move them away from the scene, citing concerns of falling debris or a building collapse.

‘No increase’ in radiation levels after US attack on Iran: UN nuclear watchdog

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following US airstrikes.

“Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran… the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,” the nuclear watchdog posts on X, just hours after US President Donald Trump said the strikes had “totally obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.

IDF says it hit primed missile launchers in fresh strikes on western Iran

The Israeli Air Force has launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets in western Iran, the IDF announces.

A short while ago, ballistic missile launchers used in the attack on Israel this morning were destroyed in strikes, the military says.

Additionally, the military says that this morning, the IAF struck several primed ballistic missile launchers and eliminated Iranian soldiers.

MDA says 16 wounded at several sites across Israel

Magen David Adom raises the wounded toll of the latest Iranian ballistic missile attack to 16.

A man in his 30s is moderately wounded by shrapnel, and 15 other people are lightly hurt, MDA says.

Several missile impacts were reported in central Israel after sirens sounded. One missile hit Haifa, where no sirens sounded ahead of the impact.

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel

Iranian authorities executed a man convicted of being an agent for Israel’s Mossad spy service, the judiciary says, as fighting raged between the two foes for a tenth day.

“Majid Mosayebi… was hanged this morning after going through the full process of criminal procedure and after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website says, adding that he sought to provide “sensitive information … to Mossad.”

Iranian authorities have carried out multiple arrests of people suspected of spying for Israel since its attack on June 13.

Opposition politicians laud Trump for Iran strike: The world is a safer place

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid thanks US President Donald Trump following US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear targets.

“This night is a historic night for the entire Middle East. Thank you to President Trump. Thank you to the US. A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world. Tonight, a nuclear arms race in the Middle East was averted,” Lapid says in a statement.

Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities “makes the world, the Middle East and Israel safer places today,” says National Unity chairman Benny Gantz.

“I wish to convey to President Trump and the American people my profound appreciation for their leadership, determination and their clear stand with Israel throughout this campaign and tonight particularly against the Iranian regime,” he tweets, in English.

Coalition politicians praise Trump, Netanyahu after strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Senior coalition officials and members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet praise US President Donald Trump for his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring that “this morning, the world is a better and safer world. For Israel and the entire world.”

“Thank you to the Lord of the Universe. Thank you to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Ron Dermer, who have been working together resolutely for 25 years for this moment… Thank you to President Trump, who shows true leadership and commitment to the State of Israel and world peace,” Smotrich says, warning that despite Jerusalem and Washington’s military successes, “the war is not over.”

Trump and Netanyahu’s actions “will be remembered for generations as those that literally saved us all from the threat of terrorism and destruction from Iran,” declares Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also lauds Trump and Netanyahu, tweeting: “God Bless President Trump. God Bless America. God Bless the United States Army. God Bless the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. God Bless the Israel Defense Forces.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana likewise welcomes American military intervention in an English-language post, asserting that “President Trump didn’t wait for another Pearl Harbor to confront the forces of darkness.”

“He acted decisively, courageously, and with monumental moral clarity. Today, America saved the free world,” he writes.

Tel Aviv’s Ichilov hospital says it is treating 5 wounded, including 2 children

Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv says five people have arrived at the emergency room with minor injuries from the latest missile barrage, including two children.

All are currently being treated in the trauma room.

Cruise ship bringing back stranded Israelis barred from entering port amid missile barrage

A Mano Maritime cruise ship bringing 1,800 stranded Israelis back from Cyprus has been delayed entering the port of Ashdod following a directive by the Home Front Command.

Mano Maritime says it has informed passengers on the cruise, which was about to enter the Ashdod port, and those who are scheduled to depart for Cyprus today.

MDA: At least 11 people wounded in missile attack

Medics are treating 11 people who were wounded in Iran’s ballistic missile attack on central and northern Israel.

A man in his 30s is moderately wounded by shrapnel, while 10 others are lightly hurt, Magen David Adom says.

MDA says it is continuing to scan the sites of reported impacts.

IDF says civilians can leave shelters after Iranian missile barrage

The IDF Home Front Command says civilians can leave shelters following Iran’s ballistic missile attack.

At least 27 missiles were launched in the attack in two salvos, with impacts in Haifa and in central Israel.

The first barrage included 22 missiles, and the second was made up of five, according to IDF assessments.

Medics says responding to impacts at more than10 sites across the country

Magen David Adom CEO Eli Bin says that teams from the rescue agency are responding to reports of impacts of missiles and shrapnel at more than 10 sites across the country.

New sirens sounding in northern Israel

New sirens are sounding in northern Israel, as Iran continues to launch ballistic missiles.

Civilians in areas where sirens are sounding are instructed to remain in bomb shelters until further notice.

Footage of Iranian missiles over Israel a short time ago. pic.twitter.com/nGRQVgazbz

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 22, 2025

Missile hits Haifa despite no sirens sounding in city; IDF probing incident

A ballistic missile launched from Iran struck Haifa a short while ago, despite no sirens sounding in the northern city.

The Home Front Command is investigating the incident.

Between 20-30 missiles launched at Israel in latest barrage

Some 20-30 ballistic missiles are estimated by the IDF to have been launched from Iran in the latest attack on Israel.

Medics are scanning several impact sites for any potentially injured people.

Medics responding to impact reports in northern and central Israel, fresh sirens sound

Medics and security forces are responding to reports of ballistic missile impacts in central and northern Israel, amid Iran’s latest attack.

Sirens continue to sound in various areas.

El Al says all flights cancelled until further notice, air space closed

El Al says all of its flights are cancelled until further notice after Israeli airspace was closed for both inbound and outbound air traffic early this morning.

Flights that were en route to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport will land at an alternative destination.

“Passenger safety and security are our top priority, and we will continue to update with any changes and new guidelines,” the airline says.

Sirens are sounding in central and northern Israel amid a new Iranian ballistic missile attack

Sirens are sounding in central and northern Israel amid a new Iranian ballistic missile attack.

Civilians in areas where sirens are sounding are instructed to remain in bomb shelters until further notice.

It marks the first ballistic missile attack from Iran on Israel in over a day, and the first since the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

IDF detects incoming missile barrage from Iran

The IDF says it has detected the launch of ballistic missiles from Iran.

Sirens are expected to sound in the coming minutes.

It marks the first ballistic missile attack from Iran in over a day.

Iran warns US strikes ‘will have everlasting consequences,’ Tehran ‘reserves all options to defend itself’

Iran’s top diplomat warns US attacks on its nuclear sites ‘will have everlasting consequences’

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also says on X that Tehran “reserves all options” to retaliate. He’s the first ranking official to comment on the strikes on Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz by the Americans.

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi writes.

He added: “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.

The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025

Two drones shot down in southern Israel

Two drones apparently launched from Iran at Israel were shot down by the Israeli Air Force a short while ago, the IDF says.

The drones had triggered sirens in the southern Arava region.

Drones take several hours to reach Israel from Iran, meaning these were likely launched before the US bombed Iran’s nuclear sites.

Shortly after midnight, another drone from Iran was intercepted over the Golan Heights, according to the military.

Saudi Arabia says ‘no radioactive effects’ detected in Gulf after US strikes on Iran

Saudi regulatory authorities say that “no radioactive effects were detected” in the Gulf region after US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the American military targeting of Iran’s nuclear facilities,” the Kingdom’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission writes in a post on X.

Schumer calls for immediate vote on War Powers Act to involve Congress in president’s Iran war decisions

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calls on President Donald Trump to “provide the American people and Congress clear answers on the actions taken tonight and their implications for the safety of Americans.”

“No president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy,” Schumer says in a statement following the US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.

“Confronting Iran’s ruthless campaign of terror, nuclear ambitions, and regional aggression demands strength, resolve, and strategic clarity. The danger of wider, longer, and more devastating war has now dramatically increased.”

“We must enforce the War Powers Act and I’m urging Leader Thune to put it on the Senate floor immediately. I am voting for it and implore all Senators on both sides of the aisle to vote for it,” he says, referring to legislation that limits the president’s power to unilaterally sign off on prolonged military entanglements abroad without authorization from Congress.

Iranian lawmaker claims damage to Fordo nuclear site minimal

An Iranian parliament member representing the city of Qom near the Fordo nuclear site is quoted in Iranian state media as claiming that damage to the facility was “only above ground and can be restored.”

He says any content that could have posed a danger to the public had been removed from the site beforehand.

‘Shehecheyanu: Dermer quotes Jewish prayer of gratitude to thank Trump

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who has been Israel’s point-man in ties with the Trump administration, praises the US president after authorizing a strike against Iran’s nuclear program.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this day,” Dermer tweets, quoting a Jewish prayer of gratitude that is recited on special occasions.

Defense Minister Israel Katz also congratulates Trump for his “historic decision “to destroy the three nuclear sites.”

Herzog on US strike: This is a moment when liberty, responsibility and security triumphed

In the pages of human history, this is a moment when the principles of liberty, responsibility, and security have triumphed. A decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.

Thank you, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. Thank you, United States of America.…

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) June 22, 2025

MAGA isolationists back Trump after previously warning against US strike on Iran

Several key MAGA influencers who had cautioned against US involvement in the war against Iran are coming out in support of US President Donald Trump after his decision to authorize strikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

“Iran gave President Trump no choice. For a decade, he has been adamant that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon. Iran decided to forego diplomacy in pursuit of a bomb. This is a surgical strike, operated perfectly,” tweets conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “President Trump acted with prudence and decisiveness.”

Kirk, earlier this month, had warned that US involvement in the war would create a “massive schism” with his “America First” base. However, Kirk stressed at the time that he has “full and complete trust” in the president.

Former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who had been more aggressive in his opposition to US intervention against Iran, tweets, “President Trump basically wants this to be like the Soleimani strike — one and done. No regime change war. Trump the Peacemaker!”

Qassem Soleimani was the former head of the IRGC’s Quds Force, assassinated by the US during Trump’s first term. Iran responded by striking a pair of US bases in Iraq.

Two days ago, Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy said, “Rarely will one single action spell the end of a conflict. Us taking out the nuclear capability, I don’t think it’s the endgame.”

But tonight, Sheehy tweeted, “The right decision. Iran had every opportunity to give up their nukes.”

“To the naysayers out there, this isn’t starting a war. This is ending one. Iran has been at war with America for 46 years,” he added.

Israel closes its airspace in apparent precaution following US strike on Iran

Israel has closed its airspace in an apparent precautionary measure following the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the Israel Airports Authority announces.

The land crossings into Egypt and Jordan remain open, the port authority says.

Report: US and Israeli militaries practiced tonight’s Iran strike during Biden administration

The US and Israel practiced tonight’s attack against Iran about a year ago, ABC News reports, citing an unnamed source in Israel familiar with the matter.

It was the first exercise that war-gamed an offensive strike against Iran’s nuclear program, the source says.

The exercise was planned and executed during the Biden administration, “But we did not think a year ago that this would happen now,” the source says.

Condemning US strike on Iran, Hamas says it’s confident Tehran will defend itself

Hamas issues a statement condemning the US strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“This brutal aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation and a blind adherence to the agenda of the rogue Zionist occupation,” Hamas says in a statement.

The terror group says it holds the Trump administration and Israel “fully responsible for the grave repercussions of this aggression.”

“We affirm our solidarity with our brothers in the Islamic Republic… and our complete confidence in Iran’s ability to defend its sovereignty and the interests of its people,” Hamas says.

Trump warns against ‘ANY RETALIATION’ by Iran

Writing in all-caps on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump warns that “any retaliation by Iran against the US will be met with far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”

Netanyahu: I promised Iran’s nuclear sites would be destroyed, and I kept that promise

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he kept his promise from the beginning of Israel’s conflict against Iran that Iran’s nuclear facilities would be destroyed.

In a Hebrew video statement to the Israeli public following the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu says the American operation was conducted in “full coordination” with the IDF.

Netanyahu says the US finished the job against Iran’s nuclear sites that was started by the IDF on June 13.

“At the beginning of the operation, I promised you that Iran’s nuclear facilities would be destroyed, one way or another. This promise was kept,” Netanyahu says.

He says that Trump called him immediately after the US operation was finished in order to congratulate him in what was a “very warm and moving conversation.

“He congratulated me, he congratulated our army and he congratulated our people,” Netanyahu says, adding that he did the same.

“President Trump is leading the free world with strength. He is a great friend of Israel, a friend like no other,” the premier continues, thanking Trump profusely.

Trump: There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran; we have many targets left

“This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” US President Donald Trump says in his address to the nation.

“Remember, there are many targets left,” Trump warns.

“Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But 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 continues.

"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," says @POTUS.

"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill." pic.twitter.com/3VVdakxenW

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 22, 2025

Trump says no other military in the world could have pulled off the strike executed by the US tonight against Iran’s nuclear sites.

He says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Lt. Gen. Dan Caine will hold a press conference tomorrow at 8 a.m. eastern time at the Pentagon to provide additional information on the strikes.

“I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God. I want to just say we love you, God,” Trump adds.

Hailing Netanyahu after US strike on Iran, Trump says they ‘worked as a team’

“For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America, Death to Israel,'” US President Donald Trump says in his address to the nation, adding that the Islamic Republic has also killed thousands of Americans and others in the region.

He highlights former IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani, who was responsible for many deaths, before Trump ordered his assassination in 2020.

“I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.”

Trump: I want to thank and congratulate prime minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before pic.twitter.com/6awXAHotdW

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 22, 2025

Trump proceeds to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We worked as a team — like perhaps no team has ever worked before. And we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel,” he says.

Trump then thanks the Israeli military “for the wonderful job they’ve done” before hailing the American troops who participated in tonight’s strike against Iran.

“Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity,” Trump says.

Trump: Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities completely and totally obliterated

Addressing the nation, US President Donald Trump says the US military carried out “massive precision strikes” on Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.

“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump says.

President Trump: “The U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime … I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”pic.twitter.com/Z4cJoS8qDf

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 22, 2025

“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

“Iran — the bully of the Middle East — must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump continues.

UN chief ‘gravely alarmed’ by Trump’s ‘dangerous escalation’ against Iran

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is “gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today.”

“This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security,” Guterres tweets.

I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.
 
There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of…

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 22, 2025

Aid group says it has begun operating Gaza community kitchens for first time in 12 weeks

The World Central Kitchen aid group says it was able to resume operations today in Gaza for the first time in 12 weeks after trucks of food assistance reached its teams on the ground.

With food now in its possession, WCK says it has resumed cooking at several community kitchens throughout Gaza where dire food insecurity is widespread.

Almost 10,000 meals were cooked on the first day of resumed operations, WCK says.

Unlike the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been distributing dry food to Gazans for the past month, WCK provides hot meals to Palestinians in the Strip.

“On May 7, WCK was forced to halt cooking across all large-scale kitchens and our mobile bakery after a complete depletion of food supplies. This pause marked a devastating moment in our response, cutting off a vital source of daily nourishment for families already facing extreme hardship,” WCK says in a statement.

“This first aid shipment is an important milestone, but the effects of prolonged hunger do not disappear overnight. Hunger leaves deep physical and psychological scars—and even as meals begin again, the damage caused by extended access disruptions continues to impact families and communities,” WCK says.

Thanking Trump, Netanyahu says US strike on Iran nuke sites ‘will change history’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posts a video statement thanking US President Donald Trump for his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

“Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Netanyahu says.

“In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed. It has done what no other country on earth could do.”

“History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapons,” Netanyahu continues.

President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’

First comes strength, then comes peace.

And tonight, @realDonaldTrump and the United States acted with a lot of strength. pic.twitter.com/7lTWCZkgw7

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 22, 2025

“His leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”

“President Trump and I often say peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”

“President Trump, I thank you. The people of Israel thank you. The forces of civilization thank you.”

“God bless America. God bless Israel and may God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith,” Netanyahu says.

In address to the nation, Trump reportedly planning to say he’s not planning additional Iran strikes

In his address to the nation tonight, Trump is expected to say that he is not currently planning additional strikes inside Iran, NBC News reports, citing unnamed White House officials.

Trump will express his hope that the US strikes will compel Iran to return to the negotiation table for an agreement that would end the war.

Senior Democrat blasts Trump for not seeking congressional authorization for Iran strike

US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasts President Donald Trump for authorizing the strike against Iran, saying he “failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.

“Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has failed to deliver on that promise. The risk of war has now dramatically increased, and I pray for the safety of our troops in the region who have been put in harm’s way,” Jeffries says in a statement, adding that Trump “misled the country about his intentions.”

“First, the Trump administration bears the heavy burden of explaining to the American people why this military action was undertaken.”

“Second, Congress must be fully and immediately briefed in a classified setting.”

“Third, Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action,” Jeffries says.

Commentator on Iran state TV says every US citizen and soldier in region a legitimate target after US strike

A commentator on Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster declares that every American citizen and soldier in the region is now a “legitimate target” following the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The broadcaster airs a map showing US bases in the region, with the commentator declaring, “You started it, and we’ll finish it.”

אחרי העבודה האמריקנית בפורדו בטלוויזיה האיראנית מציגים את מפת הבסיסים האמריקניים באזור ואומרים לטראמפ: אתה התחלת ואנחנו נסיים pic.twitter.com/R8krFnXGZa

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) June 22, 2025

Trump: Iran should stop immediately, otherwise they’ll get hit again

Reuters quotes US President Donald Trump as having told the news agency in a brief phone call that Iran should “stop immediately, otherwise they’ll get hit again.

Trump held phone call with Netanyahu after US strike on Iran

US President Donald Trump spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after Washington finished its strike on Iranian nuclear sites, a White House official says.

Fox News reporter says Trump told him US used six bunker-buster bombs on Fordo site

Fox News’s Sean Hannity says he just got off the phone with US President Donald Trump who told him that six bunker-buster bombs were used by the US to target Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear facility.

It was previously speculated that two bunker-busters would be needed to destroy the site.

The Natanz and Isfahan sites were hit with 30 Tomahawk missiles launched by American submarines some 400 miles away, Hannity says.

Israel had said it severely damaged the Natanz site in its opening attack on Iran on June 13.

Report: Top Israeli ministers huddled all night as US launched attack on Iran

Apparently in the know about the US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, a small group of top Israeli ministers had been meeting from around 10 p.m. local time until shortly after US President Donald Trump announced that the attack had been completed, shortly after 3 a.m. local time, Channel 12 reports.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also slated to address the nation later Sunday after Trump’s speech to the American public.

Iranian state media claims targeted nuclear sites and their uranium stockpiles were previously evacuated

Iranian state media confirms that the Islamic Republic’s Isfahan, Natanz and Fordo nuclear sites were attacked by “enemy strikes.”

The IRIB state broadcaster claims the sites along with their enriched uranium stockpiles were evacuated beforehand.

US reportedly sent message assuring Iran that strikes limited to nuke sites and it’s not seeking regime change

Citing unnamed sources, CBS News reports that the US sent a message to Iran following tonight’s strikes, insisting that they were limited to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and that Washington is not seeking regime change, in an apparent attempt at de-escalation.

Trump to Israeli reporter: ‘We had great success tonight. Your Israel is much safer now’

“We had great success tonight. Your Israel is much safer now,” Israeli reporter Barak Ravid quotes US President Donald Trump as having told him during a phone call.

School canceled, gatherings banned nationwide following Iran strike — IDF

The IDF’s Home Front Command has updated civilian guidelines following the US strike on Iran, announcing that — effective immediately — all schools across the country are closed, all gatherings are banned and only essential businesses are allowed to operate.

US House speaker: US strikes on Iran ‘serve as reminder that Trump means what he says’

US House Speaker Mike Johnson says Washington’s strike against Iran’s nuclear sites “serves as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.”

“The president gave Iran’s leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement,” Johnson tweets.

The military operations in Iran should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.

The President gave Iran’s leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement.

President… https://t.co/8lj3jAYoo5

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) June 22, 2025

Israeli official: We were in full coordination with the US on Iran strike

An unnamed Israeli official tells the Kan public broadcaster, “We were in full coordination with the US” on the latter’s strike tonight on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

‘Now we can return the hostage,’ Matan Zanguaker’s mother says after US strike in Iran

Following the US strike on Iranian nuclear sites, hostage Matan Zanguaker’s mother Einav tweets, “Now we can return the hostages from captivity.”

“Now we can return to life and restore it. Now the dead can be returned for a proper burial. Now we can end the war in Gaza. The time is ripe. Now,” Zanguaker writes.

Trump shares post claiming that ‘Fordo is gone’

US President Donald Trump has shared a post on Truth Social from an open-source intelligence account claiming that “Fordo is gone.”

Fordo is Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facility that has been characterized as the most integral part of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Trump to give public address following US strike on Iran nuclear sites

US President Donald Trump says he will address the nation from the White House at 10 p.m. local time (5 a.m. Israel time), “regarding our very successful military operation in Iran.”

“This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR,” he writes on Truth Social.

US reportedly used B-2 bombers in order to strike Iranian nuclear sites

An Israeli official tells the Axios news site that to conduct the overnight strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, the US used B-2 stealth bombers, the advanced aircraft known for being capable of delivering huge bunker buster bombs that are potentially capable of destroying Iran’s underground nuclear facility in Fordo.

Hours earlier, open-source flight trackers showed that a number of B-2 bombers were heading from the US toward Guam in the Pacific Ocean.

Given that those bombers would have needed more time to reach Iran, it appears that other ones were used in tonight’s strike.

US reportedly gave Israel heads-up on its strikes on Iran nuclear sites

The US gave Israel a heads-up before striking Iran’s nuclear sites overnight, Axios reports, citing a senior Israeli official.

Trump announces that US has completed ‘successful’ attack on three Iran nuke sites

US President Donald Trump announces that the US has completed a “successful” attack on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran.

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordo,” he writes, referring to the difficult-to-destroy underground site built on the side of a mountain.

“All planes are now outside of Iran air space [and are]… safely on their way home.,” Trump writes on Truth Social.

“Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this.

“NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” Trump adds.

TRUMP says the US has bombed irans nuclear sites — including Fordo pic.twitter.com/IIRNgf20ax

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 21, 2025

COGAT says it facilitated entry of 430 aid trucks into Gaza this week; UN says 600 needed daily

Israel facilitated the entry of 430 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza this past week, the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories says.

The aid included food, flour and medical equipment and was transferred to the northern Gaza Strip via the Zikim Crossing and to the southern Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, COGAT says.

The weekly figure is below the 600 figure that the UN says is needed every day in order to meet the basic needs of Gazans.

Israel says the UN is failing to pick up much of the aid that has been transferred into the Strip, but the UN says that is because the IDF doesn’t grant its staff safe passage.

The low levels of aid have been highlighted by the desperate scenes of Gazans overrunning sites belonging to the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation along with routes used by the UN to transfer its aid.

There have been near-daily reported deadly shootings of Palestinians seeking to pick up aid, with the IDF admitting to opening fire at those who strayed off authorized roads or used them at unauthorized times.

GHF said earlier Saturday that it distributed 22,000 boxes of food at three sites today, which was almost a third lower than the amount handed out in recent days.

“Today’s reduced distribution numbers reflect supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and the observance of Shabbat, which renders the Kerem Shalom crossing inaccessible,” GHF said in a statement.

Over a month ago, GHF said it had secured a commitment from Israel to allow it to open a distribution site in northern Gaza, but there has yet to be any follow-through.

Saudi Arabia denounces ‘blatant Israeli aggressions’ against Iran

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has condemned “blatant Israeli aggressions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security, constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms, and threaten the security and stability of the region,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, he calls for “the immediate cessation of military operations, the avoidance of escalation, and a return to the negotiation track between Iran and the international community.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia were long regional arch-rivals but have normalized relations in recent years. Riyadh was quick to side publicly with Tehran after Israel launched a surprise barrage of strikes on Iran last week.

Bin Farhan also reiterates Saudi Arabia’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The kingdom and France had been set to co-chair a conference in New York this month on the topic, which was postponed due to the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war.

IDF says it downed drone ‘from the east’ that set off sirens in Golan

The IDF says that it intercepted the drone that set off sirens in two Golan Heights communities, with no injuries reported.

According to the military, the drone “was launched from the east,” a term the Israel Defense Forces has used in reference to attacks from Iraq and Yemen.

Suspected drone sirens activated in pair of Golan Heights towns

Suspected drone sirens are triggered in a pair of communities in the Golan Heights.

‘Only time will tell!’: Trump again teases potential strikes on Iran in next 2 weeks

US President Donald Trump publishes a new post on his Truth Social platform concerning his threat to potentially strike Iran in the next two weeks.

“Only time will tell!” Trump writes.

The post comes as Trump is due to convene his National Security Council at the White House, as he continues to weigh whether to join Israel’s strikes on the Iranian nuclear program.

Sissi speaks with Iran president, says Egypt ‘completely rejects ongoing Israeli escalation’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has expressed his government’s “complete rejection” of Israel’s campaign against Iran, calling for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Sissi’s comments came in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezezhkin, the Egyptian presidency says in a statement.

The statement says Sissi voiced Egypt’s “complete rejection of the ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran,” as a threat to the Middle East’s security and stability.

The Egyptian leader calls for an immediate ceasefire to resume negotiations with the aim of reaching a “sustainable, peaceful solution to this crisis.”