Israel and Iran have engaged in hostilities once more, marking the sixth consecutive day of strikes in their most intense confrontation ever, raising concerns of a prolonged conflict that could engulf the Middle East.
Here are the latest updates.
Israel targets ‘internal security’ HQ
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that air force jets had obliterated Iran’s “internal security headquarters” following the army’s declaration of strikes on military sites in Tehran.
“Air Force jets have successfully destroyed the internal security headquarters of the Iranian regime – the principal apparatus of repression under the Iranian dictator,” Mr. Katz stated, pledging to “strike at symbols of governance and target the Ayatollah regime wherever it arises.”
Khamenei cautions US against intervention
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei affirmed that his country would “never surrender,” while warning Israel’s ally, the United States, of “irreparable damage” should it involve itself in the conflict.
“This nation will never surrender,” Mr. Khamenei proclaimed in a speech aired on state television. “America should understand that any military intervention will surely lead to irreparable harm.”
US President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric, stating yesterday that the United States is aware of Khamenei’s location but will not eliminate him “for now.”
In a separate post, Mr. Trump also seemed to insist on Iran’s “Unconditional Surrender!” as he fueled speculation on whether the United States would partake in Israel’s strikes.
US officials emphasized that no decision regarding intervention has been finalized.
Centrifuge facility targeted
The Israeli military reported that it struck a centrifuge facility during overnight attacks on Tehran.
Centrifuges are crucial for uranium enrichment, a sensitive process that can produce fuel for reactors or, in a more enriched form, the core of a nuclear warhead.
The UN nuclear watchdog later confirmed the destruction of two centrifuge production facilities at Karaj, located just outside Tehran.
Increasing casualties
Israel’s assaults have impacted nuclear and military locations across Iran, as well as residential areas.
Likewise, residential areas in Israel have suffered damage, prompting foreign governments to rush to evacuate their citizens from both nations.
Latest news from the Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported on Monday that at least 24 individuals have perished in Israel and hundreds have been injured since Iran’s retaliatory actions commenced on Friday.
Iran claimed on Sunday that Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 224 individuals, including military leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
Executing the ‘dirty work’
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar asserted that “regime change is not an aim of this war – it may result, but it is not the goal.”
French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned that any effort to alter the Iranian government would lead to “chaos.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz showed support for the campaign on Tuesday, remarking in an interview that “this is the dirty work Israel is undertaking for all of us” against Iran’s “mullah regime.”
Internet limitations
Iran announced the detention of five suspected agents linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency for allegedly damaging the nation’s reputation online, according to Iranian news outlets.
“These mercenaries aimed to instill fear among the populace and tarnish the image of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran through their calculated online activities,” stated a release from the Revolutionary Guards, as reported by Tasnim and ISNA news agencies.
Last week, Iran declared it would impose temporary internet restrictions for the duration of the conflict, rendering several sites and applications at least partially inaccessible.
Israeli firefighters extinguish burning buses following a direct strike from an Iranian ballistic missile barrage in Herzliya.
The authorities urged the public yesterday to “limit their use of internet-connected devices and take necessary precautions” online.
State television appealed to Iranians to uninstall WhatsApp from their devices, claiming that the messaging app collects users’ location and personal data and “shares them with the Zionist enemy.”
A WhatsApp representative countered these allegations, stating: “We are troubled by these unfounded claims which may be used as a pretext to block our services at a time when people rely on them the most.”
