The United States announced the establishment of a "task force" to assist American citizens in the Middle East, on the fifth day of the conflict between Israel and Iran.
"The State Department has established a Middle East Task Force to coordinate support for U.S. citizens, diplomatic missions, and U.S. personnel," spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.
She recalled that Washington advised Americans against traveling to Israel and Iraq, and especially not to travel to Iran, "whatever the circumstances."
The United States has already reduced its embassy staff in Iraq for security reasons and allowed non-essential personnel and their relatives to leave the country and Israel.
The spokesperson declined to say whether the United States was preparing voluntary evacuations of American citizens in the region, at a time when speculation is intensifying around a possible direct American intervention in the conflict.
The task force has been operating around the clock since last week, she said, to keep Americans informed of developments.
Macron says regime change through war will lead to 'chaos'
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that any attempt at regime change in Iran through war would lead to "chaos" in the country, during a press briefing on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada.
In the morning, Donald Trump significantly raised his tone against Tehran, stating that the United States "knew exactly where" Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was hiding, but that they did not intend to kill him "for the moment."
Macron calls Trump's criticism a 'mishap,' 'it doesn't bother me'
French President Emmanuel Macron explained that he was not moved by the criticism Donald Trump leveled at him the day before, calling the incident a "mishap" during a press briefing at the G7 in Canada.
The day before, Donald Trump attacked the French head of state on Truth Social, claiming that he "never understood anything," visibly annoyed to see Macron talking for him about his plans to resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iran has arrested a foreign national accused of filming "sensitive" areas near the Bushehr nuclear power plant for Israel, Iranian media reported.
According to the Iranian website Eghtesad Online, the individual, whose nationality has not been revealed, was residing illegally in the country and is believed to have filmed the plant on behalf of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service.
The Israeli military claimed that missiles were fired from Iran towards Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump is currently meeting with his National Security Council to discuss the escalation between Israel and Iran, a White House official said.
'The Islamic Republic is falling. It's time to take back Iran,' says the son of the last Shah
Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran and an opponent of the regime living in exile in the United States, said Tuesday that "the Islamic Republic has ended and is collapsing," in a message posted on X.
“What has begun is irreversible. The future is bright, and together we will cross this turning point in history. The time to rise up is now. It is time to take back Iran,” he said. “May I be among you soon.”
Loud explosions were heard in Tehran by AFP journalists.
Continuous and intense explosions were heard west of Tehran, according to the state-run IRNA.
The Emirati foreign minister warned in a statement against "reckless and unpredictable" actions.
The Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted air bases in Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a meeting of the National Security Council on Tuesday, the White House confirmed.
A senior Iranian army commander called on Israelis to immediately evacuate Haifa and Tel Aviv, Reuters reported, citing the Mehr news agency.
No casualties were reported in the latest missile salvo launched by Iran, according to medical sources cited by Haaretz.
The Israeli military announced that a missile was fired from Iran and intercepted, heading south of the country, and stated that residents in the area could leave their shelters.
Tehran accuses Israel of launching massive cyberattack; hacker group says it targeted Iranian bank
Iran's National Cybersecurity Command accused Israel of launching a "massive cyber war" against the country's digital infrastructure, Iranian media reported.
The accusations came as a group of hackers opposed to the Iranian regime, known as Gonjeshke Darande (Predatory Sparrow), claimed responsibility on social media for a destructive attack on Iran's state-owned Sepah Bank.
The group, suspected of having links to Israel and already behind previous attacks against Iran, claimed to have targeted the institution because of its alleged role in financing the Iranian military. The bank's platform was inaccessible on Tuesday, and its London-based subsidiary, Sepah Bank International plc, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
President Donald Trump called for "unconditional surrender" in a series of statements on Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that "we know exactly where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding."
However, he said that he had no plans to kill Iran's supreme leader "at this time."
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader would "end the conflict."
A red alert has been issued in the Dimona region of Israel following missile launches from Iran, the army announced.
Dimona is best known as home to Israel's nuclear facility, officially called the Negev Nuclear Research Center.
U.S. officials told Reuters the U.S. military was moving fighter jets to the Middle East and extending the deployment of some aircraft to bolster defenses amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Egypt calls for immediate cease-fire and resumption of Iranian nuclear talks
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Iran and Israel in two separate phone calls with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty stressed during these discussions the importance of a return to the negotiating table as the only way towards a lasting agreement on the Iranian nuclear program.
U.S. President Donald Trump claims that "we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran," although U.S. forces have not announced any direct engagement in hostilities.
It is not clear who the "we" in the statement refers to.
"Iran had good sky-trackers and other defensive equipment, in large quantities, but they are no match for the 'stuff' made, designed, and manufactured by the Americans. No one does it better than the good old USA," he wrote in a social media post.
Widespread internet disruptions in Iran
Iranian media reported widespread internet disruptions across the country. "Internet users in several provinces are reporting widespread internet disruptions," the Ham Mihan daily reported, with other media outlets reporting similar reports.
The cause of the disruptions was not immediately clear, but Iran imposed internet restrictions following the Israeli attack on Friday.
Trump could take 'additional action' against Iran's nuclear program, Vance says
Donald Trump may take "additional action" against Iran's nuclear program, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on X, responding to speculation about possible U.S. intervention in Iran.
"The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and citizens. He may decide he needs to take additional steps to stop Iran's enrichment," Vance wrote.
Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel, Iranian state media reported. This is the second salvo Tehran has fired toward Israeli territory in the space of two hours.
Starmer says there is no indication Trump intends to get involved in the Iran conflict
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the G7 that "nothing in Donald Trump's remarks suggests that he is about to get involved in the conflict" between Iran and Israel.
The U.S. president's early departure from the summit, which runs until Tuesday in the Canadian Rockies, heightened uncertainty surrounding the military confrontation between Israel and Iran that began on Friday.
Israel is doing "the dirty work for all of us" in Iran, says Chancellor Merz
Israel has "the courage" to do "the dirty work for all of us" by attacking Iran, whose power "has brought death and destruction to the world," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
Without these Israeli strikes, "we might have continued to suffer for months and years from the terrorism of this regime, which might even have ended up acquiring nuclear weapons," he said on ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss the war between Israel and Iran, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios.
Shepherd kidnapped by Israeli soldiers in South Lebanon
After infiltrating as far as the east of the village of Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya), Israeli soldiers abducted Mohammad Qassem Ghanem, a 75-year-old shepherd from the village, while he was grazing his flock of goats, a resident told L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.
Qatar monitors radioactivity in Gulf waters daily, says Foreign Ministry
Qatar is closely monitoring any radioactive contamination in Gulf waters in light of massive Israeli strikes on Iran that targeted several nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
"We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis," Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference. "We have no reason to worry at the moment, but it is clear that a prolonged military escalation will have unpredictable consequences."
Find the details here.
The Israeli army announced that the population was allowed to leave air raid shelters, stating that most of the missiles sent by Iran were intercepted and that the threat of a new attack had been averted for the time being.
At least eight missiles were fired from Iran toward Israel, Haaretz reported, adding that no injuries have been reported so far in the latest salvo, according to medical sources.
Warning sirens activated in Israel after Iran launches missiles
Warning sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv and northern Israeli regions after 5 p.m. following the launch of several missiles from Iran, according to Israeli authorities.
"Defense systems are working to intercept the threat. You must enter protected areas upon receiving the alert and remain there until further notice," the Israeli army warned on X.
At least eight Palestinians, including two girls, killed in Israeli strike in central Gaza
At least eight Palestinians were killed and 14 were wounded in an Israeli strike on a residential building in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Haaretz reported, citing a medical source at a Gaza Strip hospital.
According to al-Awda Hospital, two sisters, Raad Abou Chmallah, 5, and Mira Abou Chmallah, 9, were among the victims.
Several explosions heard east and north of Isfahan
New explosions were recorded in the eastern and northern areas of the central Iranian city of Isfahan, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Monday, according to Reuters.
Portugal temporarily closes embassy in Tehran
Portugal decided to temporarily close its embassy in Tehran due to "the gravity of the current situation," on the fifth day of war between Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel announced in Lisbon, AFP reports.
"This closure will be temporary, there will be a withdrawal to another country where we have an embassy and, as soon as possible, the embassy will be reopened," he explained to local media on the sidelines of a debate in Parliament.
Israeli military says it bombed missile sites in western Iran
The Israeli army said it bombed missile sites in western Iran, according to a military statement.
"Recently, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of strikes in western Iran," a military statement said, adding that "several sites and dozens of surface-to-surface missile launchers were targeted."
(Credit: Jaimee Lee Haddad/L'Orient Today.)
Iran/Israel: Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility is an issue that will eventually be addressed, said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, as quoted by Reuters.
U.S. intelligence believes Iran is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons, CNN reports
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran is not actively producing nuclear weapons, CNN reported Tuesday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
According to these assessments, Tehran is believed to be about three years away from being capable of developing nuclear-armed missiles, the same sources said.
A U.S. official also stated that recent Israeli strikes may have only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. While Israel caused significant damage to the Natanz facility — which houses key uranium enrichment centrifuges — a second enrichment site, located in Fordow and heavily fortified, remains intact.
Military experts say Israel likely lacks the capabilities to damage Fordow without specific air support and weaponry provided by the United States.
IAEA reports new evidence of 'direct impacts' on the underground section of Natanz
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday that it had “identified new evidence showing direct impacts on underground halls” at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, which was struck by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday.
The U.N. agency had previously stated that it had “no indications” of such damage and believed only surface-level buildings at the uranium enrichment facility had been hit.
It revised its assessment “based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery,” according to a message posted on social media platform X.
Israel is 'about to destroy' ten more nuclear targets near Tehran, warns Katz
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli Air Force will carry out “very significant” new attacks on Tuesday in Tehran against “regime targets and infrastructure,” according to remarks reported by The Times of Israel.
“Thanks to the firepower of the Israeli Air Force, we are about to destroy at least ten nuclear targets” near the Iranian capital, he said during a press briefing.
The Iranian uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, built so deeply underground that only U.S. “bunker-buster” bombs could seriously damage it, “is certainly an issue that will be addressed,” he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expresses “deep concern” over the consequences of Israel’s offensive against Iran, according to AFP.
Diplomacy is the only solution, stresses the EU
Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon, and diplomacy is the only way to prevent this, emphasized European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers, AFP reports.
“We all agreed on the urgent need to avoid escalation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and diplomacy is the solution to prevent that,” she said to the press following the meeting, held via videoconference among the 27 member states.
“Europe is ready to play its role” in seeking a diplomatic solution, she added, also noting that the EU decided to assist member states in evacuating their nationals “if they wish."
Israeli strikes: Iran accuses the G7 of bias
Iran condemned what it sees as the G7’s bias for not condemning Israeli strikes in the country but instead calling for “de-escalation,” AFP reports.
“The G7 must abandon its unilateral rhetoric and address the true source of the escalation: Israel’s AGGRESSION,” wrote Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on X. “Iran is defending itself against a cruel aggression. Does Iran really have any other choice?” Baghaei questioned.
Ukraine urges its nationals to leave Israel and Iran “as soon as possible,” AFP reports.
Israeli strikes: Iran accuses the G7 of bias
Iran condemned what it considers the G7’s bias for not condemning Israeli strikes in the country but instead calling for “de-escalation,” AFP reports.
“The G7 must abandon its unilateral rhetoric and address the true source of the escalation: Israel’s AGGRESSION,” wrote Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, on X. “Iran is defending itself against a cruel aggression. Does Iran really have any other choice?” Baghaei questioned.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation announced, in a statement, a change in the flight schedule between Beirut and Basra to repatriate Lebanese citizens stranded in Iraq.
This change was made at the request of the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rassamny.
In its statement, the Directorate indicated that a third flight was added to the two initially planned, operated by Iraqi Airways, “in order to accelerate the pace of returns.” The three flights will operate at the following times: 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.
The Directorate specified that the total capacity of these three flights is approximately 750 passengers.
The Minister of Public Works also called on “all Lebanese wishing to return from Iraq to book their seats via Iraqi Airways, which has shown full cooperation in this regard, with daily flights continuing regularly until the air and security situation in Iraq stabilizes.”
He further reaffirmed that he is “closely monitoring all relevant developments, in coordination with the concerned authorities, concerned about the safety of citizens and their swift and safe return.”
Middle East Airlines (MEA) has announced the addition of a round-trip flight between Beirut and Paris on Thursday, June 19, 2025, giving priority to passengers who already hold tickets and were unable to travel on previous dates, according to a statement.
⚡ Iran: Two powerful explosions heard in Tehran
Two powerful explosions were heard from the center and north of Tehran by AFP journalists, with no immediate indication of their origin on the fifth day of bombardments between Iran and Israel.
On Monday, the Israeli army struck the headquarters of the state television, causing significant material damage and at least three deaths, according to the broadcasting group.
The Chief of Staff of Israeli military operations, Major General Oded Basiuk, stated that “Israel will not allow a nuclear Iran to turn the Middle East into a graveyard.”
“Yesterday, we neutralized the military headquarters of the Iranian regime. Today, we eliminated a new Iranian chief of staff,” he said, in remarks published on X by the Arabic-speaking spokesperson of the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee.
The 'attacks' against Iran are a threat to the region 'and beyond,' according to the King of Jordan.
The “attacks” carried out by Israel against Iran risk provoking a “dangerous escalation of tensions” in the region “and beyond,” said King Abdullah II of Jordan, cited by AFP.
“With Israel expanding its offensive against Iran, it is impossible to say where the boundaries of this battlefield will stop,” he declared during a speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Kremlin says it 'notes' Israel’s 'reluctance' to accept external mediation to resume dialogue with Iran
The Kremlin said it “notes” Israel’s “reluctance” to accept outside mediation, as proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to resolve the conflict with Iran, AFP reports.
“At present, we observe reluctance, at least on Israel’s part, to use mediation services and engage in a peaceful path toward a resolution,” said Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during his daily briefing.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the escalation between Israel and Iran is delaying a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, Reuters reports.
Air defenses have been activated in western Tehran, Iranian state media reported, cited by Reuters.
Middle East Airlines (MEA) announced the cancellation of its flights between Beirut and Baghdad scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, due to the continued closure of Iraqi airspace, which has been in effect since Friday.
Air defenses were activated in western Tehran, according to Iranian state media cited by Reuters.
Israeli ambassador hints at upcoming 'surprises' greater than infamous Mossad operation
“We’ve pulled off a number of surprises. When the dust settles, you’ll see surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the so-called ‘beeper operation’ seem almost simple,” Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter warned in an interview with Merit TV on June 17.
The ambassador was referring to the Mossad-led operation carried out on September 17–18, 2024, in Lebanon. During that operation, Israeli intelligence had placed explosives inside beepers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members. The devices were detonated simultaneously, killing 42 people and injuring 3,500 others. The attack crippled Hezbollah’s leadership and communication infrastructure.
Paris mocks Moscow’s bid to mediate Middle East peace
France’s foreign minister has condemned Russia’s “limitless cruelty and cynicism,” urging Moscow to make peace in Ukraine before positioning itself as a mediator in the Middle East, AFP reports.
“Another deadly attack in Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s regime, whose cruelty and cynicism clearly know no bounds,” Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X, as at least 14 people — including one American — were killed in Kyiv in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called “one of the worst attacks” on the capital.
“To the Kremlin, which claims to want peace in the Middle East: start with Ukraine,” the French minister mocked.
Israeli army says it struck Iranian state broadcaster for spreading anti-Israel propaganda
Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said Tuesday that the army targeted the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) because it was spreading anti-Israel propaganda, Haaretz reports.
“The broadcasting center is part of the plan to exterminate Israel — we targeted it just as we target all elements of the Iranian terrorist regime,” Defrin stated.
The building came under Israeli attack on Monday. At the time, the Israeli army said it had targeted the site because it was being used for “military operations,” without specifying the nature of those activities.
Trump says he wants a ‘real end’ to Iran-Israel conflict, not just a cease-fire
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he seeks a “real end” to the conflict between Iran and Israel, not just a ceasefire, ahead of a planned White House meeting on the crisis, AFP reports.
“We need an end — a real end, not a cease-fire,” Trump told reporters aboard the plane returning from the G7 summit in Canada to Washington, where he landed around 09:00 GMT.
Trump also stated he has not reached out to Iran in any way to propose peace talks. “If Iran wants to talk, they know how to reach me,” he said, according to Reuters.
“Iran should have accepted the deal that was on the table,” he added in a message posted on Truth Social.
Missile debris incidents reported across Lebanon
Several incidents involving debris from Israeli or Iranian missiles and drones were reported overnight and into Tuesday morning across Lebanon.
Around midnight, a missile warhead fell near a bridge over the Arqa River, close to the village of Arqa in Akkar (northern Lebanon), without causing injuries or damage, according to correspondent.
The army dispatched experts to the scene.
In the south, the sound of Israeli interceptor missiles was heard in Nabatieh, reported our regional correspondent,
Further east, solar panels were damaged by debris from interceptor missiles in the village of Ferzol, in the Zahleh district of the Bekaa Valley, according to correspondent there.
Israeli Defense Minister warns Khamenei of Saddam-like fate
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, suggesting he could meet a fate similar to that of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
“Remember what happened to the dictator of the country neighboring Iran who followed this path against Israel,” Katz said, according to Reuters.
Saddam Hussein was overthrown during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, later captured by American forces, and executed by hanging on Dec. 30, 2006.
⚡ Iran: Revolutionary Guards claim to have targeted a Mossad center in Tel Aviv
The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have claimed to have targeted a Mossad center — the Israeli external intelligence service — on the fifth day of military clashes with Israel, AFP reports.
The Guards stated on television that they “struck the military intelligence center of the Zionist regime’s army, Aman, and the operations planning center of the Zionist regime, Mossad, in Tel Aviv. This center is currently on fire.”
Nearly 700 casualties reported in Khan Younis attack
Dr. Mohammed Saqer, head of nursing at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, described the recent attack as a “mass casualty” incident that took place about two hours ago when tanks targeted civilians waiting for food and humanitarian aid, according to The Guardian.
He said over 300 casualties were brought to Nasser Hospital alone, including 50 deaths.
The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that 51 Palestinians have been killed and at least 200 wounded in the attack on Khan Younis, with 21 in critical condition.
Aid seekers had gathered near a recently established distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the eastern part of the city when the attack occurred. Witnesses report that instead of aid, they faced live ammunition and drone strikes with no prior warning.
This was not the only assault on aid seekers this morning. Another attack near the Netzarim Corridor targeted a second GHF distribution site, resulting in at least one death and 60 injuries, turning the location into a deadly trap, Al Jazeera reports.
A cyberattack has disrupted online services at Sepah Bank in Iran, a problem expected to be resolved within a few hours, according to state media, Reuters reports.
Over 600 foreign nationals have been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan
More than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighboring Azerbaijan since Israeli strikes began last Friday, according to a government official in Baku, AFP reports.
“Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan,” the official said.
Evacuees were transported from the border to Baku International Airport, where they boarded international flights to return to their home countries, the official told The Guardian.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he wants a “real end” to Iran’s nuclear program, ruling out a cease-fire, according to U.S. broadcaster CBS.
He added that the United States would hit Iran “very hard” if American interests in the region were targeted, while suggesting that Israel would not slow down its offensive.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday called for a European arms embargo on Israel as long as the war in Gaza continues, while also urging a resumption of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, according to Reuters.
Israel using ‘psychological warfare’ against Iranians
Abas Aslani, a Tehran-based analyst of Iranian affairs, says Israel is waging “psychological warfare” through assassinations and escalating threats aimed at intimidating the Iranian public and deterring retaliation, Al Jazeera reports.
“Israel has been trying to intimidate the public and increasing the level of their threats in order to stop Iran from responding to Israeli attacks,” said Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies. “But the fact is that Iran so far has not come with full force yet because they have kept open the possibility the US might engage in this conflict.”
He added that rather than causing fear or chaos, Israeli actions have fueled a stronger sense of national unity within Iran.
“The Israeli strikes will not deter the country [Iran] from responding,” Aslani said.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli army says it intercepted a drone coming from the east, shortly after sirens were triggered in northern Israel.
Thailand to prepare planes to evacuate nationals from Israel and Iran
The Thai government has ordered the military to prepare aircraft to evacuate its citizens from Israel and Iran, now in the fifth day of their military confrontation, a spokesperson told AFP.
“We are ready to evacuate people, and we have coordinated with the military to prepare planes to bring them home from Israel and Iran,” Jirayu Houngsub said after a Cabinet meeting.
India urges its nationals to leave Tehran
New Delhi has urged its citizens to leave Tehran, as some Indians have already fled Iran due to Israeli airstrikes, AFP reports. Despite calls for de-escalation, neither Israel nor Iran has shown signs of backing down since Israel launched an unprecedented wave of air raids on Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday.
The Indian government said that Indian students have already left Tehran. Other nationals “who are self-sufficient in terms of transport have also been advised to leave the city given the evolving situation,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Iran claims to have destroyed 'strategic targets' in Israel using drones, according to AFP.
The Israeli army has announced that it has 'eliminated Iran’s Chief of Staff, Ali Shadmani, who was also the highest-ranking military commander of the Iranian regime'.
'Following precise intelligence and an urgent window of opportunity within a few hours, IDF fighter jets struck an elite headquarters in the heart of Tehran and eliminated Ali Shadmani, Iran’s Chief of Staff—the top military commander and the closest to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei,' said IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X.
'Shadmani was the Chief of Staff of Iran and commander of the Armed Forces Emergency Command. He oversaw both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army,' the spokesperson’s message continued. 'At the start of the war, he was appointed commander of Iran's armed forces after his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, was eliminated during the first strike of the operation.'
The Khatam al-Anbiya emergency command, which he led, is responsible for managing wartime operations and approving Iran’s offensive plans. In his various roles, he developed and directly oversaw Iran’s offensive firepower plans targeting the State of Israel.
Following the elimination of his predecessor, Shadmani had served as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya emergency command and as chief of operations within the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff. Shadmani’s death adds to a series of strikes targeting the upper echelons of Iran’s military leadership and represents another significant blow to its armed forces.
Paris, Berlin, and London urge Tehran to negotiate 'as soon as possible, without preconditions'
The foreign ministers of France, the UK, and Germany have "urged Iran to return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible and without preconditions" regarding its nuclear program, according to a French diplomatic source, reported by AFP.
Jean-Noël Barrot, David Lammy, and Johann Wadephul, who met Monday evening with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, also "called on Iran to avoid any escalation against Western interests, any regional expansion, and any nuclear escalation" — including its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a potential withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
⚡ A new salvo of Iranian missiles has struck Israeli territory, triggering sirens across the country, according to Haaretz.
Explosions were heard in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and central Israel following the attack. The mayor of a city in central Israel said an Iranian missile hit an empty bus, also according to the newspaper.
In the morning, the Israeli army said Tuesday that it had carried out 'several large-scale strikes' overnight against military targets in western Iran, as the two countries clash for the fifth consecutive day.
"During the strikes, dozens of ground-to-ground missile storage and launch infrastructures were hit," as well as "surface-to-air missile launchers and drone storage sites" in western Iran, the army said in a statement.
Around 8:30 a.m., two loud explosions were heard in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, according to Reuters.
Welcome to our live coverage of the war between Iran and Israel, now entering its fifth day of trade attacks, since the violent Israeli airstrikes during the night of June 12 to 13.
Catch up on what you missed yesterday and what to look out for today by reading our Morning Brief.
➡️ To catch up on events from Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, please see our previous live blog here.
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