Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-16 at 13:04
HEADLINES
1. Israel Intercepts 300+ Iran Missiles Amid Deadly Attacks
2. Israel Strikes Iran's Missile Sites to Diminish Threats
3. Iran’s Leaders Seek Russian Asylum as War Escalates
The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today, the Middle East remains a battleground of escalating conflict, with Israel at the center of a multi-front confrontation involving Iran, its proxies, and regional allies. Over the past 24 hours, Israel has faced a barrage of over 370 ballistic missiles launched from Iran, with the Israeli military successfully intercepting more than 300 of these using advanced missile defense systems. Despite the extensive interception, at least 24 Israeli civilians have lost their lives, and nearly 600 have been injured, as the country braces for continued hostilities. Israeli officials warn that Iran still possesses thousands of missiles, suggesting the threat remains significant.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces have conducted targeted strikes inside Iran, destroying over 120 missile launchers across central Iran and Tehran. These operations aim to diminish Iran’s capability to fire volleys at Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared from a military base that the Israeli air force dominates the skies over Tehran and is actively targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, explicitly stating that their goal is to neutralize the nuclear and missile threats posed by Iran, while avoiding harm to Iranian civilians.
Meanwhile, Iran has launched hundreds of suicide drones, most of which have been shot down before reaching Israeli airspace. One drone crossed into Israel via Jordan and was intercepted near Caesarea. Iran’s health ministry reports that 224 civilians have been killed in Iran since the conflict intensified. The Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly negotiating asylum in Russia amid fears that Israel’s strikes could threaten the regime’s stability, according to opposition sources.
The conflict has also extended beyond Iran. Israel’s military claims to have destroyed a third of Iran’s missile launchers and intercepted a convoy attempting to smuggle weapons toward Tehran, illustrating the scale and reach of Israel’s military response. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that the Israeli Air Force controls the skies over Tehran, emphasizing that the current operations are aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, not regime change.
Regional tensions are high, with reports of Iranian missile strikes on northern Israeli cities causing casualties and destruction, and Iran’s proxy groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas, continuing their attacks. Hezbollah claims to have suffered significant losses from Israeli strikes, and Lebanon’s government is being pressured by Israel to take action against the militant group. Additionally, Iran is reportedly conducting widespread missile and drone attacks from Yemen, further complicating the regional security landscape.
On the diplomatic front, there are reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader is seeking asylum in Russia should the Israeli campaign threaten the regime’s survival. Also, in a notable geopolitical move, France has blocked Israeli defense exhibits at the Paris Air Show, citing political considerations, a decision condemned by Israel as discriminatory and damaging to international cooperation in defense technology.
Economically, the Israeli stock market has responded with gains, buoyed by confidence in the country’s military resilience and the strengthening of the shekel against major currencies. Conversely, Iran’s stock exchange has been closed, reflecting the economic turmoil caused by the ongoing conflict.
Internationally, the United States under the current administration continues to support
Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago