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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-17 at 17:05
HEADLINES
Iran’s Cyberattack Thwarted Sparks Digital Crisis
Israel Intercepts 200+ Iranian UAVs in Escalating Conflict
Global Leaders Warn Iran as Tensions Ignite Region
The time is now 01:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile and dynamic. Reports from Iran indicate the country's cyber command has launched a large-scale cyber attack targeting Iranian digital infrastructure, with most of the assaults successfully thwarted, according to sources citing Reuters. Concurrently, Iran has begun to heavily restrict internet access nationwide, blocking major sites including Telegram, and increasing government oversight of user data, leading to a sharp decline in internet traffic by approximately seventy-five percent.
In the ongoing conflict involving Israel, recent military actions have intensified. Israeli forces reportedly conducted a strike near Shurta Simón Bólivar, northwest of Tehran, close to the Tājrish area, with the Israeli military confirming interception of multiple Iranian UAVs. Since the start of Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli Navy has successfully downed around thirty Iranian drones, joining the Israeli Air Force in intercepting over two hundred UAVs fired toward Israel, utilizing advanced multi-layered defense systems. These actions coincide with a surge in missile and drone attacks from Iran, including recent launches that triggered red alert sirens in southern Israel and missile interceptions over Tel Aviv.
The military situation remains precarious, with Israeli defenses actively engaging incoming threats, including a series of missile launches from Iran designed to retaliate for Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Among these targets, the Fordo nuclear facility, embedded into a mountain near Qom, is of significant concern due to its underground construction and potential for nuclear material release if struck with bunker-buster bombs. The United States is closely watching, with reports suggesting that American B-52 strategic bombers are positioned in the Indian Ocean, prepared for possible support should diplomatic efforts fail.
International reactions are mixed. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has explicitly stated that Israel is doing "the dirty work for all of us," criticizing Iran’s regime and emphasizing the weakened state of Iran’s leadership, specifically mentioning Khamenei. Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed confidence that the United States has the capacity to defend its interests and has hinted at the possibility of additional military measures against Iran's nuclear program, emphasizing accountability.
Political figures worldwide continue to weigh in. US Senator John Fetterman has publicly called for Israel to "show no mercy" and target Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, drawing parallels to the successful dismantling of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, some international leaders, including German officials, have condemned the escalation, with warnings about the broader regional and global implications.
Amid this chaos, Iran reports over 200 deaths following recent Israeli strikes, while Iranian state media confirm the explosion of an ammunition warehouse near Isfahan, believed to be the result of covert attacks. In Iran, authorities have also begun to nationalize the internet, shutting down most of the country's online presence and implementing a domestic network to prevent external communication.
In Israel, transportation authorities announced that Ben-Gurion Airport station will resume service tomorrow at six in the morning, signaling some logistical normalization amid ongoing tensions. Additionally, in the midst of missile alerts and military operations, a tragic incident occurred when an eight-year-old girl fe
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago