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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-17 at 18:04
HEADLINES
Israel Launches Massive Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
Iran Fires 400 Missiles at Israel Amid Escalation
US Mobilizes Forces as Tensions Surge in Middle East
The time is now 02:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 2:00 PM, the ongoing escalation in the Middle East continues to dominate the headlines. Israel’s military has launched a significant aerial assault, with sixty aircraft conducting a large-scale operation deep into Iran, targeting key missile and nuclear infrastructure. This operation aims to further degrade Iran’s ballistic missile forces and its nuclear capabilities, which Israeli officials estimate still number around eighteen hundred missiles. Since the start of hostilities last Friday, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage, yet Israel’s air superiority has allowed for targeted interdictions and precise strikes, minimizing collateral damage.
In recent developments, Israel’s air campaign has inflicted extensive damage on Iran’s nuclear program, striking uranium enrichment sites, centrifuge facilities, and the operational command centers, including the recent elimination of Iran's wartime chief of staff, Major General Ali Shadmani, in Tehran. Israeli officials emphasize that their operations are ongoing and highly targeted, aiming to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions while defending Israeli cities from missile barrages. Despite the advanced missile defense systems like Iron Dome, some projectiles have succeeded in causing casualties, with 24 deaths reported so far.
Furthermore, Israel’s intelligence and military operations have extended into cyberwarfare, with a prominent hacktivist group reportedly taking down Iran’s main Revolutionary Guard bank, disrupting financial operations and sowing further chaos within the regime. Iran’s leadership, including Chief-of-Staff Mousavi, has issued stark warnings of retaliatory, decisive action, suggesting that Iran’s military will soon carry out significant punitive measures.
The international dimension remains tense. The United States is preparing additional forces in the region, with reports of deploying F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighters, and discussions about potential support for Israeli operations, including possible US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly called for Iran’s "unconditional surrender," threatening the regime's leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and emphasizing that the US has precise intelligence on his location. Trump’s rhetoric underscores the possibility of further military action, with some sources suggesting that the US might join Israel in its efforts.
In other regional news, there have been sporadic launches from Gaza, with two rockets falling in open fields and no casualties. Tensions also flared outside a hotel in Athens where a pro-Palestinian demonstration prompted the local authorities to lock down the premises for safety. Meanwhile, a tragic incident in Israel involves a 26-year-old man who died in a self-inflicted traffic accident in Zabulon, prompting a police investigation.
On the diplomatic front, the European Rabbinical Conference recently held its annual meeting in Munich after last-minute cancellations in Sarajevo due to rising anti-Semitism, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Jewish communities worldwide. Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed against a Florida country club, accusing it of religious discrimination after suspending an Orthodox Jewish family for practicing their faith publicly.
The security situation remains volatile, with Israel’s military continuing offensive operations against Iranian targets and intercepting multiple missile launches from Iran and its proxies. US military forces are also demonstrating readiness, with three KC-135 refueling aircraft
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago