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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-18 at 07:04
HEADLINES
1. Iran Claims Sky Control Amid Israeli Strikes
2. Israel Launches Major Attack on Tehran Facilities
3. Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles Despite Defensive Claims
The time is now 03:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 3:00 AM, the security situation in Israel remains tense as ongoing hostilities continue to unfold. Israeli defenses are actively intercepting hostile aerial incursions, with multiple reports of Iranian drones and unmanned aerial vehicles being detected and shot down over the Golan Heights and southern regions such as the areas of Hassanin, Nove, and Ramat Geshim. Despite these interceptions, alarms persist, indicating continued Iranian efforts to challenge Israel’s airspace.
Overnight, Israeli military aircraft conducted extensive strikes on strategic targets in Tehran, targeting facilities related to Iran’s nuclear program, missile production, and military infrastructure. Reports confirm that more than fifty fighter jets participated in these operations, destroying a centrifuge manufacturing site, missile assembly facilities, and production sites for raw materials used in ballistic missile and surface-to-air missile development. These strikes followed Iranian missile barrages that launched approximately twenty-five ballistic missiles toward Israel, primarily in the early hours of the morning, although with limited damage and no reported casualties.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have launched advanced Fatah-1 missiles at Israel, asserting that their missile velocity enables them to evade Israeli defenses. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reported to be under considerable stress due to Israel’s aggressive actions, with some analyses suggesting his condition is deteriorating amid the mounting pressure.
In the broader regional context, Iran continues to assert its influence, with its media propagating claims that they now have full control of the skies over Israel, a statement widely regarded as exaggerated. Iranian state media also reports protests and gatherings in Tehran supporting the regime and condemning Israeli actions. Iranian officials have called for continued resistance, with exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urging Iranians to rise up against the regime, describing its end as inevitable.
The conflict has also prompted significant domestic activity in Israel, including the evacuation of civilians from high-risk areas, and the transformation of commercial spaces such as the underground floors of the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv into permanent shelters. Israeli authorities have issued multiple warnings to residents in areas near military targets, particularly around Tehran’s nuclear facilities and missile sites.
Internationally, discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who held security meetings both in Israel and remotely, underscore the strategic importance of supporting Israel’s defensive and offensive operations. Meanwhile, the United States has expressed concern over Israel’s dwindling stock of Arrow missile interceptors, vital for defending against Iranian long-range ballistic missiles. Reports indicate that the US is providing additional missile defense capabilities and deploying extra fighter jets to the region to bolster Israel’s security.
On the diplomatic front, Iranian officials continue to deny the extent of their missile and drone attacks, with propaganda claiming full control of the skies and dismissing the Israeli strikes as ineffective. However, satellite imagery and military assessments suggest that Israel’s recent operations have inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military infrastructure, including key nuclear and missile sites. Despite Iranian claims of dominance, the reality on the ground indicates a challenging and deteriorating situation fo
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago