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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-18 at 15:04
HEADLINES
Iran Launches Hypersonic Missiles Amid Escalating War
US Remains Ambiguous on Iran Strike Threats
Israel Targets Iran’s Top Military and Leader Bunker
The time is now 11:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate amid ongoing military and diplomatic developments involving Israel, Iran, and their respective allies.
In a significant turn, the United States remains non-committal about whether it will undertake military action against Iran, with President Donald Trump refusing to specify any plans for strikes. He stated that Iran has recently approached the White House for talks, but emphasized a stark contrast between the current moment and a week ago, claiming Iran is "totally defenseless" and dismissing late diplomatic overtures. Meanwhile, Iran’s response to Israeli and American actions has been forceful. Tehran's ambassador to the UN has warned that Iran considers the United States "complicit" in Israel’s strikes and has vowed a strong response should Washington cross what they term a “red line.” Iran also claimed to have launched hypersonic missiles at Israel and reported firing over 400 ballistic missiles and around a thousand drones since last Friday. Despite the large-scale barrage, only a small number of these projectiles reached Israeli territory, with over 20 impacting urban areas, resulting in 24 deaths and more than 500 injuries. Israeli defenses have intercepted the majority of drones and missile strikes, with no reported casualties from the drones so far.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military action has targeted key Iranian military and security infrastructure. Reports indicate the Israeli Air Force has destroyed Tehran’s internal security headquarters and targeted the regime’s central repressive facilities. Israeli officials have also claimed to have struck the underground bunker of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, as part of a series of unprecedented firepower deployments over Tehran. Additional strikes have reportedly hit Iranian military bases such as Najaf Ashraf and Kermanshah, with images showing significant destruction. In response, Iran has threatened retaliation if the US or Israel crosses certain “red lines,” and has accused Western nations of justifying aggressive actions against Iran.
On the ground, Israeli forces in the West Bank conducted operations tonight, arresting a suspect involved in arson attacks, during which the suspect attempted to attack soldiers with a knife and was subsequently neutralized. In Gaza, Israeli strikes continue to target militant positions, with reports of heavy fire belts around the Mount Surani and Al-Jaru streets in Gaza City.
Regional security remains fragile. Hezbollah has issued a warning, hinting at the possibility of entering a war between Israel and Iran, and there have been reports of armed clashes and fire exchanges in Gaza. Additionally, a drone launched from Iran toward Israel was intercepted over the Golan Heights, with sirens sounding in several communities.
Internationally, the UK’s cabinet is considering whether to provide military support to the United States should it decide to attack Iran, with discussions scheduled later today. The US has demanded that Canada contribute 71 billion dollars to join the missile defense system "Iron Dome," reflecting the broader geopolitical stakes.
Meanwhile, Iran’s domestic situation is strained. Reports from Iran indicate widespread shortages of essential goods such as rice, bread, and fuel, amid fears and panic caused by the ongoing hostilities. Iranian vehicles used to store attack drones have been seized, and the country’s banking system is reported to be largely shut down in the capital, further complicating daily life.
Amidst this chaos, there are signs of military readiness on all sides. The
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago