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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-18 at 19:04
HEADLINES
Israel Strikes Tehran Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Iran Launches New Ballistic Missiles, Raises Alarm
Cyber Warfare Erupts as Iran Protesters Rise
The time is now 03:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today in the Middle East, the escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict continues to dominate the headlines. Israel has launched targeted drone strikes in parts of Shiraz, signaling an intensification of its military operations against Iranian infrastructure. This comes amid reports of Israel destroying the Iranian Police Headquarters in Tehran, marking a significant escalation against Iran’s key security installations.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the country’s commitment to defending itself, stating that Israel is controlling the skies over Tehran and striking at the symbols of Iran’s power, including nuclear and missile sites. He emphasized that the operation, known as Rising Lion, aims to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and hinted that regime change in Iran might become a possible outcome as internal dissent grows. Netanyahu praised the resilience of the Israeli home front despite the ongoing toll of the conflict.
On the battlefield, Israel reports the death of Staff Sergeant Stav Halfon, a 20-year-old soldier from Petah Tikva, killed by sniper fire in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Israeli forces also intercepted and destroyed a missile from Gaza that fragments from an Iranian ballistic missile struck a vehicle on Highway 5, wounding a civilian. The Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, with ongoing efforts to recover and rescue hostages while targeting Hamas infrastructure.
Iran’s military has launched a new missile, identified as a Sejjil medium-range ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers. This missile, which can carry a substantial payload, marks Iran’s first use of this type outside its borders, raising concerns among neighboring countries and Western allies. Additionally, Iran reportedly launched a Khaybar missile, capable of reaching Israeli targets at distances up to 2,000 kilometers, with some assessments suggesting it could be an intercontinental ballistic missile, potentially signaling a significant escalation.
There are reports of Iranian missile fragments striking a civilian vehicle in central Israel, and a man wounded but not hospitalized. Civil defense alerts remain active across Israel, with some infrastructure damage reported, including a bus crash in Petah Tikva caused by siren-induced panic.
International reactions include French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on targets unrelated to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, expressing concern over the rising civilian casualties in Iran. European nations are also expressing worry over Iran’s missile tests and their potential regional destabilization.
Meanwhile, in Iran, reports suggest that unidentified hackers have taken over state television broadcasts, displaying messages of defiance with slogans like "Rise up! This is our moment," and images of women cutting their hair in solidarity with protests inspired by recent anti-regime demonstrations. Iranian authorities blame Israel for these cyber operations aimed at fomenting unrest.
In the United States, polls indicate broad domestic opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, with 79% of Americans and 69% of Republicans supporting military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump, expressing firmness, announced that Iran was given an “ultimate ultimatum” and that the US is prepared to act decisively, with some reports suggesting that the US may consider strikes if Iran does not cease its missile tests and nuclear pursuits.
Finally, reports from Iran claim that Iran has launched a
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago