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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-21 at 13:04
HEADLINES
Iran’s Leader Hides Amid Escalating Israeli Strikes
US and Iran Clash Over Pacific Military Movements
Israel Targets Iran’s Nuclear Sites Amid Rising Tensions
The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At nine o'clock this morning, developments across the Middle East continue to shape a tense and complex landscape. Reports indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is believed to be hiding in a bunker amid intensified Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure. According to sources, he has halted all digital communication, appointed backup military leaders, and designated three clerics as potential successors, aiming to secure regime continuity if he is harmed. Officials express high concern over possible Israeli infiltration, reflecting Iran’s heightened security posture.
Meanwhile, Iran has issued warnings to the United States, with Tehran’s leadership asserting that it will hold the US accountable after recent deployment of American B-2 stealth bombers to the Pacific, with some possibly heading toward the Indian Ocean region. The United States has also increased military presence in the region, with several B-52 bombers stationed at Diego Garcia. In response to Israeli air operations, Iran has intensified its own attacks, firing over 40 missiles and launching numerous drones toward Israeli territory overnight. Israeli defense systems have intercepted most of these UAVs before they reach their targets, though some strikes have resulted in injuries and property damage, including a residential building in Beit She'an.
Israel’s military reports significant ongoing operations, including airstrikes targeting Iranian missile launchers and UAV sites in Iran’s central region, notably around Isfahan. The Israeli Air Force also intercepted dozens of Iranian drones launched from Iran's territory, maintaining a success rate of nearly 99%. Notably, Israeli forces conducted a strike on a military site in Tehran, and reports suggest that a drone attack on a residential building in northern Israel resulted in injuries.
In addition to Iran, Israel continues to confront threats from its neighboring region. Syrian security forces have captured Wasim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is considered a major drug trafficker. Reports also indicate that Syrian air defenses shot down UAVs launched from Iran aimed at Israel, and that Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the nuclear reactor in Isfahan, have sustained Israeli airstrikes, damaging uranium conversion buildings associated with nuclear weapons development.
In the broader context, Israeli officials emphasize their recent military operations as a crucial phase in the ongoing conflict, with the chief of staff describing the elimination of key figures like Said Izadi, a senior Iran-Hamas operative believed to be involved in the October 7th massacre, as a pivotal achievement. Israeli authorities also report that over 600 days into the conflict, they remain committed to bringing back hostages in Gaza and maintaining national resilience.
International reactions remain divided. French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, urging Iran to provide assurances that its nuclear program is peaceful. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for Iran’s right to defend itself, comparing Israel’s actions to the start of a world war, echoing a highly charged rhetoric. In Cyprus, authorities have arrested an Iranian Revolutionary Guard member suspected of planning an attack against Israelis waiting to return home.
In a related development, Israel’s military has carried out targeted strikes on military equipment in Iran’s southwestern regions, and the Israeli Defense Forces have announced that they will continue to respond dec
Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago