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The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Israel to immediately halt air attacks on the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran where Russian specialists work. Bushehr, Iran's only operating nuclear power plant, uses Russian fuel that Russia then takes back when it is spent in order to reduce nuclear proliferation risk. Maria Zakharova, the ministry's spokeswoman, also repeated a Russian warning to the United States not to get involved militarily in the Israel-Iran conflict, saying this would have unpredictable and negative consequences.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement to the media at the site of the direct missile hit in Holon, and for the first time threatened to eliminate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "Preventing the existence of Khamenei, the modern Hitler - one of the goals of the operation," he said. "A dictator like Khamenei, who leads Iran and has inscribed the destruction of Israel on his flag - he cannot continue to exist."
Katz added that Khamenei "has great ideological influence, he uses all his resources for the cause, and today we see proof that he is giving orders to shoot at hospitals. We see that he should not be on the agenda."
At least 147 casualties from the missile barrage launched by Iran Thursday morning arrived at hospitals across the country, including from impact sites in Ramat Gan and Holon, as well as those who evacuated independently. Some 37 wounded were evacuated to Wolfson Hospital in Holon, 36 to Ichilov in Tel Aviv, 21 to Sheba in Tel Hashomer, 14 to Beilinson in Petah Tikva, 16 to Assaf Harofeh in Beer Yaakov, 13 to Barzilai in Ashkelon, six to Mayanei HaYeshua in Bnei Brak, three to Assuta in Ashdod and one to Schneider in Petah Tikva. Six were classified as being injured seriously.
El Al announced the expansion of rescue flight destinations to Israel, with two flights expected to take off from New York and one from Bangkok Thursday night. Read about rescue flights here.
The company is preparing to operate rescue flights next week from major destinations where many El Al passengers are, and to which there is "high connectivity" from many destinations - London, Paris, Larnaca, Athens, Rome, New York, Los Angeles and Bangkok.
Rocket alert sirens sounded in the Gaza border community of Nahal Oz early afternoon on Thursday. The alarms were later determined to be false.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei attacked the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, stating that he "betrayed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and turned the IAEA into a partner in an unjust war and violence by Israel."
"Misleading narratives have bad consequences. You have turned the IAEA into a convenient tool for non-NPT member states to deny its members their basic rights," he added.
Following the Iranian missile barrage Thursday morning, the Lithuanian embassy in Israel reported that the direct hit in Ramat Gan occurred approximately 200 meters from its location; no damage was caused. The Austrian embassy is located in the same building, as well as the Kenyan embassy. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that minor damage was caused to the country's embassy building in Ramat Gan. "Diplomatic missions, which are protected under international law, must not be harmed," the Kenyan Foreign Ministry stated. "They should be kept away and protected from any conflict."
Also following the attack, Israel Police raided a foreign news agency complex through which Al Jazeera was broadcasting, which documented a rocket impact site while exposing its exact location. It was reported that the officers "stopped the illegal broadcasts" in accordance with "the policy of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, under the instruction of Police Commissioner Dani Levy and in cooperation with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi - to protect the safety and security of Israel's citizens."
Despite the massive missile attack, The Home Front Command did not change the state of emergency guidelines, which had been relaxed on Wednesday. Read about the relaxed guidelines here. A special state of emergency was declared in the home front throughout the country with the start of the war on Iran a week ago, and it was later extended by government decision until June 30.
Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed the barrage of missiles launched by Iran Thursday morning and stated that "the cowardly Iranian dictator sits deep in his fortified bunker and fires deliberately at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel. These are war crimes of the most severe kind - and Khamenei will pay for his crimes."
Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "have instructed the IDF to intensify attacks against strategic targets in Iran and government targets in Tehran - to remove threats against the State of Israel and undermine the ayatollahs' regime."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of the missile strike that "Iran will make the attackers regret their big mistake." His deputy, Kazem Gharibabadi, added that "if the U.S. actively intervenes in favor of Israel, Iran will have to use its tools to teach the attackers a lesson - and protect its security and national interests. For our military decision-makers - all options are on the table."
The number of people seriously injured in Thursday morning's missile attack has risen to 6. Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer reported that two severely injured individuals from the latest barrage were evacuated to the hospital, and four were evacuated to Wolfson Hospital in Holon. A total of 65 people were injured in the Iranian missile barrage.
Some 30 missiles were launched in the morning's missile attack on southern and central Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "Iran's terror tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at civilian populations in central Israel. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran."
The IDF confirmed on Wednesday that it attacked the heavy water nuclear reactor in the area of Arak, including the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production.
"The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development," the military said.
Air Force strikes in Iran
(IDF)
A missile launched from Iran struck Soroka Medical Center in the southern city of Be'er Sheva on Thursday, causing significant damage, Israeli authorities said. Read more about it and see photos of the destruction here.
Following the missile strike on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, the police began evacuating people amid suspicion of a leak of hazardous materials on an upper floor of the building. The concern was later removed.
Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva takes direct impact from Iran missile
Air raid sirens were activated across the country following a wave of missile launches from Iran. Dozens of projectiles were fired in what Tehran described as a combined missile and drone attack.
Reports indicated missile impacts in at least seven locations in central and southern Israel. Emergency services are assessing the damage and treating any casualties. Further details on injuries were not immediately available.
Direct hits were reported in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Holon. Medical teams were on site. Thus far, Magen David Adom(MDA) said their teams treated three people who were seriously hurt in Holon
Missile hits Ramat Gan on Thursday morning
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Holon appartment block destroyed by a missile fired from Iran
(Photo: Fire and Rescue Authority )
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Medical teams evacuate civilians from buildings hit by Iranian missiles
(Photo: Dana Kopel)
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Medical teams evacuate civilians from buildings hit by Iranian missiles
(Photo: Dana Kopel)
Missiles also targeted Israel's northern areas.
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Aerial defenses intercept a missile launched from Iran over the metropolitan Haifa area
(Photo: Gil Nechushtan)
Residents in affected areas received alerts and were instructed to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice. The military emphasized that people should not leave their shelters unless given explicit permission to do so.
Authorities urged the public to continue following directives from the Home Front Command.
As the military warned of incoming missile fire, two flights transporting Israelis who were stranded abroad, were diverted back to Cyprus.
The United States is moving closer to taking action against Iran, Bloomberg reported Wednesday overnight. According to the network, American officials are preparing for the possibility of a strike in the coming days, although the situation is still developing and could change.
Some of the sources who spoke with Bloomberg pointed to potential plans for a strike as early as this coming weekend, with one source noting that senior officials in several federal agencies have already begun preparations for an attack.
The IDF launched a new wave of airstrikes in Iran Wednesday overnight, targeting weapons depots, missile launchers, and additional military sites—primarily in Tehran and its western outskirts.
As the strikes commenced, the IDF also issued an urgent evacuation warning in Persian for individuals located near the Arak-Khondab area, home to Iran’s IR-40 heavy water nuclear reactor.
“The IDF continues to operate across the region, as it has in recent days throughout Iran, targeting the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure,” the statement said. “Dear civilians, for your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate the marked area. Your presence there endangers your lives.”
The IDF reported Wednesday overnight that at 2:21 a.m., sirens warning of a hostile UAV were activated in the Jordan Valley at the communities of Argaman, Hamra, Mekhora, and Hemdat. The Home Front Command later reported that the incident involving a drone infiltration had ended.
The IDF intercepted a hostile aircraft Wednesday overnight that was launched from Iran, after sirens sounded between 1:55 a.m. and 1:59 a.m. in several areas of northern Israel due to a hostile aircraft infiltration.
U.S. President Donald Trump told senior aides late Tuesday that he approved attack plans for Iran but has withheld a final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three people familiar with the deliberations.
Iran late Wednesday launched a second volley of missiles aimed at central Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the region. Magen David Adom said shortly after alarms blared that no injuries had been reported during the latest attack at the time of writing.
Interceptions over central Israel following barrage from Iran
(Raanan Ben Tsur)
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Wednesday that he has not closed the door on a meeting with Iran. 'I may do that,' he said ahead of a scheduled meeting at the White House, to discuss Israel's operation. 'A deal could still be done.'
The president said he has not yet decided on an American attack on Iran's Fordow underground nuclear facility, but said Iran was a few weeks away from having a nuclear weapon. Read the full story here.
U.S. President on the Israel-Iran conflict
(FoxNews)
Iran's public television (IRIB) had its broadcasts hacked and its viewers were shown images of protests along with calls to rise up against the regime, the UK-based opposition outlet Iran International reported. The Iranian public broadcaster said in a message to viewers that the pictures on their screens were the result of disturbances to the satellite signals, caused by the "Zionist enemy." Read the full story here.
Iranian television broadcast hacked by calls for protest, uprising against the regime
A new video showed the moment when the IRGC-affiliated television channel was attacked by the IDF on Monday, while on air. Full story - here.
Watch IDF strike on IRGC-linked TV channel
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted Israel with a Sejjil, a long-range ballistic missile, in the recent attack on Wednesday.
Iran launched one ballistic missile toward central Israel in the evening hours, which was intercepted by aerial defenses. One man was slightly injured when shrapnel fell on his car. The launch triggered sirens, sending millions into shelters.
Few munitions were launched from Iran
"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. The public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice," the IDF said in a statement.
France announced it would facilitate the departure of French citizens from Israel and Iran. President Emmanuel Macron asked France's foreign affairs ministry to take the necessary measures, the presidential palace said on Wednesday. "We strongly advise against all travel to these two countries," it added.
Earlier, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said in an urgent message that it was preparing the extraction of American citizens wishing to leave Israel, using rescue flights and cruise ships. The embassy urged Americans to sign up at the embassy and await updates.
The IDF said on Wednesday that its Air Force conducted an overnight strike against an anti-tank missile production facility in Iran that supplied Iran's proxies for use against Israel. "The Iranian regime has for years armed terrorist organizations surrounding Israel, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Houthi terrorist regime," the military said.
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Defrin said the Air Force attacked 20 targets in Tehran during the day, three of them connected to the production of missiles that were destined to be used against Israel.
The USS Ford Carrier Group is expected to be deployed to Europe next week, CNN said on Wednesday, citing sources. This would be the third aircraft carrier deployed in the proximity of the conflict between Israel and Iran.
According to the report, the USS Ford, which was scheduled to arrive in Europe, would likely be diverted to the Mediterranean Sea.
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USS Gerald Ford carrier group
(Photo: Maxwell Orlosky / US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE / AFP)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not know where Iran's enriched uranium is, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. "The location of Iran's near-bomb-grade stockpile of enriched uranium cannot currently be verified," the report said.
The IDF said on earlier that Iran had launched 1,000 attack drones toward Israel, 100 reached Israeli territory, but none hit their target. The military also said that 20 of the 400 ballistic missiles Iran fired landed in populated areas, causing casualties and damage. "This was very close to our estimates, considering their capabilities and our aerial defenses." Full story - here.
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U.S. President Donald Trump would not say if the United States had plans to attack Iran and its nuclear facilities. The president said on Wednesday that it was not too late for Iran to negotiate with the United States, but that 'there's a big difference between now and a week ago.' Trump said the Iranians had proposed to come for talks at the White House, but did not provide details. Full story - here.
U. S. President Donald Trump speaking at the White House
(Reuters)
"Next week will be big, maybe even before that." Trump said, adding that Iran had "bad intentions"
Israel's Home Front Command has slightly relaxed some of its restrictions, which will take effect as of Wednesday at 6 p.m. and will last until Friday at 6 p.m. Updated Home Front Command guidelines - here.
Groups of up to 30 are allowed to gather if there is quick access to shelters, and workplaces can operate if they have protected areas available on site.
Areas along the border with Lebanon, the Golan Heights, the Beit She'an Valley, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, the Arava, Eilat, and communities near the Gaza Strip allow gathering of up to 100 people where shelters are available. Schools, educational institutions to remain shut.
First published: 21:59, 06.18.25