Iran launches new wave of missile attacks on Israel as conflict enters Day 5

A senior Iranian military official on Sunday warned of a "devastating response" to Israel attacks on the Islamic republic, adding that Israel would not be habitable as a result.

"The scale of the devastating response by Iran's brave fighters will certainly encompass all parts of the occupied territories (Israel)," said Colonel Reza Sayyad, a spokesman for the armed forces.

"Leave the occupied territories because they will certainly no longer be habitable in the future," and shelters will "not guarantee security", he added in an address broadcast on state television.

An Israeli strike on Sunday killed the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammed Kazemi, along with two other officers, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs," the agency said, citing a Revolutionary Guards statement.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call with Johann Wadephul, Foreign Minister of Germany, to discuss recent regional developments following Israel’s military strikes on Iran.

Both ministers stressed the need to intensify efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.

They also underscored the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving crises and supporting regional peace and stability.

Iran's health ministry said Sunday that three days of Israeli strikes on the country had killed 224 people and injured more than 1,200.

"After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured. 224 women, men and children have been martyred," the ministry's spokesman Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X, adding that 90 percent of those killed had been civilians.

The Israeli military said early Monday that it was striking surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran, its latest move in three days of escalating conflict between the rival states.

"The IDF is currently striking surface-to-surface missile sites in central Iran," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Nadav Shoshani wrote on X. "We are operating against this threat in our skies and in Iranian skies."

US President Donald Trump urged Iran and Israel - who are locked in an exchange of military strikes - to "make a deal," but suggested they might need to "fight it out" first.

"I think it's time for a deal," Trump told reporters, as Israel and Iran exchanged a fresh barrage of missile strikes and threatened more devastation in a conflict that appeared to be intensifying.

"But sometimes they have to fight it out, but we're going to see what happens," Trump said, speaking at the White House before heading to Canada to take part in a G7 summit.

Trump discouraged Israel from trying to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Israeli officials said they had an opportunity, Reuters reported, citing two US officials.

Asked about the report, Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Israel's N12 News that the government doesn't ask permission from the US for targets and that Israel isn't looking to overthrow the regime.

Reuters reported ongoing US-Israel talks since the strikes on Iran, but it’s unclear if Trump directly warned against an assassination plan.

Netanyahu dismissed “false reports” and said Israel will act as needed, adding the US knows what’s best for itself.

Loud explosions rang out in Jerusalem early Monday, an AFP journalist heard.

It came shortly after Israel's army warned of a new missile salvo from Iran and advised the public to take cover until further notice.

Israel’s YNet News, citing emergency services, reported that 12 people with mild to moderate injuries were taken to hospital following Iran’s latest attack.

Medical teams continue to operate in the Tel Aviv area, the report added.

Several explosions were reported in Haifa early Monday after Iran launched a fresh wave of missile strikes. According to CNN, videos show missiles striking near an oil refinery, sparking fires and damaging nearby buildings and infrastructure.

Some Iranian missiles were intercepted by Israeli defense systems, but several struck near the refinery, causing significant damage.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Canada on Sunday to attend a summit of G7 leaders, with the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel likely to dominate the agenda.

The three-day gathering in the mountain town of Kananaskis marks the return to the international diplomatic calendar for Trump, who began his second term in office in January.

Several people were injured in the Israeli port city of Haifa, about 90 km from Tel Aviv, following recent Iranian missile strikes, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported.

A fire has broken out at the scene, and emergency services are responding to multiple impact sites caused by the latest barrage from Iran.

Iranian missile strikes have damaged the electricity infrastructure in central Israel, the Israel Electric Corporation confirmed.

Emergency crews are currently working to eliminate safety risks, particularly the threat of electrocution from downed power lines.

"Teams are operating on the ground to neutralize safety hazards, especially torn electrical wires," the corporation said in a statement.

Repair work is also underway to restore the affected power supply.

Iran said it "successfully" struck Israel with a salvo of missiles on Monday, as Israeli rescuers reported three deaths and damage to residential buildings in multiple cities.

"A new wave of air-to-air missile attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... enabled missiles to successfully and effectively hit" targets in Israel, the Guards said in a statement quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

Israel's military said on Monday it struck command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Israeli air force "struck command centres belonging to the Quds Force of the IRGC and the Iranian military, with precise direction from the (Israeli military) Intelligence Directorate," an army statement said, specifying the targets were located in the Iranian capital.

Iran vowed Monday to carry out more "devastating" operations against Israeli targets as Tehran struck its arch-foe with a barrage of missiles.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a statement quoted by the official IRNA news agency, warned that "effective, targeted and more devastating operations against the vital targets" in Israel "will continue until its complete destruction".

Iran's judiciary said it hung on Monday a man arrested in 2023 and convicted of being an agent for Israel's Mossad spy agency, as fighting raged between the two arch-nemeses.

"Esmaeil Fekri, a Mossad agent convicted of the capital offences of 'corruption on earth' and 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) was hung after going through the full process of criminal procedure," the judiciary's Mizan Online news website said.

The Iranian president urged all citizens to put aside differences and unite against Israel as conflict rages between the two arch-foes.

"Every difference, issue, and problem that has existed must be put aside today and we must stand strong against this genocidal criminal aggression with unity and coherence," Masoud Pezeshkian said, addressing parliament.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said five people were killed and 92 wounded Monday in Iran's latest missile strikes on the country, raising a previous toll of four deaths.

The casualties were from strikes on four sites in central Israel, the MDA said in a statement, adding those killed included "two women and two men around the age of 70, as well as one additional fatality".

"So far, MDA teams have evacuated 92 injured individuals to hospitals, including a 30-year-old woman in serious condition with facial injuries, six in moderate condition, and 85 in mild condition," it added.

The MDA said search and rescue operations were ongoing at two of the four sites.

The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday said an embassy building in Tel Aviv sustained minor damage from a nearby Iranian missile strike, reporting no injuries to US personnel.

"Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in @TelAviv but no injuries to US personnel," Huckabee said on X.

He said the US embassy in Jerusalem would remain closed on Monday as orders to "shelter in place (are) still in effect".

Israel claims it has achieved "aerial superiority" over Tehran and has control of skies from western Iran to capital.

Iranian media said that a hospital in the country's west suffered serious damage after an Israeli strike in the area on Monday.

"Following the Zionist criminal regime's attack on a nearby workshop in Kermanshah city, Farabi Hospital also suffered serious damage," the Tasnim news agency reported.

Fars news agency carried a video of the hospital showing shattered glass, collapsed ceilings, and extensive damage in patient rooms.

Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with neighbouring Iran for an indefinite period, provincial officials said on Monday, as Israel and Iran trade intense strikes and threaten further attacks.

"Border facilities in all five districts - Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar - have been suspended," Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, which borders Iran, told AFP.

Stocks rose and oil prices pulled back on Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran pounded each other with missiles for a fourth day.

The dollar and safe-haven gold declined slightly.

"European shares were surprisingly resilient against a backdrop of uncertainty," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

"The Middle East conflict remains a fluid situation and there is the potential for markets to still experience sudden jolts if the tension escalates further," he cautioned.

London, Paris and Frankfurt stock markets were all higher in midday trade.

That tracked gains in Asia, where Tokyo closed up 1.3 percent, boosted by a weaker yen, while Hong Kong and Shanghai also advanced.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has weathered a series of challenges but Israel's unprecedented strikes mark his most serious crisis yet, threatening both the clerical system he leads and his own physical survival.

With Khamenei aged 86, the issue of succession was already looming large in Iran. But his moves now will have a decisive impact on the future of the system of which he has been a pillar since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted the shah.

Meanwhile, his own physical survival could be at stake, with a senior American official saying Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei but Israel is still not ruling out such a move.

"Khamenei is at the twilight of his rule, at the age 86, and already much of the daily command of the regime is not up to him but to various factions who are vying for the future," said Arash Azizi, senior fellow at Boston University.

"This process was already underway and the current war only accelerates it," he told AFP.

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The Israeli military has issued an "urgent warning" for people to "immediately" leave a significant area of Tehran, Iran's capital.

"In the coming hours, the IDF will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime," Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee posts on X.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Iran's state television and radio were "about to disappear" after an evacuation warning was issued for the district in Tehran where the broadcaster is based.

"The Iranian propaganda and incitement megaphone is about to disappear," he said in a statement. "Evacuation of nearby residents has begun."

Loud blasts were heard Monday in western Tehran, an AFP journalist said, as a rapidly escalating air war between Iran and Israel raged for the fourth consecutive day.

A large cloud of black smoke billowed over the area of the Iranian capital, the journalist said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday he believed Group of Seven leaders meeting in Canada were united in wanting de-escalation between Israel and Iran.

"I do think there's a consensus for de-escalation," Starmer told reporters at the summit in the Canadian Rockies.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building was struck in an Israeli attack on Monday, cutting live coverage immediately.

The blast occurred as the presenter was live on TV lambasting Israel before she was seen leaving the live broadcast, Iranian media reported, sharing a video of the incident.

The US State Department warned Americans on Monday not to travel to Israel, warning that terrorist groups were plotting possible attacks and could target tourist locations "with little or no warning."

"The security situation in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, is unpredictable... as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and armed UAV intrusions and missiles, can take place without warning," the department also said in an advisory that escalated its advice of "reconsider travel" from last week.

An Iranian missile struck an oil refinery in Israel's coast city of Haifa on Sunday, killing three people, an Israeli official said after a gag order was lifted.

The confirmation on Monday removed reporting restrictions imposed by Israel's military censorship on the attack, part of the most intense confrontation in history between longtime foes Iran and Israel.

Iran state TV resumed live coverage after Israel's attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building on Monday.

"The Zionist regime the enemy of the Iranian nation minutes ago conducted a military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran news network", part of IRIB, said a senior official at the broadcasting service Hassan Abedini. "The regime (Israel) was unaware of the fact that the voice of the Islamic revolution and the great Iran will not be silenced with a military operation."

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran was not winning its conflict with Israel and should re-enter negotiations "before it's too late."

"They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late," Trump told reporters at a G7 summit in Canada.

Residents of Tehran have fled the Iranian capital in large numbers in the face of Israeli bombardments, creating immense traffic jams on the main road heading north, according to social media content posted on Monday.

Images verified by AFP, shot by a social media user from an overpass, showed near immobile traffic on a Tehran highway heading north with almost no vehicles in the opposite lane.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened on Monday to strike "everywhere" against the government of Iranian "dictator" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a statement issued after Israeli air strikes hit Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran.

"The propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority of the Iranian regime was attacked" by Israeli forces, Katz said, noting that the strike followed the "vast evacuation of residents in the area" and adding: "We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere."

Iran condemned Israel's attack on a state TV building in Tehran on Monday as a "war crime", and called on the UN Security Council to take action.

The strike on the offices of IRIB during a live broadcast was a "a wicked act" and a "war crime", said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. "The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people," he added.

The Israeli military on Monday said Iran fired a fresh salvo of missiles targeting the north of the country where residents have been advised to take cover.

"A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the army said in a statement.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Iranian forces will "pummel" Israel until the attacks against the Islamic republic stop.

"Our powerful Armed Forces are making clear to the world that the war criminals hiding in shelters in Tel Aviv will not go unpunished for their crimes," said Araghchi in a post on X. "We will continue to pummel the cowards for as long as needed to make sure that they are no longer firing at our people," he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that the United States could stop Israel's attacks on the Islamic republic with "one phone call".

"If President (Donald) Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue," Araghchi said in a post on X.

"It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Monday that assassinating Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would "end the conflict" between the two arch-foes.

"It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict," Netanyahu told ABC News in an interview when asked about reports that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill the supreme leader out of concern it would intensify the Iran-Israel showdown.

"The 'forever war' is what Iran wants, and they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war," Netanyahu said. "In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression, and we can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil."

Germany announced it will begin evacuating its citizens from Israel, while the United Kingdom urged its nationals there to register on the “Register Your Presence” portal and follow local authorities' advice to stay near shelters.

This comes amid reports that Iran is preparing for "the largest and most violent missile attack in history on Israeli territory."

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Dubai Airports confirmed on Monday that both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are experiencing significant delays and cancellations on June 16.

The disruptions are caused by ongoing airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Authorities have urged travellers to check with their airlines for the latest flight updates before heading to the airport.

Stay updated on travel disruptions and border closures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel was "changing the face of the Middle East" with its military campaign against Iran.

"We are changing the face of the Middle East," he told a press conference in which he outlined Israel's strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. "We are eliminating them, one after the other," he said of Iran's military leadership.

Iran has issued evacuation warnings for Israeli news channels after Israel attacked the building of Iran's state broadcaster, Iranian state TV reported on Monday.

"Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic republic of Iran's broadcasting service," state TV said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iranians' perception of their government had changed, saying they now saw it was "much weaker than they thought".

"They understand that the regime is much weaker than they thought - they realise it, and that could lead to results," the prime minister said during a press conference.

Iranian state media announced a new barrage of missiles targeting Israel on Monday night, as the two countries exchanged major strikes for a fourth day.

"A new salvo of missiles against the occupied territories (Israel) is beginning," state TV reported.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed, during telephone calls today with a number of world foreign ministers, the latest regional developments following the Israeli military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During these discussions, the top diplomats examined the implications of the current situation on the region's security and stability.

The phone conversations also underscored the importance of supporting diplomatic solutions and dialogue in resolving crises in a way that contributes to maintaining regional and international peace and stability.

The Bazan Group confirms its Haifa Bay oil refinery facilities are fully shut down due to Iranian strike.

Iran has issued evacuation warnings for Israeli news channels after Israel attacked the building of Iran's state broadcaster, Iranian state TV reported on Monday.

"Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic republic of Iran's broadcasting service," state TV said.

A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the ninth wave of Operation True Promise 3 was launched moments ago and will continue without interruption until dawn.

The Iranian Red Crescent said Monday that three of its rescuers were killed by an Israeli air strike in northwest Tehran.

"This incident is not only a crime against international humanitarian law but also a blatant attack on humanity and morality," the organisation said in a statement, adding that the three workers were aiding the wounded in the capital's Shahid Bagheri district.

A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that over the past 72 hours, we have continuously and without interruption targeted objectives across the occupied territories with 545 attack drones—and these operations will continue.