Middle East Conflict Live Updates +++ 12:57 Russia Urges Caution Regarding US Aid to Israel
United States warned against providing Israel with military aid, suggested by Russia at 12:57.
In the midst of a tense Middle Eastern war, Russia warns the US against providing direct military support to Israel. Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov advises against such intervention, according to the Interfax news agency. Russia maintains contact with both Israel and Iran, Ryabkov added.
12:43 Israeli Attacks Accelerate in IranSince the onset of Israel's offensive, the Israeli military has reportedly struck more than 1100 targets in Iran, according to spokeswoman Effie Defrin. The air force has executed hundreds of attacks since Friday, Defrin stated. "We are systematically neutralizing the nuclear threat," she added. Defrin also reported extensive damage to Iran's ballistic missile infrastructure. Simultaneously, Iran has been firing daily waves of rockets towards Israel. In the latest salvo last night, there were about 30 ballistic missiles, Defrin said. Most were intercepted, and there were no casualties. Since the war's commencement, Israel reports 24 fatalities and over 800 injuries.
12:12 Iran Wary of US InvolvementIran issues a stern warning to the US against involvement in the ongoing conflict alongside Israel. The Iranian government would respond decisively in such a case, said Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini. "We will not hesitate to defend our people, our security, and our country—we will react severely and resolutely, unhesitatingly," Bahreini told journalists. He also described the US as "complicit" in Israel's actions.
11:53 Kiesewetter: Germany Should Act More AssertivelyGerman foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter believes that past criticism of Iran has been insufficient and that Germany should have taken a more decisive stance against the mullah regime. Kiesewetter views Israel's attack on Iran as a failure of German foreign policy.
Politics | Germany Should Act More Assertively
11:22 Chinese and Russian Nationals EvacuatedSince the beginning of Israel's large-scale attack on Iran, more than 1000 Chinese citizens have prepared for evacuation, said spokesman Guo Jiakun of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Chinese citizens have also been evacuated from Israel. Meanwhile, Russia's ambassador in Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, shared that the families of Russian diplomats had left Israel. They returned home via Egypt, he added.
10:51 Reporter's On-Site Observations
According to ntv reporter Alexandra Callenius, Israel may have gained air superiority over Iran, as Iran claims to have launched a hypersonic missile of the Fattah 3 type against Israel, which Tel Aviv has not confirmed.
Politics | Israel May Have Gained Air Superiority
10:24 Israel Running Low on Interceptor MissilesIsrael is reportedly nearing the depletion of its interceptor missiles for the "Arrow" defense system, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing a US source. The report could not be verified.
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09:41 Trump Faces Calls for WarCould the Israel-Iran conflict pull the US into a new conflict? North America correspondent Gordian Fritz explains that Trump is "not averse" to intervening, as there may be a certain US weapon type capable of completely destroying Iran's nuclear program.
Politics | US Weapons and Iran's Nuclear Bunkers? Trump Faces Calls for War
09:23 Israel Commences Stranded Citizen RepatriationIsrael has begun repatriating citizens stranded abroad due to the war with Iran. The first repatriation flight landed at Ben Gurion Airport in the early morning, carrying passengers from Larnaca, Cyprus. According to Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev, between 100,000 and 150,000 Israeli citizens are stranded abroad. The repatriation operation will proceed gradually, depending on risk assessment.
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08:54 Trump Threatens IranAs another terrifying night of mutual shelling between Israeli and Iranian forces persists, US President Trump makes a threat.
Politics | Israel Confident of Victory, Trump Threatens Iran
08:33 US Embassy in Jerusalem to Temporarily CloseOn the fifth day of the military confrontation between Israel and Iran, the US announces it will temporarily close its embassy in Jerusalem due to the "current security situation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran," the embassy's website states.
Politics | US Embassy in Jerusalem to Close Temporarily due to Security Concerns
08:18 Germany: No Doubt of Iran's Ambition for Nuclear WeaponsCDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen is certain that Iran is persistently working towards obtaining nuclear weapons: "I have no doubt that the Iranian regime is determined to become a nuclear power," he said on ZDF's Markus Lanz show. Röttgen understands Israel's actions at this juncture. "For Israel, it's a big question, but also in terms of legal evaluation: 'Do I have to wait until the point of irreversibility is reached?' Then I have clarity, but it might be too late," Röttgen stated.
Politics | No Doubt of Iran's Ambition for Nuclear Weapons
07:50 Exiled Iranian on Israel ConflictAs Israel and Iran continue their fire exchange, the escalation affects not only the residents of the countries but also exiled Iranian Babak Kazemifard, who watches the developments with "mixed feelings." Kazemifard recently helped his family escape the current war.
Politics | Exiled Iranians react to Israel-Iran Conflict
07:17 Israel Targets Centrifuge and Weapon Production Facilities in IranIsrael's military claims to have targeted production facilities for centrifuges and weapons in Iran. Approximately 50 Israeli Air Force aircraft reportedly carried out the attacks in the Tehran area overnight. The air force aimed to destroy Iran's nuclear program as part of its "comprehensive efforts." A centrifuge production facility in Tehran was attacked, along with weapon production facilities, such as those manufacturing components for rockets.
Politics | Israel Strikes Centrifuge and Weapon Production Facilities in Iran
06:10 Israel Reports Attacks on Targets in Tehran AgainIsrael reportedly launched military strikes in the Tehran area early this morning. Earlier today, the military ordered residents of a district in southwestern Tehran near Mehrabad Airport to evacuate, warning that military infrastructure would be bombed a few hours later.
05:10 Macron Tackles "Chaos" in Case of "Regime Change" in IranFrench President Emmanuel Macron adamantly opposes using military means to overthrow the Iranian government. "The biggest mistake we could make today is to try to change the regime in Iran militarily, because that would mean chaos," Macron announced at the conclusion of the G7 summit.
Politics | Uncertainty "What Comes Next"; Macron: "Military Regime Change in Iran Would Mean Chaos"
04:21 Iranian Media: Israel Attacks Rocket Production Facility Near TehranAccording to reports from Iranian news websites, the rocket production facility Khojir was targeted in an Israeli air strike overnight. The facility near the capital Tehran had previously been struck in October, reports suggest.
03:33 Iran Claims Launch of "Hypersonic Missiles" at IsraelTehran claims to have attacked Israel with "hypersonic missiles" overnight. Iranian forces have "taken complete control of the skies over the occupied territories," they claim.
02:57 Iranian Leader Khamenei Threatens IsraelIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issues a menacing threat to Israel again, writing on Twitter, "We must give a strong response to the Zionist terrorist regime. We will show no mercy to the Zionists." Earlier, US President Donald Trump had made an indirect threat to Khamenei on the Truth Social platform, stating, "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target." For now, Khamenei remains reportedly safe. "We won't take him out (kill him!), at least not right now," Trump added.
02:18 US Embassy in Israel Remains ClosedThe US keeps its diplomatic missions in Israel closed until Friday. This affects the US Embassy in Jerusalem and the consular sections in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. All US government employees and their families are urged to stay home or stay close to their residences until additional notice, according to the diplomatic mission's website. The embassy had also been closed on Tuesday.
01:56 Israel Launches More Strikes on TehranIsrael has once again attacked targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Before the attack, the Israeli military advised residents of a district in southwestern Tehran to take cover. The air force targeted military facilities in the area, the alert stated.
01:13 Iran Fires More Rocket Salvos at IsraelIran has reportedly fired another series of rockets at Israel. Air raid sirens have sounded in several parts of the country, the Israeli military stated. People in the affected areas have been given permission to leave their shelters.
00:22 Iran Launches Additional Rocket Attacks on IsraelIran has launched additional rocket attacks on Israel, the Israeli military reports. Air raid sirens have sounded in several areas of the country.
23:42 Russia Warns of Nuclear CatastropheRussia condemns Israel's attacks on Iran as unlawful, stressing that a resolution to the Iranian nuclear program can only be achieved diplomatically. The attacks pose "an unacceptable threat to international security and [are] driving the world towards a nuclear catastrophe, with consequences that will be felt everywhere, including in Israel itself," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry via Telegram.
23:18 Iran's Internet Censorship ReversedAccess to foreign media in Iran will not be restricted after all, according to the spokesperson for the Iranian cybercrime unit of the daily newspaper Shargh. The internet will soon be running smoothly again, and there will be no blockade of foreign internet sites. Numerous media outlets had earlier reported, based on experts and internet activists, that free internet access was at risk of being cut off.
22:38 Israeli Medical Professionals RepatriatedApproximately 100 Israeli doctors and other medical staff who were abroad have been returned to Israel by ship. The ship docked at Haifa Port. Due to the closure of airspace, the professionals could not return as planned. Among the returnees were 22 members of the medical leadership staff of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, who had been in Germany for training. The Israeli health ministry has identified around 390 medical professionals who urgently need to be returned to be available in case of attacks, according to the news portal ynet.
22:04 Macron Warns Against Military Coup in IranFrench President Emmanuel Macron advises against overthrowing the Iranian government by military means. Such a move would be a grave mistake, Macron maintains, suggesting that the best solution is to resume negotiations with Iran. He believes there has been a change in Trump's stance since yesterday.
21:57 White House Security Meeting EndsThe gathering of US President Trump and his National Security Council has ended, according to US broadcaster CNN. The meeting lasted over an hour, according to White House officials.
21:32 Trump Consults with Advisor in Situation RoomUS President Trump has gathered his national security team for consultations. The White House reports that Trump has convened the team in the "Situation Room," the heavily secured command center of the US government headquarters in Washington, D.C., for discussions.
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Sources: ntv.de, ino/mpa/dpa/rts/AFP/DJ; 1 2 3
1. In the context of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov's warning against US military intervention, the ongoing tension in the Middle East demands political cooperation for the maintenance of peace and security.
2. Amidst reports of Iran's nightly rocket attacks on Israel, the prospects for peace and security grow increasingly uncertain, underscoring the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
