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Israel: Euphoria gives way to fear after Iranian missiles rain down on Tel Aviv

Israeli security forces set up a cordon near destroyed houses in Tel Aviv on 14 June 2025 (MEE/Faiz Abu Rmeleh)By Lubna Masarwa

Israelis describe being gripped by fear after Iranian attacks cause widespread destruction in Tel Aviv and elsewhere

Israelis said the initial euphoria over the shock attacks on Iran has given way to fear, after Iranian missiles slammed into central Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel, causing widespread destruction and killing at least three people.

Bright orange flashes illuminated the sky over Tel Aviv early on Saturday as Israeli air defence systems appeared to down some of the incoming missiles.

Still, fires and plumes of smoke could be seen in several areas of Tel Aviv, while explosions were also reported in Jerusalem.

Images and videos verified by Middle East Eye showed apartment blocks in Tel Aviv’s suburbs and the nearby city of Ramat Gan almost completely destroyed and the wreckage of several vehicles among the debris.

Emergency services reported early on Saturday that at least three people were killed across Israel and more than 40 were injured.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch

More than 200 Israelis are reported to have been wounded since Friday.

“The night was very scary,” Meron Rappaport, a Tel Aviv resident, told MEE.

“There was complete euphoria over how we eliminated the Iranian leadership… but it’s clear to me that after a night like last night, people are in shock.

“There’s no one on the street. And if it continues like this, I don’t see anyone going to work.”

The aftermath of a damaged residential building after a ballistic missile strike in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on 14 June 2025 (MEE/Faiz Abu Rmeleh)

Early on Friday, Israel launched a flurry of attacks on sites across Iran, including its nuclear facilities, and killed several commanders in their residences – among them the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Pushing the region into a new conflict with uncertain consequences, Israel continued its attacks across Iran for much of Friday, resulting in Iran firing hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel, in what the Islamic Republic called the beginning of its “crushing response”.

Following the strikes, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel’s deadly attacks would “bring it to ruin”.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic will inflict heavy blows upon this malevolent enemy,” Khamenei said in a televised speech.

Orly Yafa-Niger, a 67-year-old Israeli living in central Israel, told MEE that after initially supporting the strikes against Iran, reality quickly hit home that Israel was vulnerable and that Israelis, just like Iranians, could also be targeted.

“The attack surprised me,” Yafa-Niger said.

“We were sitting in a dorm when we heard a loud boom, and we began to wonder what it was and what it hit.

“Then we realised that it hit a building, destroyed homes. We realised that it’s happening here and it’s real and close. Suddenly, you accept that what’s happening in Iran can happen here, too.”

She added that the warning sirens, which sent millions of people rushing for safe rooms and bomb shelters, had triggered palpable fear among every Israeli.

“Our reality has changed,” she said.

“There are alarms and notifications, alerts to raise awareness that something is about to happen, which increases stress and uncertainty over what is going to happen. This raises anxiety.”

‘Disturbed fantasy’

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that “Tehran will burn” if the Islamic Republic continued responding to Israeli attacks by firing missiles at Israel.

“If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,” he said.

Despite the threatening language, several Israeli hospitals began relocating patients underground on Saturday, bracing for further retaliatory Iranian strikes.

Patients at the Sheba Medical Center, in the Tel Aviv area, were seen in video footage being transported to fortified underground facilities. Other footage showed staff transferring equipment and other essential medical gear.

Orly Noy, a Jerusalem-based journalist, told MEE that Iran’s attacks had shattered the myth that Israeli leaders had often repeated to the Israeli public: that they were immune to any and all reprisal attacks.

“The Israeli public has been convinced over the years that it can exist here in the region while deeply disdaining all its neighbours and rampaging in a thuggish and murderous manner against everyone – whenever and however it wants – relying solely on brute force.

“That’s why there was something so substantial about the sight of the bombed-out buildings in Ramat Gan,” he said.

“They are so similar to the images we’re used to seeing from Gaza. Those sooty grey skeletons of buildings, that billowing cloud of dust, that carpet of ash and rubble covering the street, those images of children’s dolls in the hands of rescue teams.

“The scale is, of course, completely different, but these images are nevertheless a momentary rupture of this disturbed fantasy that we are immune to everything,” he added.

In a televised address on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue attacking Iran for “as long as necessary” and also urged Iranians to rise up against their leaders.

But Yafa-Niger said that Netanyahu’s combative relationship with regional states would either lead to his downfall or result in Israelis leaving the country en masse.

“I have a very hard time with this messianic government, a government that is very extreme and not at all being run correctly,” she said.

“I’m also very worried about what will happen the day after and what will everything look like here if this government continues to rule.

“If there is no political change here, it will be very difficult for me here, very difficult.”

[…]

Via https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-euphoria-gives-way-fear-after-iranian-missiles-rain-down-tel-aviv

Vietnam becomes BRICS tenth partner country

FILE PHOTO. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi are seen during limited attendance meeting of BRICS leaders during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia on October 23, 2024. ©  Alexei Danichev/Getty Images

RT

Vietnam has joined BRICS as its tenth partner country, marking a significant step in the bloc’s expansion, Brazil’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday.

BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. The bloc later expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. BRICS accounts for around 40% of global GDP in terms of purchasing power parity — surpassing the combined economic weight of the G7, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“With a population of almost 100 million and a dynamic economy deeply integrated into global value chains, Vietnam stands out as a relevant actor in Asia,” Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The ministry added that Hanoi “shares with the BRICS members and partners a commitment to a more inclusive and representative international order.”

The group’s other nine partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

Hanoi’s inclusion as a partner country grants it access to key economic initiatives without formal voting rights.

Earlier in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the group for “dictate-free” cooperation between its members, adding that Moscow intends to “continue working to build an effective system of equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation.”

Last year, speaking at a meeting of BRICS security representatives in St. Petersburg, Putin noted that 34 nations had expressed an interest in joining or cooperating with the group in one form or another.

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/news/619303-vietnam-brics-tenth-partner-country/

Tucker Carlson blasts Trump for being complicit in backing Israel’s attacks against Iran

Rhian Lubin

Tucker Carlson has turned on President Donald Trump by accusing him of being “complicit” in Israel’s attacks on Iran.

The former Fox News host and MAGA figurehead rebuked Trump and the administration in his newsletter titled: “This Could Be the Final Newsletter Before All-Out War.”

“Despite being complicit in the act of war, the president hopes last night’s events will help his ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran,” Carlson wrote.

“While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last night’s events,” the right-wing pundit added.

Trump boasted on Truth Social that Israel was using military equipment made in the U.S., which he described as “the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR.”

Carlson’s newsletter went on to say that the U.S. is now “in deep.”

“Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out,” Carlson continued. “Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it.”

Deepening Divide Within the MAGA Movement

The conflict is already splitting MAGA down the middle, leading figures of the movement have said publicly.

“A direct strike on Iran right now would disastrously split the Trump coalition,” podcaster Jack Posobiec wrote on X. “Trump smartly ran against starting new wars, this is what the swing states voted for.” He added that it could cost the Republicans the midterms.

[…]

Via https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-trump-israel-iran-attacks-b2769833.html

Netanyahu’s jet spotted in Greece

Credit: Edmond_spotteur

Has Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fled to Greece amid the military escalations with Iran?

Speculations and theories swirled online after Netanyahu’s official aircraft, known as the ‘Wing of Zion’, was spotted at the Athens airport on Friday afternoon, barely a few hours after Tel Aviv launched military strikes deep into Iranian territory.

Users on Platform X tracked the flight’s route, timing, and eventual landing in Greece using publicly available data from the aviation monitoring service FlightRadar24.

However, it was not clear whether Netanyahu or any of his family was on the plane.

In response to escalating hostilities, Greece’s highest foreign and defence policy council, KYSEA, was slated to convene under the leadership of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Greece’s Foreign Ministry has issued a safety advisory to nationals in Israel, urging them to remain close to shelters and heed local authority instructions. The advisory comes as Israel shuts down its airspace and halts all flights at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Greek Crisis Management Unit has been activated, with emergency contact lines and embassy support available for citizens in Tel Aviv.

Athens stopover raises questions 

As tensions rise following Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran, the unexpected presence of Netanyahu’s aircraft in Athens has sparked intense speculation.

Observers point to several possible strategic motives behind the move, including enhanced security protocols and potential diplomatic or military planning.

One possible explanation is that the move serves as a preemptive safety measure. With the heightened risk of Iranian retaliation, Israeli authorities may be implementing enhanced security protocols to safeguard senior leadership.

Positioning Netanyahu’s aircraft in Athens could be a calculated step to remove it from potential missile or drone strike zones targeting Israeli air infrastructure.

There is also speculation that Netanyahu may have travelled to Athens with members of his family as a precautionary measure. In situations involving credible threats of retaliation, it is not unusual for national leaders to temporarily relocate key figures, particularly if intelligence suggests a heightened risk of targeted attacks.

While Israeli authorities have not confirmed his whereabouts, the timing and destination of the flight have raised questions about whether this move was part of a broader security strategy to shield the prime minister and his inner circle.

Israeli state aircraft “Wing of Zion” which flew Israel’s ambassador to Greece from Israel is seen at the Athens International airport / Reuters

A third possible explanation points to backchannel diplomatic efforts. Reports of US aircraft personnel being repositioned overnight suggest preparations for a potential Iranian counterstrike.

In this context, Athens may have been selected as a neutral and secure location for high-level, in-person coordination between Prime Minister Netanyahu and American military or intelligence officials.

With no official statement confirming Prime Minister Netanyahu’s location or the purpose of the flight, questions continue to mount over the true motive behind the Athens stopover.

Is this a protective measure in anticipation of further escalation, a discreet diplomatic engagement with Western allies, or a signal of deeper strategic manoeuvring?

Will Greece arrest Netanhayu?

There is also speculation whether Athens will act on the arrest warrant against Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the Israeli premier is indeed in Athens.

The ICC had issued warrants against Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for their roles in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

However, many pointed out Greece’s non-committal stance immediately after the ICC warrants, in November 2024.

In a press conference following the ICC’s announcement, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis refrained from confirming whether such a warrant would be enforced, stating instead that “such decisions do not help and will not solve any problems”.

Marinakis had drawn a distinction between Israel and other states under ICC scrutiny, arguing that Israel had suffered a terrorist attack and should not be equated with countries that initiated hostilities.

His remarks signalled Athens’ political position on the matter—critical of the ICC decision and supportive of Israel’s security narrative—making it highly improbable that Greek authorities would act on the warrant during Netanyahu’s stopover.
[…]

Via https://trt.global/world/article/26bf219546c4

VIDEOS Show Iranian Strike on Israel

The police patrol streets of Tel Aviv, Israel, following the Iranian missile attack on June 13, 2025. ©  Global Look Press / Ilia Yefimovich

RT

Missiles have penetrated Israel’s air defenses and struck Tel Aviv, according to clips that have surfaced online

The first videos showing the Iranian missile barrage targeting Israel have surfaced online. Tehran launched the attack in response to West Jerusalem’s airstrikes on numerous Iranian targets earlier on Friday.

Clips published on social media show multiple projectiles flying in the night sky over various parts of Israel, including Galilee and the city of Tel Aviv. Iran’s military launched “hundreds” of projectiles at Israel in multiple waves, according to the Iranian media.

The city of Tel Aviv appears to be one of the prime targets for the Iranian strikes, footage suggests. Videos purport to show Israeli anti-aircraft systems deployed inside the city firing at the incoming projectiles.

One such clip allegedly shows an Iranian projectile striking a place near an Israeli air defense installation seconds before an air defense missile was launched.

At least seven areas in the Tel Aviv area were hit in the Iranian strike, the Times of Israel reported, citing medical authorities. They also suggest that at least five people were injured in the strikes. The sky above the city is illuminated by both Iranian projectiles and Israeli air defense missiles launched to intercept them.

Some videos also purport to show the destruction caused by the Iranian hits in the city, with some buildings appearing to be serious damaged. RT could not independently verify the authenticity of the clips.

The Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes on numerous targets – both military and nuclear sites – across Iran early on Friday. The Iranian authorities have confirmed that the attacks killed Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/news/619217-iran-strike-israel-video/

History of the Long US Battle to Industrialize

Who We Are: America’s Fight for Universal Progress, From Franklyn to Kennedy Volume I 1750s to 1850s

By Anton Chaitkin (2020)

Book Review Part 2

Although President Washington, like his friend Alexander Hamilton, strongly supported US industrialization, the presidents who followed him tended to support the interests of southern slave owners and New York bankers who profited more from a pre-industrial economy. In addition, British spies Aaron Burr and Albert Gallatin actively campaign to turn New York and Pennsylvania against the US government.

2. Washington served two terms (1789-1797). Under his term

1791 – Hamilton starts model industrial city in Patterson New Jersey.1792 – Hamilton and his family begin building the Erie Canal.1793 – Jefferson (a close associate of British intelligence chief Lord Shelbourne – see Hidden History: How Ben Franklin and Friends Create Britain’s Industrial Revolution) resigns as Washington’s Secretary of State and started the Democratic-Republican Party. Its main platform was free trade (opposing Hamilton’s tariffs) and states rights.2John Adams (1797-1801) generally opposed the pro-industrial policies favored by Hamilton and Washington

2. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) anti-industrialist

1802 – Previously opposing the establishment of a military academy at West Point (which provided essential engineering skills for US industrial revolution), Jefferson eventually signs off on it.1804 – Aaron Burr kills Hamilton in a duel. Later charged with treason for organizing a conspiracy for New York to secede from US. Follow acquittal, he flees to the UK owing to outstanding murder charge.1807 – British launch unprovoked attack on US naval vessel off the coast of Virginia. In response, US passes Embargo Act, which bans all overseas cargo. Big boon for US manufacturers who no longer have to compete with cheap British imports (Jefferson ha revoked Hamilton’s protective tariffs).

3. James Madison (1809-1817) anti-industrialist who tries, unsuccessfully, to shut down West Point

1812 – 1815 – Exasperated by ongoing attacks on northern states by British trained and funded native Americans, US declares war on Britain. Defeats and excludes British Navy from Great Lakes and ends Indian attacks from Canada. Following the truce, Britain immediately launches new trade war.1815-18 West Point becomes unique source of American engineers, who perform all tkey surveys for railroad development and hold all the chief railroad positions between 1823-29. The academy develops the first steam engine in the US and establishes a foundry that casts all the fittings for American water powered mills and steam engines, as well as all the army’s cannon and ammunition.

4. James Monroe (1817-1825) pro-industrialist

Enacts 1824 Tariff Act and General Survey Act, which authorizes the president to use Army Corps of Engineers (from West Point) to undertake survey of all potential canals and roads of national significance.1824-25 – Enacts federal subsidies to build a US canal system (to facilitate coal transport) as far south as Mississippi. Also begins railroad building and supports modern iron production. Monroe pro-industrialization efforts helped by pro-industry governors in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.

5. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) pro industrialist

1826 Tariff conference organized in Philadelphia by Pennsylvania Society for Promotion of Mechanics and Mechanical Arts. Would lead to tariff increases in 1828 to encourage investment in new forges.

6. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). During first term, Jackson, who initially claimed to be pro-industry, continued federal support of railroad development.

1830-32 first electric motor and first long distance telegraph1832 South Carolina Ordination of Nullification – South Carolina refuses to honor US tariff laws and threatens to secede if forced to do so.1837 US experiences it first serious depression after Jackson vetoes bill to recharter National Bank of US (ending federal credit for fledgling industries and new infrastructure) and country returns to monetary system run by multiple private banks and speculators.

7. Martin Van Buren (1837-41) anti-industrialist

1837 Van Buren orders West Point to discontinue all involvement in railroad building

8. William Henry Harrison (1841) strong supporter of tariffs and American system, dies unexpectedly one month after taking office.

9. John Tyler (1841-1845) anti-industrialist slave owner from Virginia

1842 – pro-industrialists successfully push new tariff law through Congres and gain Tyler’s reluctant approval

10. James Polk (1845-1849) anti-industrialist

1847 production of iron had quadrupled when Polk triggers a depression by discontinuing tariffs1848 Henry C Carey, son of pro-industrialist Irish-American Matthew Carey helps to found Republican Party (which elects Lincoln in 1860)

Mossad in Crisis: Israeli Nuclear Secrets Now in Iranian Hands

Viktor Mikhin

What Israeli authorities denied for years is now on the desks of Iranian analysts: top-secret data on Tel Aviv’s nuclear program, obtained through a brilliant intelligence operation. 

This is not just a leak—it’s a total collapse of Israel’s security apparatus, which failed to protect even its most guarded state secrets. According to sources close to Iranian intelligence, the operation was one of the largest in the history of the two nations’ confrontation. The archives now in Tehran’s possession contain thousands of documents, including details on Israel’s nuclear infrastructure and strategic plans.  “This is a disaster for Israeli intelligence,” said an anonymous source familiar with the operation. “They didn’t just miscalculate—they didn’t even realize they’d been robbed until it was too late.”  Interestingly, news of the breach only surfaced weeks after Shin Bet proudly arrested two suspects accused of spying for Iran. But the arrests appear to be a belated attempt to cover up an already accomplished fact: the classified materials had long since left Israel.

A Systemic Collapse 

This failure is no accident—it was inevitable. As far back as March 2025, Israel unexpectedly disbanded its *”Iran Command,”* a special unit created to counter Tehran. Officially, the move was framed as an *”optimization”* to improve efficiency. However, experts see it as an admission of Israel’s strategic failure, especially in light of Iran’s recent successes, including military operations and breaches of Israeli defense systems.

Mossad’s failure and the nuclear data leak aren’t just an intelligence blunder—they’re a game-changer for the Middle East

The unit’s dissolution highlights deep flaws in Israel’s security apparatus. According to a 2024 Shin Bet report, cases of espionage for Iran surged by 400%. Notable incidents include:

– Arrests of military personnel leaking classified data, including Iron Dome specifications.

– Exposure of 13 spy networks linked to Iranian intelligence.

– Establishment of a special prison for 26 convicts caught spying for Iran.

But as it turns out, Tehran’s biggest victories remained hidden—until now.  The decision to dismantle the ”Strategy and Third Circle Directorate”—the body responsible for countering Iranian influence—was made within hours of the appointment of the new IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Created in 2020 under former Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi’s “Momentum” doctrine, the unit was meant to coordinate intelligence, cyber, and military operations against Iran—Israel’s primary adversary beyond its immediate borders. Its structure included:

– A strategic department for operational planning.

– An international cooperation division, liaising with foreign militaries.

– A dedicated Iran task force.

Despite its ambitious goals, the unit failed to curb Tehran’s influence. Its downfall culminated in October 2024, when the IRGC launched “True Promise-2″—a massive missile strike in which Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles (with a 90% success rate) bypassed Israeli air defenses and hit military and intelligence targets.

Cyberattacks remain another weak spot: while Israel claims to have thwarted 700 attacks in 2024, sources say thousands more damaged power grids, hospitals, and military systems. “Iranian hackers have turned our infrastructure into a testing ground,” admits an Israeli cybersecurity expert. The decision to disband the unit is symbolic—Tel Aviv seems to realize its Iran strategy needs a complete overhaul.

How the West and U.S. Are Reacting to Mossad’s Failure 

The Biden administration has avoided strong statements, but The Washington Post reports tension in the White House and Pentagon. U.S. officials fear Iran could use the stolen data to accelerate its nuclear program or share it with hostile states like Russia or North Korea.  The State Department has held emergency talks with Israeli counterparts, while U.S. intelligence assesses potential damage to American interests. Some Republican lawmakers are pushing for tougher Iran sanctions and a reevaluation of intelligence cooperation with Israel.

European leaders—particularly from Germany and France—have expressed concern but avoid sharp criticism. The EU worries that exposing Israel’s nuclear secrets could destabilize the region and complicate talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

The Fallout: What Comes Next for the Region and the World? 

What does this leak mean for global security? How will the regional balance of power shift? And how might Israel and its allies respond? Western analysts believe the biggest risk is Iran using the intel to fast-track its nuclear program. If Tehran gained access to technology, methods, or agent lists, it could:

– Shorten its path to a nuclear bomb by filling technical gaps and speeding up uranium enrichment.

– Improve sabotage defenses, making future covert operations harder.

– Hide prohibited activities from IAEA inspectors by understanding which aspects are monitored.

Israel views Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential threat. Post-leak, possible scenarios include:

– Preemptive strikes on nuclear facilities if diplomacy and covert ops are deemed ineffective.

– Escalation of covert ops (e.g., assassinating scientists), though Iran is now better prepared.

– Increased cyber warfare, with both sides targeting critical infrastructure.

The U.S. and Europe will likely tighten sanctions but avoid direct confrontation. Meanwhile, Russia and China may exploit the situation to deepen ties with Iran, offering diplomatic cover and military-tech cooperation.  Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE) could accelerate their own nuclear programs in response. The region may face:

– An arms race (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt pursuing nukes).

– Proxy war escalation (Syria, Yemen, Lebanon).

– Heightened risk of all-out war (any provocation could trigger Israel-Iran conflict, involving Hezbollah).

Mossad’s failure and the nuclear data leak aren’t just an intelligence blunder—they’re a game-changer for the Middle East. If Tehran capitalizes on this information, the world could face a new nuclear crisis, escalating conflicts, and rising global tension.

[…]

Via https://journal-neo.su/2025/06/13/mossad-in-crisis-israels-nuclear-secrets-now-in-irans-hands/

Mossad set up drone base in Iran: UAVs activated overnight to strike surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel

By Lazar Berman

Israel spent years preparing for the operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, a security official tells The Times of Israel, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country.

The effort hinged on tight joint planning between the IDF and the Mossad intelligence agency.

According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight, striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel.

In addition, vehicles carrying weapons systems were smuggled into Iran.

These systems took out Iran’s air defenses and gave Israeli planes air supremacy and freedom of action over Iran.

The third covert effort was Mossad commandos deploying precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites in central Iran.

The operations relied on “groundbreaking thinking, bold planning and surgical operation of advanced technologies, special forces and agents operating in the heart of Iran while totally evading the eyes of local intelligence,” says the official.

[…]

Via https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/mossad-set-up-a-drone-base-in-iran-uavs-were-activated-overnight-to-strike-surface-to-surface-missile-launchers-aimed-at-israel/

Federal judge rules anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil cannot be deported or detained by Trump admin

Anna Young

The Trump administration is barred from deporting and continuing to detain anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

New Jersey federal Judge Michael Farbiarz issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting federal officials from booting the Columbia University rabble rouser from the country, arguing that the admin’s reasoning that Khalil’s continued presence would pose a risk to foreign policy was not sufficient, according to court documents obtained by The Post.

Farbiarz ordered that the legal US resident be freed from custody as early as Friday, asserting that his continued detention is causing irreparable harm to his career, his family and his constitutional right to free speech.

The Department of Homeland Security has until Friday morning to appeal the decision.

Khalil – a 30-year-old green card-holding Palestinian born in Syria – was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his Columbia-funded Manhattan apartment in March following a federal crackdown on anti-Israel demonstrators at university campuses nationwide.

The New York resident, who is also a citizen of Algeria, was then shipped off to a Louisiana migrant detention center – thousands of miles away from his lawyers and US citizen wife, who gave birth to their first child while he was awaiting deportation.

The Trump administration claims the new dad, who served as a spokesman for anti-Israel groups including Columbia University Apartheid Divest, engaged in activities “aligned to Hamas,” the Palestinian terror group.

The radical activist group is responsible for the riotous takeover at Columbia’s Hamilton Hall last April.

“When you advocate for violence, glorify and support terrorists that relish the killing of Americans, and harass Jews, take over buildings and deface property, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Wednesday following the ruling.

Khalil’s lawyers have been fighting the arrest both in immigration court and in New Jersey federal court — arguing that his seizure violated the First Amendment right to free speech, since the government allegedly targeted him for his anti-Israel activities.

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security invoked an obscure law that allows a Secretary of State to deport noncitizens who potentially threaten US foreign policy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously argued that Khalil’s presence undermines “US policy to combat antisemitism” and his participation in “antisemetic protests” fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students across the country.

He has also claimed that the Trump administration has authority to deport noncitizens whose presence hurts US foreign policy interests.

An immigration judge in Louisiana, where Khalil’s case is also being heard, ruled in April that he can be deported based on Rubio’s justifications, but Farbiarz, the federal judge, had temporarily blocked his deportation while the case played out.

A spokesperson for the White House reiterated Rubio’s claims in response to the judge’s ruling Wednesday.

“While in the United States, Khalil has consistently engaged in conduct detrimental to American foreign policy interests including ongoing support for Hamas and harassment of Jewish students on campus,” spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “The law authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke green cards of individuals who pose a threat to American foreign-policy interests.”

Both the White House and the DHS said the admin plans to fight the ruling.

[…]

Via https://nypost.com/2025/06/11/us-news/federal-judge-rules-anti-israel-activist-mahmoud-khalil-cannot-be-deported-or-detained-by-trump-admin/

Iran to retaliate against Israel in near future

Mock missiles on display during a protest in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 9, 2025. ©  Getty Images / NurPhoto / Morteza Nikoubazl

RT

Iranian state media denies reports that Tehran has already launched a swarm of kamikaze drones against Israel

Tehran has not yet retaliated against Israel’s ongoing attack but plans to do so shortly, Fars news agency has reported, citing a security source.

The retaliation “will take place in the near future,” according to the source. The news agency, affiliated with Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also refuted Israeli media reports that claim Tehran has already launched a swarm of some 100 kamikaze drones, most of which are said to have been intercepted by Israeli jets before approaching the country’s border.

The Israeli military launched a major attack on Iran early on Friday, targeting the country’s nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment facility in Natanz and military installations. The offensive, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, continued throughout the day, with repeated airstrikes reported across Iran.

The attack killed several senior Iranian officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff Gholam Ali Rashid. Iran’s top air force commanders were also reportedly decimated when they were hit by an airstrike during a meeting. At least six high-profile nuclear scientists were also reportedly killed in the attack.

 The strikes come after five rounds of US-Iranian talks on Iran’s nuclear program effectively stalled and failed to produce a breakthrough. The sixth round of negotiations is still scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday.

Iran has vowed to retaliate for the attack, claiming that it “cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States.” US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he had prior knowledge of the strikes, describing them as “very successful.” At the same time, the US president expressed hope that Iran will still be willing to negotiate and agree to a nuclear deal.

“I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’. They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/news/619195-iran-retaliation-against-israel/