Hello and welcome to this live blog. Here we keep you informed of the increased tensions between Israel and Iran.
Israeli army official: ‘Long list of targets in Iran’“Israel still has a long list of targets in Iran,” reports an Israeli army official. The official declined to say how many air strikes the country wants to carry out. The military source states that Israel attacked eighty targets in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday evening.
France wants diplomacy to prevent escalationTehran’s nuclear program poses a threat to the security of Israel and Europe, says French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. “Diplomacy is the only way to prevent an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran.” The country has joined the statements made by Germany. “We have always said that the best way to prevent and contain this threat is diplomacy.”
Iran also calls on citizens to seek shelterThe Iranian authorities are now also calling for people to seek shelter. People can go to mosques, schools and metro stations.
Israeli oil refinery target of Iranian attackAn Israeli oil refinery in Haifa was damaged after missile attacks from Iran. Although the damage has yet to be assessed, the organization reports that the refineries have remained operational. However, some work was stopped. There are no reports of casualties.
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Where does the animosity between Israel and Iran come from?Their bad relationship dates back to the late 1970s. There was then a pro-Western Shah in power in Iran. The leader wanted to belong to the West and therefore wanted to work with Israel.
The Iranian population thought differently about this, partly because of the Israeli oppression of Palestinians. The population turned against the Shah and an Iranian revolution broke out.
The revolution led to the proclamation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which had an anti-Western and anti-imperialist character. This led to resistance from Israel.
Israel calls on Iranians to evacuateThe Israeli army is calling on Iranians living near weapons factories to evacuate immediately. “All people who are currently present or expected to be present in or around military weapon production facilities and support institutions must leave these areas immediately and not return until further notice,” writes a spokesperson for the IDF on X.
The call follows an earlier announcement of a series of attacks on Iranian arms depots and infrastructure.
Iran is not seeking a wider conflictIran calls the attacks on Israel self-defense. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi states that the Israeli attack would not have happened if the country had not received support from the US. The minister accuses Israel of wanting to thwart talks about the nuclear program.
Araghchi emphasizes that Iran is not seeking a wider conflict, “unless they have no other choice.” Experts previously told NU.nl that Iran can do little now and there is chaos in the country. “A significant part of their army leadership has been eliminated and they have limited resources for a counter-attack.”
Israeli airspace remains closedIsraeli airspace remains closed for landings and takeoffs at Ben Gurion Airport. The aviation authority is working with airlines and the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety to bring stranded Israelis abroad back home.
“All crews and aircraft are ready for action as soon as this is possible,” reports the airport authority. “This may take a long time, depending on the security situation. A decision about the return of flights to Israel will only be made when we know it is safe.”
Israeli rescue workers have found several survivors under the rubble near Bat Yam. Seven people are still missing, writes The Times of Israel.
Countries want to talk to IranGermany, France and the United Kingdom want to talk to Iran about Tehran’s nuclear program. This is an attempt to de-escalate the situation, said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a visit to the region. He noted that Tehran had previously missed the opportunity to engage in constructive talks.
“I hope that is still possible. Germany, together with France and Great Britain, is ready for it.” Wadephul offers Iran “immediate negotiations” on the nuclear program. “I hope the offer will be accepted.”
According to the minister, the negotiations are an important condition for achieving peace in the conflict. “So that Iran no longer poses a danger to the region, the state of Israel or Europe.”
How does the Iron Dome work?The Iron Dome, consists of a radar system, a control center and ten ‘batteries’ containing three to four launchers. The radar system detects and tracks a missile after it has been fired.
This information is passed to computers in the control center. They calculate where the missile will land. If it is heading towards a densely populated area, such as Tel Aviv, a launcher fires an interceptor missile that detonates the missile in the air.
This photo shows how Israel’s air defense system, the so-called Iron Dome, deflects an Iranian missile over Tel Aviv.
Houthis cooperate with IranThe Houthis from Yemen have carried out an attack on Israel, writes Reuters. The group is cooperating with Iran and says it has “fired more ballistic missiles” at Jaffa, a city in central Israel, in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli army has confirmed the missile launches from, among others, Yemen. Virtually all missiles from Yemen could be intercepted by Israel.
Israeli emergency services have retrieved two bodies from under the rubble near Bat Yam. This brings the death toll from the Iranian attack to ten, writes The Times of Israel. About twenty people are still missing.
Israel carries out new series of attacksThe IDF has carried out a new series of attacks on the west of Iran. Arms depots and infrastructure are said to be the targets, the army writes on X. Nothing is yet known about casualties.
Fuel infrastructure in Iran not hitThe production, supply and distribution of fuel continue as normal, reports the Iranian news medium SSN. An Israeli attack had hit a fuel tank, which then exploded. But according to SSN, that tank had nothing to do with the oil refinery in Tehran.
Jordan reopens airspaceJordan reopened its airspace this morning. That country had temporarily closed its airspace due to the attacks. Jordan is located between Iran and Israel.
In Bat Yam, too, the sun has risen. The damage from the Iranian attack is therefore clearly visible. Several apartments have been completely blown away.
In Bat Yam, rescuers have found a number of survivors. Twenty people are still missing. Images show that multiple emergency services are present. The injured are placed on stretchers and taken to the hospital by ambulances.
“If we are attacked in any way by Iran, the full force and power of the American armed forces will come back on you at a level that has never been seen before,” Trump says about the attacks on ally Israel. Iran has not carried out any attacks on the US, but the warning is clear.
Earlier, the US seemed to only implicitly support the attacks on Iran, but with these statements Trump is more assertive: Israel is allowed to do its thing. The president emphasizes that his country is not involved in the conflict. He also states that he could “easily” create a deal between the countries. He did not go into details about a possible agreement.
In Tehran, an oil depot was hit in an Israeli attack. Huge smoke and fire clouds can be seen in photos. The consequences of the attack are not yet clear.
Emergency services in the Israeli Tamra are also looking for victims. There, a residential building was hit by an Iranian attack. Four women were killed.
‘Attack on Iran will last for weeks’The Israeli operation against Iran could last for weeks, writes CNN based on American and Israeli officials. The Trump administration has not yet responded to this, but a White House official said that the administration was aware of the Israeli plans and implicitly supported them.
Israel says it will make the duration of the operation dependent on the Iranian response. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on Friday night that the attacks will last for several days.
Iranian Ministry of Defense attackedIsrael attacked the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Defense this morning. A project for nuclear weapons was also attacked. The buildings are damaged, but nothing is yet known about casualties.
Nuclear summit scrappedThe nuclear summit between the US and Iran that was scheduled to take place today has been cancelled. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman last night. The talks were to take place in Oman, but they are pointless if “Iran is the victim of the Israeli, barbaric attacks”.
Air raid siren in several Israeli citiesThe air raid siren is going off in several Israeli cities. Residents are being called upon to go to the bomb shelter. The IDF warns of new incoming attacks from Iran.
This photo clearly shows the damage to a building in the Israeli city of Bat Yam. Cars have also been destroyed. Rescuers are still looking for survivors under the rubble.
Multiple deaths and hundreds injuredAt least eight people were killed in Israel last night in Iranian attacks. More than two hundred people were also injured.
According to Reuters, at least 35 people are still missing in Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv, after an air raid. Rescuers are looking for survivors, but that search is hampered because the building that was hit is very unstable.