Hello and welcome to this live blog. Here we will keep you informed of the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Israel calls on Iranians to evacuate The Israeli army is calling on Iranians living near weapons factories to evacuate immediately. “All people currently present or expected to be in or around military weapons production facilities and supporting institutions should leave these areas immediately and not return until further notice,” an IDF spokesman wrote on X.
The call follows an earlier announcement of a series of attacks on Iranian weapons depots and infrastructure.
Iran is not seeking a broader conflict Iran 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 on the nuclear program.
Araghchi emphasizes that Iran is not seeking a broader 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 counterattack.”
Israeli airspace remains closed Israeli 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 back from abroad.
“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 on 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 Iran Germany, France and the United Kingdom want to talk to Iran about Tehran’s nuclear program. This is an attempt to de-escalate the situation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said 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 launch installations. The radar system detects and tracks a rocket after it is fired.
This information is passed on to computers in the control center. They calculate where the rocket will land. If it is heading for a densely populated area, such as Tel Aviv, a launch installation fires a defense missile that detonates the rocket in the air.
This photo shows how Israel’s air defense system, the so-called Iron Dome, is deflecting an Iranian rocket over Tel Aviv.
Houthis cooperate with Iran The 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 rocket launches from, among other places, Yemen. Virtually all rockets from Yemen could be intercepted by Israel.
Israeli emergency services have recovered two bodies from the rubble near Bat Yam. This brings the death toll from the Iranian attack to ten, writes The Times of Israel. Approximately twenty people are still missing.
Israel carries out new series of attacks The IDF has carried out a new series of attacks on western Iran. Weapons 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 hit The production, supply and distribution of fuel are continuing as normal, reports 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 airspace Jordan reopened its airspace this morning. That country had temporarily closed its airspace due to the attacks. Jordan is located between Iran and Israel.
The sun has also risen in Bat Yam. The damage from the Iranian attack is therefore clearly visible. Several apartments have been completely blown away.
Rescuers have found a number of survivors in Bat Yam. Twenty people are still missing. Images show that multiple emergency services are present. The injured are placed on stretchers and taken to hospital by ambulances.
Trump responds to the attacks “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 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 can have its way. 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 clouds of smoke and fire can be seen in photos. The consequences of the attack are not yet clear.
Emergency services are also looking for victims in the Israeli Tamra. There, a residential building was hit by an Iranian attack. Four women were killed in the attack.
‘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 reacted to this, but a White House official said that the administration was aware of the Israeli plans and implicitly supported them.
Israel says the duration of the operation depends on the Iranian response. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on Friday night that the attacks will last for several days.
Iranian Ministry of Defense attacked This morning, Israel attacked the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Defense. A project for nuclear weapons was also attacked. The buildings have been damaged, but nothing is yet known about casualties.
Nuclear top consultation canceled The nuclear top consultation between the US and Iran that was to take place today has been canceled. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman late 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 alarm in several Israeli cities The air raid alarm is going off in several Israeli cities. Residents are 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 injured At 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. Rescue workers are looking for survivors, but the search is hampered because the building that was hit is very unstable.