Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Saturday that Beijing "explicitly condemns Israel" for its attacks against Iran and that it backs Tehran's military response to protect its national sovereignty.
The comments were made when the two foreign ministers had a phone call on Saturday.
"China explicitly condemns Israel for violating Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity," Wang said. "China firmly opposes the brutal attacks targeting Iranian officials that have caused civilian casualties, and supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, defending its legitimate rights and interests, and protecting the safety of its people."
"Israel’s actions severely violate the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as the basic norms of international relations," he continued. "In particular, its attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities sets a dangerous precedent and could lead to catastrophic consequences."
He added that China "supports the international community in upholding justice and speaking out promptly" and urges countries with influence over Israel "to make concrete efforts to restore peace."
"China is willing to maintain communication with Iran and other relevant parties and continue to play a constructive role in easing tensions," Wang said. "China hopes that Iran will ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel."
Fox News' continued coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict will continue here.
The Israeli Defense Forces issued an evacuation order Sunday morning for Iranian civilians residing near weapons production facilities in Iran.
"Urgent warning to all Iranian citizens: All persons who are currently or in the near future present in or around military weapons production factories and their support institutions should immediately leave these areas and not return until further notice," an IDF spokesperson said in a statement.
"Your presence next to this infrastructure puts your life at risk," the statement continued.
Israel's airspace continues to be closed amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a spokesperson for the Israel Airports Authority.
"In coordination with the defense establishment, Israel's airspace remains closed to both landings and takeoffs," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"A notice regarding its reopening will be given with a 6-hour advance warning, with an emphasis on the safety of passengers and crew," the statement continued.
{{#rendered}}Israel's Foreign Ministry said the "Iranian regime deliberately targeted Israeli civilians as they slept" after 10 Israeli victims were killed and roughly 200 were injured, as dozens remain missing.
"Tonight, once again, the Iranian regime deliberately targeted Israeli civilians as they slept," the ministry wrote on X.
"Iran targets innocents," it continued. "Israel targets nuclear and military sites - to stop the world’s most dangerous terror regime from acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons."
The ministry added that Israel "will do whatever it takes to defend our people" and that it is "doing what must be done."
Israel President Isaac Herzog on Sunday mourned the Israeli victims killed in Iranian missile strikes overnight.
"A very sad and difficult morning," Herzog wrote on X.
"Our sisters and brothers were murdered and injured last night by criminal Iranian attacks against the civilian population in Bat Yam, Tamra and other communities. Jews and Arabs, veteran citizens and new immigrants, including children and the elderly, women and men," he continued.
"I share in the heavy mourning of the families and grieve the terrible loss," he added. "I pray for the recovery of the injured and to find the missing. We will mourn together. We will overcome together."
At least eight people were killed and more than 200 were wounded in a series of strikes that hit parts of Israel, as dozens remain missing.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. had "nothing to do with" Israel's attack against Iran Sunday morning, warning that any attack against the U.S. will be met with the "full strength and might" of the U.S. military.
"The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," he continued. "However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!"
{{#rendered}}Iraq urged the U.S. on Saturday to "uphold its responsibilities" and prevent Israeli aircraft from breaching Iraqi airspace to carry out strikes against Iran, pointing to bilateral agreements and international law.
The Iraqi government "calls on the United States of America to uphold its responsibilities under the bilateral agreements signed between the two countries, as well as in accordance with international conventions and norms, to prevent aircraft belonging to the Zionist entity from once again breaching Iraqi airspace to carry out such attacks," Iraqi military spokesman Sabah al-Numan said in a statement.
The Middle Eastern nation also reiterated its "firm and unequivocal rejection" of any violation of Iraqi airspace or its use in military attacks carried out by Israel against Iran or any neighboring country.
"Such actions directly contradict Iraq’s constitutional and fundamental commitment to a policy of good-neighborliness and its duty to prevent the use of its land, waters, or skies as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring states with whom Iraq maintains strong relations at all levels," the statement said.
"The Iraqi government is closely following, in coordination with relevant international parties, all such illegal acts, which represent a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the principles of international law, and which have dangerous implications for peace and stability in the region," it continued.
The spokesperson added that Iraq "has exercised the highest levels of restraint, in the hope of giving a chance for diplomatic and political solutions to defuse the crisis through peaceful means."
"Iraq has the right, under international law and the United Nations Charter, to use all available means to respond to any violation of its sovereignty by any party," he said.
"Pursuant to the order of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Republic of Iraq has initiated formal measures, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iraq’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, against the Zionist entity’s violation of Iraqi sovereignty through airspace breaches," the statement concluded.
Israel’s precision strike on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure may open a rare strategic window for the Trump administration.
With experts telling Fox News Digital the U.S. has an opportunity to pressure Tehran toward a nuclear agreement — one that could not have been achieved through diplomacy alone. The Israeli military told Fox News Digital that the operation in Iran was carried out by Israeli forces but in coordination with the United States.
While U.S. troops did not participate in the attack, defense cooperation continued throughout the strike — and during Iran’s retaliation on Friday, when U.S. forces helped intercept Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv.
"This was an Israeli operation," an IDF official said, "but we were closely coordinated with the Americans. There was real-time intelligence and continuous contact."
Israeli analyst and journalist for Yediot Ahronot, Nadav Eyal, told Fox News Digital the operation reflects a deliberate "bad cop, good cop" strategy — with Israel applying military pressure, and the U.S. positioned to extract diplomatic gains.
"The president is basically saying this on the record: you've got hit by the Israelis. Now we've signed a good agreement, and we're ready to sign an agreement. . . ."
This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter.
Britain is deploying Royal Air Force jets and other military assets to the Middle East as the risk of broader conflict between Iran and Israel continues to rise, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the move, saying “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region."
The deployment includes fast jets and refueling aircraft from British bases, sent in response to growing threats by Iran.
Tehran has warned it may target U.S., French, and British military bases in the region if those nations assist Israel in intercepting Iranian missile attacks.
Starmer spoke while en route to Canada for the G7 summit, where world leaders are gathering in Alberta to discuss the conflict and other pressing global issues.
He said he had spoken with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and additional leaders about ways to reduce tensions.
“These are intense discussions,” Starmer said, noting that the summit would continue talks on how to prevent further escalation.
{{#rendered}}Three drones targeting a base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq were intercepted and shot down following Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, according to two American officials cited by The Associated Press.
The attempted drone attack occurred near the Ain al-Asad air base and did not result in any injuries or damage, officials confirmed. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Both U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Ain al-Asad base has hosted U.S. and coalition forces for years and has previously been the target of rocket and drone attacks, primarily by Iran-backed militias.
While groups have sometimes launched strikes on American assets in the region, they had remained mostly quiet amid the recent escalation between Israel and Iran.
Israel's ongoing military campaign on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could mark not just a military escalation but a strategic shift, according to retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin.
The former head of Israeli military intelligence and one of the architects behind the legendary 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor said Israel should expand its sights not just military targets, but political ones.
"Israel took the decision that, on one hand, it's time to end the leadership of the Axis of Evil — the head of the snake," Yadlin told Fox News Digital. "At the same time, deal with the main problems there. Which is the nuclear."
Yadlin didn’t say how long he thought the conflict would drag on.
While he didn’t openly call for regime change, Yadlin suggested the IDF take out regime targets "beyond the military level.""It’s not a one-day operation. It seems more like a week, two weeks. But when you start a war, even if you start it very successfully, you never know when it is finished."
"This campaign," Yadlin emphasized, "is unlike anything the country has done before."T
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released new footage showing a dramatic moment during overnight operations in which an Israeli Air Force (IAF) combat helicopter intercepted and destroyed a drone launched from Iran.
The video shows the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) locked in the helicopter crew’s targeting system receiving visual confirmation of the drone being successfully hit midair.
According to the IDF, the UAV was one of several launched by Iran as part of the ongoing wave of aerial attacks on Israel.
The incident occurred during the early hours of Sunday, as part of Israel’s broader defense operations in response to repeated missile and drone assaults.
The IAF has been using a range of aerial assets, including helicopters, fighter jets, and defense systems, to track and neutralize threats before they reach Israeli population centers or infrastructure.
{{#rendered}}Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “not off limits” from attacks by Israel as the two nations continue escalating.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, an official said Israel is not dismissing any options that would lead to the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program.
The official signaled Israel’s goal is not to just destroy the nuclear program but to take down the Iranian regime’s commanding body and military.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sent a sharp warning to Khamenei on Saturday local time.
"The Iranian dictator is turning Iran’s citizens into hostages and creating a reality in which they — especially the residents of Tehran — will pay a heavy price for the criminal attacks against Israeli civilians,” Katz said.
“If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israel’s home front – Tehran will burn," he added.
Israel has marked significant blows to Tehran's military leadership, eliminating a slew of key military figures and scientists while dismantling Iran’s physical nuclear infrastructure.
The official shared the underground Natanz facility, which contains centrifuges for enriching uranium, has most likely imploded.
Insight from the official says the war will result in either a voluntary dismantling of the nuclear program or further complications from Israel for the reconstitution of the program, WSJ reported.
Iran’s ongoing missile assault continues to devastate Israeli cities.
According to Israeli emergency services Magen David Adom (MDA), six people have been killed and 54 injured so far in Sunday’s latest attack.
Five of the fatalities occurred in Tamra, an Arab city near Haifa, and one in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv.
MDA teams report that several more remain trapped under rubble in Bat Yam, where heavy residential damage was seen following direct impacts.
The death toll has since risen to 10 and at least 180 are now confirmed injured.
This continues a relentless wave of ballistic missiles from Iran, six barrages in under three days, with urban populations bearing the brunt.
Earlier, an apartment building in southern Tel Aviv was demolished.
Rescue efforts are ongoing in Bat Yam and Tamra.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Iran to de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table, following a phone call with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
In a post Saturday on X, Macron said his “first message” to Pezeshkian was to demand the immediate release of two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who are in Iranian custody.
“My first message was to demand the immediate release of our compatriots, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held hostages by the Iranian regime in unacceptable conditions for over three years,” Macron wrote.
Macron also warned of growing regional instability and called for the safety of diplomatic personnel and citizens throughout the region.
“In light of the serious risk of destabilization across the region, I called for our diplomatic facilities and nationals in Iran and the wider region not to be targeted under any circumstances,” he said. “I also urged the utmost restraint to avoid escalation.”
Macron noted that Iran’s nuclear program remains “a serious concern” and insisted that diplomacy is the only way forward.
“I therefore invited President Pezeshkian to return swiftly to the negotiating table to reach an agreement — the only viable path to de-escalation.”
He concluded by offering France’s support to help broker a peaceful resolution: “We stand ready to contribute and to mobilize all our efforts to achieve that goal.”
{{#rendered}}The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday morning that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) completed a major round of airstrikes targeting infrastructure linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons program inside Tehran.
According to the official statement, the operation was intelligence-based and focused on high-value strategic sites used by the Iranian regime to advance and conceal its nuclear ambitions.
Among the facilities targeted were the Iranian Ministry of Defense headquarters, the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project, and additional locations where the regime stored elements of its nuclear archive.
The IDF stated: “A short while ago, the IAF completed an extensive series of intelligence-based strikes on a number of targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.”
The SPND has long been assessed by Israeli and Western intelligence services as a key player in Iran’s covert efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
The IDF also confirmed strikes on fuel tankers connected to Iran’s military infrastructure.
This latest action represents one of Israel’s most direct attacks on the heart of Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian authorities have not yet issued a formal response.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed early Sunday morning that a sixth wave of missiles has been launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, continuing a steady escalation in hostilities between the two nations.
In a statement issued just after the latest sirens sounded across parts of the country, the IDF said: “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel.”
Israel’s air defense systems are currently intercepting incoming threats, as residents were again forced into shelters.
Civilians were instructed to follow emergency protocols.
Explosions echoed across Tel Aviv as the latest missiles struck. According to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, there were "multiple direct hits in the last barrage," with "significant damage to an apartment building in central Israel."
Yingst reported that rescue crews are currently on the scene.
This marks the sixth consecutive barrage from Iran in just three days, following Israel’s precision airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets.
The IDF has warned that additional threats remain possible, urging the public to stay alert and comply with all Home Front Command instructions.
The U.S. Department of State issued a security alert telling U.S. citizens to “depart Iran immediately if they are there," adding that Americans “should not travel to Iran for any reason.”
For any Americans in Iran, the department said they should be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods, wrote the U.S. Virtual Embassy in Iran posted early Sunday morning local time.
“U.S. citizens in Iran face serious, increasing dangers due to rising regional tensions. The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the alert added.
The Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran serves as the protecting power for United States interests.
There is no physical United States presence in Iran.
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran were severed in 1980 after sixty-six Americans were taken hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran.
Iranian airspace remains closed while the Armenian and Turkish borders remain open.
Azerbaijan’s land borders remain closed, but with special authorization, U.S. citizens may be able to cross.
{{#rendered}}Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s former Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, according to Iranian state media reports.
Shamkhani served as one of Iran's top military officials for decades, beginning as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Ground Forces and was one of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s top senior advisors.
He was reportedly taken out in his home in Tehran by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike. His death marks another significant blow by the Israelis in dismantling Tehran's military leadership.
Lisa Daftari, Iran expert and foreign desk editor-in-chief, told Fox News Digital the elimination of Shamkhani "signifies a strategic escalation aimed at destabilizing Iran's regime at its core."
"This precise strike highlights a dual objective—not only targeting its nuclear ambitions but signaling an unequivocal threat to the power structure itself. Shamkhani's close ties to Khamenei amplify the gravity of the message, casting uncertainty and fear among the political elite," said Daftari.
Excerpt of article by Ashley J. DiMella.
An Israeli court has issued a gag order tied to an active national security investigation involving suspected Iranian-directed offenses.
The Magistrate’s Court in Rishon LeZion granted the order at the request of the Israel Police. The case, number 266105/2025, is being led by the National Unit for International Investigations (Yahbal) of Lahav 433.
The court order bans the publication of any details related to the case, including information that may identify the suspects. The only statement cleared for release reads
“On June 14, 2025, two Israeli citizens were arrested for a joint investigation by the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Police, on suspicion of committing security offenses under Iranian direction.”
The gag order applies to all forms of publication. That includes social media posts, online content, foreign media reports, hyperlinks, and even indirect references to the case.
The order is effective immediately and remains in place for 30 days, until July 13, 2025.
Police say the public should take this statement as official notice and ensure compliance with all publication restrictions. The rest of the case remains under strict legal seal.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared "Tehran is burning" in a post on X early Sunday morning, as Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit multiple energy sites in and around Iran’s capital.
His comment follows reports that Israeli forces struck the Shahran Oil Depot to the west of Tehran, as well as another smaller oil facility in the southern part of the city.
The targeted facilities are considered significant parts of Iran’s domestic fuel infrastructure.
Satellite images and video shared on social media show large plumes of smoke rising over Tehran, though the full extent of damage has not yet been independently assessed.
The strikes are part of Israel’s ongoing retaliatory campaign against Iran after Iran launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles toward Israeli cities earlier this weekend.
This marks a dramatic escalation in the conflict, with both sides warning of continued strikes and no indication yet of de-escalation.
The Israeli government has not issued a formal statement on the oil depot attacks as of this publication.
{{#rendered}}In his first interview since Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will sit down with Fox News "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier for an exclusive interview amid his country's military operation against Iran.
The live interview with Netanyahu will air Sunday during a special edition of "Special Report" at 12 p.m. ET.
Baier's interview with Netanyahu comes as Israel and Iran's long-running proxy conflict has exploded and ignited fears of broader regional violence. Israel is already grappling with the Gaza war against the terrorist group Hamas that has captured global attention since 2023.
According to the IDF, the operation has already killed nine senior scientists and experts working on Iran's nuclear weapons program. Netanyahu has described Operation Rising Lion as "one of the greatest military operations in history," aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile threat. Addressing the Iranian people, he said they had been oppressed for 50 years by the same Islamic regime that has long threatened to destroy the State of Israel.
An encore of the "Special Report" exclusive interview will run at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Excerpt of article by David Rutz.
Three people have been killed in the latest wave of Iranian missile attacks on Israel, according to emergency medical teams responding to multiple impact sites across the country.
Among the victims is a 20-year-old woman from Tamra, an Arab city near Haifa. Medics say she was critically wounded in the strike and later died from her injuries.
Magen David Adom (MDA) teams responded to a direct hit on a two-story home in the Western Galilee. In total, 14 people were injured in the blast. In addition to the young woman who succumbed to her wounds, one other person remains in serious condition, and others suffered varying degrees of injury.
The deadly barrage is part of an ongoing escalation that has seen Iran launch multiple waves of missiles at Israel following Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets.
An Israeli airstrike struck a target in Yemen late Saturday, in what is being reported as a direct attempt to eliminate a senior Houthi military leader.
The Times of Israel cited defense officials and on-the-ground reporting that the target of the strike was believed to be Houthi Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Omari.
Israeli military officials have not formally acknowledged the operation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has yet to release a statement regarding the strike.
According to the Times of Israel, the strike was understood to be a targeted assassination, which points to Israel’s increasing focus on neutralizing regional threats linked to Iranian proxy groups.
The Houthis, a Tehran-backed militant faction based in Yemen, have been vocal supporters of Iran amid the escalating conflict with Israel and are known to possess long-range missile capabilities. They have previously threatened to target Israeli interests in solidarity with Iran.
This reported strike follows several days of intense military activity in the region.
Fox News' Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}
Sirens rang out across parts of Israel late Saturday, as Iran launched a fifth barrage of missiles into the country, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Israeli defensive systems intercepted several incoming ballistic threats in northern Israel.
In a post on X, IDF Spokesperson LTC Nadav Shoshani confirmed: "While the IDF is operating to intercept missiles launched from Iran, the IAF is currently striking military targets in Tehran.”
This marks the fifth wave of Iranian missile fire since hostilities escalated on Friday, following Israel’s targeted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military assets.
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, reporting live from Tel Aviv, said, “Iran began firing more missiles into Israel moments ago.”
Fox News captured footage of more than 15 ballistic missiles streaking across the night sky, likely headed toward Haifa, a northern Israeli port city.
“The entirety of the country has gotten an alert to head into bomb shelters,” Yingst reported, noting some of the missiles were intercepted midair with audible booms heard as Israeli defense systems engaged.
“We do know some of them were intercepted,” he said, adding that initial reports confirm at least one impact in Haifa. “This is a significant attack.”
Yingst also reported that Israeli forces have eliminated 30 senior officials in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after tricking them into a meeting location that was subsequently struck.
“Israeli officials tell us the Americans are indeed helping to shoot down these incoming missiles,” Yingst added, pointing to the use of Patriot or THAAD systems.
A senior Israeli intelligence source told Fox News their objectives are clear: weaken Iran’s nuclear program, destroy its missile capabilities, and stop what they call an existential threat to Israel.
Israeli defense officials are urging continued caution as tensions remain high.
Following a birthday call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump said both leaders agreed the Israel‑Iran conflict “should end.”
“President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday.
“We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. … He feels, as do I, this war in Israel‑Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”
Trump included that the two had discussed Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges: “He is doing the planned prisoner swaps – large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides.”
Russian state media, citing Reuters, confirmed Putin condemned Israel’s strikes and called on Premier Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
The Kremlin statement said Putin “stressed the importance of a return to the process of talks and resolution of all issues concerning Iran’s nuclear programme strictly through political and diplomatic means.”
The Reuters report also noted that Russia condemned Israeli operations as “unprovoked military strikes” and urged both sides to “exercise restraint in order to prevent a further escalation of tensions and the descent of the region into full‑scale war.”
Moscow and Tehran have deepened cooperation in recent years, signing a 20‑year strategic partnership pact in January.
Reuters notes that Russia “would remain in close contact with both Iran and Israel,” and offered to help facilitate nuclear diplomacy, including removing highly enriched uranium from Iran to convert it to civilian reactor fuel.
A senior Israeli intelligence official tells Fox News that 30 Iranian military officers were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike that decimated Iran’s Air Force and Air Defense leadership.
The operation, described by Israeli sources as a “historic achievement,” was part of a broader response to Iran’s fourth wave of missile attacks on Israel.
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, reporting from Tel Aviv, said the Iranian barrage sent millions of Israelis into bomb shelters overnight.
Despite most missiles being intercepted, one struck a neighborhood near Tel Aviv, killing three civilians and injuring more than 70.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched fresh airstrikes on more than 150 targets inside Iran, including 40 air defense sites.
The IDF now claims aerial superiority over Tehran.
“We paved the way to Tehran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday. “Our pilots over the skies of Tehran will deal blows to the Ayatollah regime that they cannot even imagine.”
The Israeli intelligence official told Fox News the strike on Iran’s senior military leaders was made possible by a deception operation. Israeli forces reportedly manipulated movements on the ground to lure senior IRGC Air Force officials into a single location, which was then struck.
Yingst reports that Israel is preparing for continued conflict in the coming days, as Iran is believed to have around 2,000 ballistic missiles remaining.
“We have lots of surprises… more surprises coming up,” the Israeli official said.
{{#rendered}}
Israeli President Isaac Herzog publicly thanked President Donald Trump and the United States for their support, while warning that Iran’s nuclear ambitions represent a “clear and immediate threat” to Israel and global security.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, for his steadfast friendship and unwavering support for Israel,” Herzog said in a formal statement to the international community on Saturday.
“I also thank the countries and leaders who made clear their support of Israel's right to defend itself.”
The address comes as Israeli strikes continue against Iranian nuclear and military targets, and ahead of Monday’s G7 summit in Canada.
Herzog called on global leaders to stand firm.“I once again call on them to unequivocally stand with Israel in this critical moment,” he said.
“For decades, the Iranian Ayatollah regime has worked relentlessly on a calculated plan with one primary goal: to destroy the State of Israel,” Herzog added.
“Their ultimate objective is clear: to annihilate Israel.”He described Iran’s nuclear efforts as a threat not just to Israel but to “the very fabric of peace and security in the Middle East and the world.”
Herzog closed with a message of determination: “We will continue to face challenges head-on, knowing that once again, good will triumph over evil, and light will prevail over darkness.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Saturday that four critical buildings at Iran’s Esfahan nuclear site were damaged in Israeli airstrikes on June 13.
The agency identified the affected buildings as including the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) and the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant, both of which play central roles in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The IAEA stated on social media that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported, and that the agency remains in close contact with Iranian authorities.
“Based on info available to @IAEAorg, 4 critical buildings at Esfahan nuclear site were damaged in yesterday’s attack, including the Uranium Conversion Facility and the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant,” the agency said in a post on X.
A post from earlier Saturday morning reads: “Esfahan nuclear facilities were targeted several times on June 13. No increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of now."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Saturday that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) continues a sweeping campaign of airstrikes across Iran, with operations now entering their 40th hour.
In a briefing, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israeli jets are striking deep into Iran’s military infrastructure, including Tehran, which he described as “the head of the octopus.”
“Tehran is no longer immune,” Defrin said. “Thanks to precise airstrikes and years of intelligence gathered by the IDF Intelligence Directorate, we have broken through to the heart of Iran.”
According to Defrin, more than 150 objectives have been targeted, with IAF aircraft now holding “aerial superiority over western Iran and Tehran.”
Targets struck include missile sites, strategic military facilities, and high-ranking members of Iran’s terror leadership. One key site destroyed was an underground complex in Khorramabad, which contained launch shafts and dozens of missiles stored in tunnels.
“These could have been launched at Israel last night,” Defrin noted. “Our preliminary planning and intelligence enabled us to thwart parts of Iran’s planned attack.”
The IDF also confirmed airstrikes on two critical nuclear sites: the Natanz enrichment plant and the Isfahan conversion facility.
In addition, nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists have been “neutralized,” according to Defrin.
Despite the IDF’s success in degrading Iran’s capabilities, Iran managed to launch missiles at Israel overnight. Three Israeli civilians were killed.
“We have excellent and advanced aerial defense systems, but they are not airtight,” Defrin said. “Your composure and resilience as citizens are commendable.”
Protective measures remain in effect across Israel. Schools will be closed Sunday.
Meanwhile, IDF forces continue combat operations on multiple fronts: in Gaza, the north, Judea and Samaria, and along the Lebanon and Syria borders.
Defrin also addressed the families of 53 hostages still held in Gaza: “They remain our supreme mission in this war. We do not forget this for a moment.”
{{#rendered}}
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished President Donald Trump and the American Army happy birthday on Saturday.The prime minister praised Trump as "an extraordinary leader" and "an extraordinary friend" to himself and the State of Israel.
"Happy Birthday to you, President Donald J. Trump. You've been an extraordinary leader: decisive, courageous, clear vision, clear action. You have done great things for Israel," Netanyahu said in a video message. "And we appreciate what you're doing now, helping protect Israeli lives against the criminal regime in Iran."
Netanyahu then wished the American Army a happy birthday and said "We would not have a free world without you. Thank you on behalf of free peoples everywhere."
He then addressed America and Israel's common adversary: Iran."
Right now, the Iranian regime is bombing our civilian neighborhoods while we are targeting the terrorists. Now, this is not new. They've tried to assassinate President Trump twice. They bombed American Embassies. They killed 241 Marines in Beirut. They killed and injured thousands of Americans with their IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. They burn the American flag, they chant endlessly 'death to America.' Our enemy is your enemy," Netanyahu said.
In addition to listing Iran's acts against the U.S., Netanyahu explained what could have happened if Israel did not carry out its preemptive strike. According to the prime minister, Israel had information showing that Iran was planning on giving nuclear weapons to "their terrorist proxies."
"That's nuclear terrorism on steroids. That would threaten the entire world."
Britain is moving additional assets to the Middle East following airstrikes between Israel and Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Saturday.
"We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region," Starmer said, according to Reuters.
A spokesperson for Starmer told Reuters that crews began deployment preparations Friday morning.
Britain has already sent fighter jets in the Middle East to respond to threats in Iraq and Syria, the news agency reported, noting that the new assets will include refueling aircraft.
Since the start of Operation Rising Lion, Magen David Adom (MDA) — Israel's national ambulance service — says it has treated 204 victims, including three fatalities. Additionally, there were two victims in serious condition, seven in moderate condition, 159 who were mildly injured and 33 who were suffering from anxiety.
Following the launch of Operation Rising Lion and the declaration of a special state of emergency, MDA raised its alert level to the maximum. MDA has mobilized its "35,000 staff and volunteers were mobilized to provide fast and effective medical care wherever needed."
{{#rendered}}Iran on Friday said the U.S., as a "backer" of Israel, "shall be held fully accountable" for the series of strikes Jerusalem levied overnight against Tehran, its nuclear and military facilities, and top officials – deepening retaliatory concerns over U.S. bases near Iran.
The U.N. Mission to Iran sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council condemning the attacks that killed four military commanders, one Iranian official allegedly involved in the nuclear talks with the U.S., and two nuclear scientists, and said that Israel’s "conduct" in the region "poses a serious threat to international security."
But earlier this week, just days ahead of a planned meeting between Washington and Tehran in Oman to discuss nuclear negotiations, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh threatened to hit U.S. bases in the Middle East, should Israel once again directly strike the Persian nation.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Caitlin McFall.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for 50 minutes Saturday about the conflict between Israel and Iran and the war in Ukraine, the Associated Press is reporting, citing Putin aide Yuri Ushakov.
“The dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was naturally at the center of the exchange of opinions,” Ushakov told journalists following the conversation.
During the call, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia’s proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue, the AP reported.
Neither leader ruled out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, Ushakov also said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}The IDF announced on Saturday that the Israeli Air Force took out nine senior scientists and experts working on Iran's nuclear weapons program.
"All of the eliminated scientists and experts served as significant knowledge centers in the Iranian nuclear project and possessed decades of accumulated experience in the development of nuclear weapons," the IDF said in a statement.
According to the IDF, the nuclear scientists and experts killed in the strikes included:
Fereydoun Abbasi - expert in nuclear engineering
Mohammad Mahdi Tehranshi - physics expert
Akbar Motalebi Zadeh - expert in chemical engineering
Saeed Barji - materials engineering expert
Amir Hassan Fakhahi - physics expert
Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr - expert in reactor physics
Mansour Asgari - physics expert
Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani - expert in nuclear engineering
Ali Bakhouei Katirimi - expert in mechanics
"The individuals who were eliminated played a central part of the progress toward nuclear weapons. Their elimination represents a significant blow to the Iranian regime’s ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction," the IDF wrote.
Israel's airstrikes on Tehran, Iran, on Friday morning marked a dramatic escalation in the proxy war between the two regional rivals, reigniting one of the most consequential questions in international security: Just how close was Iran to building a nuclear weapon?
While Israeli experts have warned for years that Iran was enriching uranium at a level that put it "weeks away" from a nuclear weapon, in recent days, there has been a shift. According to Israeli intelligence sources, Iran was on the verge of assembling a crude nuclear device.
Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at the Institute of National Security Studies, told Fox News Digital the threat was urgent and specific: Tehran was pulling its materials together "in a secret place near Tehran to make a primitive warhead."
Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, said that since the Trump administration reinitiated nuclear negotiations, Israel had been collecting fresh intelligence that raised alarm bells.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that soon there would be Air Force pilots over Tehran. In his address to the people of Israel, he vowed that the country would "fight until victory" as they work to "foil a double threat from Iran," referring to nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
"We have paved a way to Tehran. Very soon you’ll see the Air Force pilots over the sky of Tehran. We will hit every target, site of the Ayatollah's regime. What they have felt so far is nothing in compared to what they will feel," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister also addressed the barrage of Iranian missiles that forced Israelis into bomb shelters and left three dead and nearly 70 wounded. He said that he was proud of his people and saddened by the loss of life.
Netanyahu also hinted at more to come, saying that Israel was "doing more things that I cannot elaborate on."
"We will do whatever needed to remove this double threat over Israel," Netanyahu said.
{{#rendered}}Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Saturday that his country will not hold talks with the U.S. tomorrow about its nuclear program, which were set to take place in Oman, a report said.
Araghchi told European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas that Iran will not engage in the conversations for now, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person briefed on a call between them.
"The Iran U.S. talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place. But diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace," Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi wrote on X.
The development comes after an Iranian official reportedly called the talks “meaningless” in the wake of Israel’s airstrikes.
"The other side [the U.S.] acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime [Israel] to target Iran's territory," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted by state media as saying, according to Reuters.
The IDF announced on Saturday that it had "established aerial superiority from western Iran to Tehran" just two days into Operation Rising Lion.
Overnight, Iran retaliated against Israel and launched several missile barrages that killed three and wounded as many as 70 people.
Former U.S. men's Olympics gold medalist and current transgender conservative influencer Caitlyn Jenner is trapped in Israel after the nation initiated a strike on Iran Thursday night.
Jenner traveled to the country to attend the Pride Month parade in Tel Aviv scheduled for Friday.
Jenner shared several social media posts declaring allegiance with Israel and showing sites of the country and subsequent chaos.
On Friday evening, Jenner posted about being in bomb shelters in Tel Aviv as Iran launches retaliatory missile strikes against the city.
"We are back in the shelters in Tel Aviv. This looks like it is the third wave of attack from Iran," Jenner wrote.
In a post on Instagram and X Friday morning, Jenner shared a photo from the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem with a caption that said, "Yesterday in Jerusalem. My heart is with Israel now and forever. Evil shall not prevail!" The post included Israeli and U.S. flag emoji.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Jackson Thompson.
{{#rendered}}Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Saturday that President Donald Trump is “dialed in” when it comes to monitoring the conflict between Israel and Iran, adding that “this is not an autopen moment.”
“We had that, where the world saw our gaze distracted, or not paying attention at all,” Hegseth continued, referencing Trump’s investigation into the Biden administration over allegations that top officials used autopen signatures to cover up the former president's cognitive decline.
Hegseth added that the U.S. is “robustly postured” to defend American assets in the Middle East from any future aggression from Iran. On Friday, Tehran launched retaliatory airstrikes against Tel Aviv and Israel, killing at least 3 people.
“The president has been leading the way on setting the tempo of how we look at the region and ultimately recognize a couple a days ago, Israel believed in its own self-defense, it needed to take action against nuclear capabilities and ballistic missiles and we saw the response from Iran,” Hegseth said. “The U.S. is postured to defend our people in the region. We have got significant assets in the region. We are robustly postured to ensure our people, our bases, our interests are safe and we are continuing to monitor.”
“We will keep Americans safe,” Hegseth also said. “You saw what Secretary [of State] Rubio said in his first statement, ultimately, it should be clear to Iran that they should not turn their gaze to the United States, that would be a bad idea.”
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said on Friday that prior to the strike on Iran, Jerusalem found that Tehran was planning a "surprise attack" that would have included a ground invasion.
"Israel uncovered clear evidence that the Iranian regime was planning a surprise attack in coordination with its proxies. They had planned to invade from all sides with thousands of terrorists and thousands of projectiles," Danon told reporters.
"As you know, October 7 was a deeply painful and traumatic day for all of us, but the danger we confronted last night was of a different magnitude: a surprise attack with a nuclear strike, which Iran was preparing for, would've been terminal. Israel could not and would not wait for that moment to arrive," he added.
{{#rendered}}The IDF has given more insight into the Iranian officials killed in Operation Rising Lion, which began with an unprecedented preemptive strike early Friday morning local time. So far, the IDF says it has managed to kill the head of Iran's Intelligence Directorate and the commander of the IRGC's Surface-To-Surface Missile Array.
Gholamreza Mehrabi, who served as the head of Iran's Intelligence Directorate, allegedly "played a key role" in operational planning, combat preparations and intelligence evaluations, according to the IDF. Israel also noted that Marhabi was considered to be "Iran's most senior intelligence officer."
Mohammad Bagheri, commander of the IRGC’s Surface-To-Surface Missile Array, was also killed. The IDF said that he oversaw most of Iran's long-range surface-to-surface missiles, which would have served as Iran's "primary offensive tools" against Israel. Furthermore, the IDF said that Bagheri was part of the decision-making process behind Iran's attacks on Israel in April and October 2024.
IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani accused Iran of trying to push a "fake victory narrative." However, he said that it was "not going very well" for Teheran.
Shoshani's post was in response to reports that Iran shot down Israeli fighter jets, a claim that Jerusalem denies.
On Saturday, the IDF released footage of the Israeli Air Force and Navy intercepting UAVs from Iran. The announcement comes after many Israelis spent the night running in and out of protected spaces due to Iranian missile barrages.
{{#rendered}}The Associated Press is reporting that Iran's state TV showed a fire following an Israeli strike on a former car manufacturing plant. Additionally, the Associated Press said that state-run IRNA news agency reported an Israeli strike in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel announced that it was carrying out more strikes on Iran following overnight missile barrages from Tehran.
A senior Israeli intelligence official exclusively told Fox News on Saturday that “We have more surprises coming up” for Iran following the initial wave of strikes during “Operation Rising Lion.”
The high-ranking source, speaking to Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst, said Israeli intelligence projected Iran would have an arsenal of 8,000 ballistic missiles over the next two years and that this was part of the reason a decision was made to launch the operation. Right now, Israel believes Iran has about 2,000 missiles.
“We cannot end this operation knowing that we will be in the same spot two years from now,” the official said. “Everything is going as planned. Actually, better than planned.”
The official added: “We have lots of surprises. Not just the ones we already did. We have more surprises coming up.”
Forty Iranian air defense systems were hit since the beginning of the operation, which is based on three goals -- targeting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and removing the Iranian existential threat against Israel.
During the initial strike against a meeting of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air force officials, Israeli intelligence assesses that 30 commanders were killed.
“It’s a historic achievement,” the official said.
Israel now expects more incoming Iranian missiles in the days ahead that will cause casualties and destruction.
The bulk of the conflict with Iran could largely be over in a matter of days.
“I think we can finish it in days… It’s a good thing that we have the U.S. by our side,” the official said.
The official also told Fox News that the U.S. is “fully coordinated” with Israel, yet declined to go into specifics.
“The way the U.S. is standing beside Israel is unprecedented,” he said. “We feel it.”
Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.
Israel’s strikes on Iran are as righteous as they are daring. As I write this, the Israeli Defense Forces are conducting precision operations that have already degraded Iran's nuclear infrastructure and eliminated key figures in their military hierarchy.
These attacks aren’t just justified – they’re absolutely necessary.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has indicated that Israel is prepared for sustained operations lasting days or weeks. With intelligence suggesting the Islamic Republic is close to acquiring nuclear capabilities, waiting to act is not an option. Israel understands that their very survival is at stake, and is acting accordingly.
Their fight is America’s – and the free world’s – fight. President Donald Trump is absolutely right to make it clear to the Iranians that America isn’t playing their game anymore. The United States, our Gulf allies, and all countries that seek a free, peaceful, and prosperous future must unite in opposition to the Iranian regime and in support of Israel’s objectives.
This is an excerpt from an article by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Click here to read more.
{{#rendered}}Yisrael Aloni, 73, was reportedly identified as one of the three people killed in Irans missile barrage attack against Israel, according to the Times of Israel. The outlet also noted that he was killed during a barrage on the city of Rishon Lezion.
Fox News' Alex Hogan reported early Saturday morning that three people were killed and as many as 70 were wounded in the Iranian attack.
The Israel Defense Forces released multiple new videos Saturday showing Iranian missile platforms and drones being destroyed by its forces.
“The Air Force continues to strike dozens of surface-to-surface missile platforms in Iran. This is how we accurately struck surface-to-surface missile platforms ready to launch,” IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.
In one video, missile platforms could be seen exploding into flames after being hit by Israeli airstrikes.
In another, a drone is seen flying through the air before it gets hit and starts spewing out dark smoke.
"We continue to hunt down threats and strike targets deep within the Iranian regime," Adraee said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sent a stark warning to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as tensions between their two nations continue to rise.
"The Iranian dictator is turning Iran’s citizens into hostages and creating a reality in which they — especially the residents of Tehran — will pay a heavy price for the criminal attacks against Israeli civilians. If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israel’s home front – Tehran will burn," Katz said following a situation assessment with IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and top IDF officials.
{{#rendered}}Iran has reportedly confirmed that its Fordow nuclear site was damaged, according to Reuters, which cited the semi-official ISNA news agency.
"There has been limited damage to some areas at the Fordow enrichment site," state atomic energy agency spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi said, according to Reuters. "We had already moved a significant part of the equipment and materials out, and there was no extensive damage and there are no contamination concerns."
It is unclear whether this was a direct result of an Israeli strike, as an IDF official said on Saturday that Israel did not hit Fordow.
Elon Musk seemed to indicate that Starlink was made available to the people of Iran after reports of the country limiting internet access following Israeli airstrikes.
During a Friday appearance on "Hannity," Mark Levin, the host of "Life, Liberty and Levin," called on Musk to "turn on Starlink" for the people of Iran. Levin then tweeted about the possibility of Musk turning on Starlink to which the Tesla founder replied, "the beams are on."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call last night with U.N. Secretary General António Guterres in which he told him that Israel’s airstrikes “constitute a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as an independent U.N. member state, and are a clear act of aggression.”
“The foreign minister reiterated Iran’s determination to defend itself in line with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and urged the Security Council and the secretary general to fulfill their responsibilities under the Charter by strongly condemning this aggression and taking immediate and concrete measures to hold the Israeli regime accountable,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The U.N. secretary general voiced regret over the Israeli aggression and condemned its attacks against Iran, particularly the strikes on nuclear facilities at a time when talks between Iran and the U.S. were ongoing. He underscored his commitment to using U.N. mechanisms to help de-escalate tensions and restore peace and stability in the region,” it added.
{{#rendered}}At least two people have been killed following four rounds of Iranian missile strikes into Israel.
An Israeli woman who was critically wounded by Iranian missiles died from her wounds she sustained in attacks late Friday in Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem Post reported, and another person was killed after a fourth wave of strikes decimated a residential area at dawn Saturday in central Israel.
In addition, several homes in Tel Aviv were reportedly damaged by Iranian ballistic missiles as first responders searched for survivors.
Iran launched missile strikes targeting various parts of Israel on Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Images posted online showed homes destroyed and others with partial damage.
Magen David Adom, Israel's national EMS, said it was treating and evacuating 21 people after a rocket strike into a residential area in the country's coastal plain.
Coverage for this event has ended.