Iranian strikes on Israel escalate, killing at least 24 and damaging US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv

Click here to follow the latest updates on the war between Israel and Iran.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, on urged prayer for U.S. troops and the innocent people in Israel and Iran amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

"Pray for our troops," Greene wrote Tuesday on X. "Pray for the innocent people in Israel and Iran."

"War has bad consequences," she continued.

The Republican firebrand added: "We voted for America First."

The day before, she said people are now "finding out who are real America First/MAGA and who were fake and just said it bc it was popular."

"Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA," she said, adding that "wishing for murder of innocent people is disgusting" and "we are sick and tired of foreign wars."

"Real America First/MAGA wants world peace for all people and doesn't want our military killed and forever injured physically and mentally ... We have spent TRILLIONS in the Middle East and we have dealt with the aftermath of death, blown apart bodies, never ending suicides, and disabling PTSD," she continued.

President Donald Trump arrived in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning after abruptly leaving the G7 summit in Canada to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Trump has reportedly requested that the National Security Council be prepared in the situation room.

"Because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.

Trump said Tuesday: "I have no desire to negotiate with Iran. I expect nothing less than their complete surrender."

Getty Images

Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said there will be some surprises amid the Jewish State's conflict with Iran that will make Israel's explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies used by members of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria last year look "simple."

"We've pulled off a number of surprises," Leiter said during a Tuesday appearance on the TV network Merit Street.

"When the dust settles, you're going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple," he continued.

Leiter was referring to near-simultaneous detonations of pagers used by members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group that killed at least 12 people, including two children, and wounded nearly 3,000 on Sept. 17 in Lebanon and Syria. The following day, at least 25 people were killed and more than 600 were wounded when walkie-talkies were detonated in the region.

Israel was subsequently found to be behind the attacks, in which small amounts of explosives hidden in the devices were detonated.

AP

The Israeli Defense Forces said it killed Iran's War-Time Chief of Staff, who was the government's top military commander, in a strike against Tehran.

Ali Shadmani, who was the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed on Tuesday when the Israeli Air Force struck a staffed command center in the heart of Tehran, the IDF said.

Shadmani served as War-Time Chief of Staff and Commander of the Emergency Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, according to the IDF. He also commanded Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian army.

"At the start of the operation, he was appointed to command the Iranian Armed Forces after his predecessor, Alaa Ali Rashid, was eliminated in the opening strike of Operation 'Rising Lion,'" the IDF said.

Under Shadmani's command, the Khatam al-Anbiya emergency command center was responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran's firepower plans, the IDF said.

The IDF added: "In his various roles, he directly influenced Iran’s operational plans targeting the State of Israel."

Before his predecessor's elimination, Shadmani served as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya and as head of the operations directorate in the General Staff forum of the Iranian Armed Forces.

"Shadmani's elimination adds to a series of eliminations of Iran’s most senior military leadership and degrades the chain of command of the Iranian armed forces," the IDF said.

Israeli air defenses seen in the skies over northern Israel during an Iranian missile attack. June 16, 2025. (Photos by Anthony Hershko/TPS-IL)

The IDF has announced they have identified missiles inbound from Iran.

They say that defensive systems are on track to intercept the threat, but once the public receives the notification they are to shelter in a protected space and not leave until directed.

Fox News' Trey Yingst tweeted shortly after the announcement that "loud explosions" could be heard over Tel Aviv.

IDF officials ask that the public continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.

(L-R) French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump attend a family photo during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 16, 2025. (Getty Images)

President Donald Trump early Tuesday blasted French President Emmanual Macron for saying that he had left the G7 Summit in Canada early to work out a “cease fire” between Iran and Israel, who have been trading missile strikes since Friday.

“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran,” Trump wrote in a Truth Post. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”

The French president had said earlier that Trump had supposedly made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

"There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions," Macron told reporters at the G7 in Canada, according to reporting from Reuters. "We have to see now whether the sides will follow."

Trump abruptly cut his G7 short earlier Monday, shortly after writing on Truth Social that “everyone should evacuate Tehran!”

AP

Group of Seven leaders released a statement on the conflict between Israel and Iran, saying Israel "has a right to defend itself" and Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon."

The show of support from the seven countries — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. — comes amid the new and escalating conflict in the Middle East sparked by Israel's offensive against Iran last week targeting Tehran's nuclear program.

"We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East," the statement said. "In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians."

"Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror," it continued. "We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon."

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, and U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

"We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza," the G7 leaders said. "We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability."

Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said Israel wants to eliminate Iran's nuclear program and is "not in the business of regime change."

Leiter posted a video message on X that was recorded outside the Situation Room in the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

"Today we continue to peel back the surface-to-surface missile systems that are spread throughout Iran. We've reached the point where between a third and a half have been demolished," he said. "We hit today the broadcast center in the middle of Tehran after we informed the people living in the vicinity to leave. Hundreds of thousands of Tehranis have escaped Tehran to be out of the line of danger. And we took out the broadcast system. This is very important because this serves the mullahs and their information campaign, the propaganda campaign throughout."

"Iran, to incite the public and to warn the public against any kind of demonstrations against the government," the ambassador continued. "A lot of questions have been asked today about regime change. In many of the interviews that I gave, that was the key question. We're not in the business of regime change. We're interested in neutralizing the threat to our existence through a nuclear weaponization program in Iran and a ballistic missile program."

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, and U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

"If the Iranian people rise up and change their regime, that's their choice," Leiter said. "And if we play a role in facilitating that eventuality, then history will judge us favorably, I believe. It's important also to emphasize that our economy remains strong and resilient despite the war, and the stock market in Israel once again, for the second day in a row, continued to rise."

"We are working very hard to assist those stranded both in Israel wanting to leave and those wanting to get back to Israel, to their families, to their positions in society and the army," he added. "And we're hoping to find solutions through our neighbors in the next couple of days. We continue to press on. We continue to press forward. And we thank you for your support and prayers."

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced he will introduce a bipartisan resolution to prohibit the U.S. government's involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, a proposal Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib, D-MI, said they were signing onto.

"This is not our war," Massie wrote on X. "But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution."

"I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement," he continued. "I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution."

Ocasio-Cortez replied: "Signing on."

"I look forward to supporting this War Powers Resolution," Tlaib responded to Massie. "The American people aren't falling for it again. We were lied to about 'weapons of mass destruction' in Iraq that killed millions + forever changed lives."

Tlaib added that it is unconstitutional for President Donald Trump to go to war without a vote in Congress.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, center, and U.S. President Donald Trump arrive for the family photograph during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Monday, June 16, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron said that President Donald Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

"There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions," Macron told reporters at the G7 in Canada, Reuters reported.

"We have to see now whether the sides will follow."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, from left, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, listen during a meeting with President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will leave the G7 Summit in Canada, Senior State Department official told Fox News.

President Donald Trump will also leave the event to head to Washington to speak with his advisors about the ongoing situation between Israel and Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center left, and President Donald Trump, center right, during a parade to honor the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces in the Middle East are postured defensively as Israel and Iran continue to trade missile strikes.

“What you're watching in real time is peace through strength and America first," Hegseth told "Jesse Watters Primetime." "Our job is to be strong. We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here.”

“We're prepared, and we've messaged consistently from the beginning that we're in the region to defend our people and our assets,” he added.

Hegseth noted that President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

“That position hasn't changed. They can give it up peacefully," he said. "That position has not changed. And as a result, right now, we've got assets in the region, and were going to defend them. And we're gonna be strong in the process.”

Damaged cars are seen at the site where an Iranian missile struck in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A new wave of missiles was detected heading toward Israel from Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

“A short time ago, alerts were activated in several areas of the country following the discovery of missiles launched from Iran into the territory of the State of Israel," the IDF said. "The public is asked to obey the Home Front Command's instructions. At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders is in the midst of holding anti-oligarchy rallies in the US. (Getty Images)

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday introduced a bill that would prohibit the use of federal funds or any use of military force in or against Iran without specific Congressional authorization.

The No War Against Iran Act also has multiple Democratic co-sponsors in an effort to prevent President Donald Trump from getting the United States involved in a military conflict.

The bill contains an exception for self-defense as enshrined in the War Powers Act.

“Netanyahu’s reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war. Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war of choice,” Sanders said of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people’s elected representatives in Congress, and it is imperative that we make clear that the President has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress.”

Sanders has criticized the Israeli leader over Israel's war against Hamas and for the death toll in Gaza.

“The Constitution is clear: Congress decides when our country goes to war, not the President or the Netanyahu government,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “The Trump administration must prioritize de-escalation to prevent this spiraling into a war that jeopardizes U.S. troops and destabilizes the Middle East.”

Sanders first introduced the bill in 2020. The U.S. is not striking Iran and remains in a defensive posture, a U.S. official told Fox News.

President Donald Trump will depart from the G7 Summit Monday night because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will leave Alberta, Canada after a dinner with heads of state.

“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”

Trump has requested that the National Security Council be prepared in the situation room for his return, Fox News has learned.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited air force pilots on Monday (Israel Government Press Office)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited air force pilots on Monday to commend them on Israel's offensive against Iran.

Netanyahu was at Tel Nof Air Force Base, along with together with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

“On behalf of the people of Israel and the State of Israel, you are doing amazing things,” Netanyahu said. “The Israeli Air Force controls the skies over Tehran. This changes the entire campaign.”

“We are on the way to achieving our two objectives: Eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat. When we control the skies over Tehran, we strike regime targets, as opposed to the criminal Iranian regime which targets our civilians and comes to kill women and children," he added. "We tell the people of Tehran to evacuate – and we act.”

Netanyahu said Israel was on its way to achieving victory against its regional foe thanks for the country's “heroic pilots.”

“I salute you,” he said. "All citizens of Israel salute you. I would like to tell you that many people around the world also salute you and are impressed by you."

Israel activated a new aerial defense system – dubbed "Barak Magen," meaning "lightning shield" – for the first time on Sunday night, saying it intercepted and destroyed multiple  Iranian drones.

The Israeli Navy intercepted eight Iranian drones using the "Barak Magen" and its long-range air defense (LRAD) interceptor, which were launched from an Israeli navy Sa’ar 6 missile ship, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

John Hannah, senior fellow at The Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) and the co-author of a report published earlier this month on Israel’s defense against two massive Iranian missile attacks in 2024, told Fox News Digital on Monday that the air defense system "significantly enhances" the air and missile defense architecture of Israel’s navy.

"The Barak Magen is simply another arrow in the expanding quiver of Israel’s highly sophisticated and increasingly diverse multi-tiered missile defense architecture – which was already, by leaps and bounds, the most advanced and experienced air defense system fielded by any country in the world," Hannah said.

The system can intercept a "wide range of threats," according to the IDF, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, high-trajectory threats and shore-to-sea missiles.

Hannah said the system not only provides force protection for the Israeli fleet but also gives long-distance protection to Israel’s expanding oil and gas infrastructure in the eastern Mediterranean, along with critical infrastructure and population centers located along Israel’s coastline.

This post is an excerpt from an article by Stephen Sorace.

President Donald Trump on Monday said that Iran should have signed a deal over its nuclear ambitions, which he said could have prevented the ongoing barrage of missile attacks with Israel, while urging everyone to evacuate the Iranian capital of Tehran.

“What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”

Iran and Israel have traded strikes with one another since last week. Iran has reportedly pressed Trump to help deescalate the attacks in an effort to stop Israel from launching more strikes. 

Smoke billows after an Iranian missile struck an oil refinery in Haifa, northern Israel, early Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israel said it detected missiles launched from Iran headed toward its borders.

“A short time ago, alerts were activated in several areas of the country following the discovery of missiles launched from Iran into the territory of the State of Israel," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

“The defense systems are working to intercept the threat. You must enter the protected areas upon receiving the alert, and remain there until further notice,” the IDF said.

Earlier, Iranian state media that Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) issued a warning to Israel that it would launch drone and missile attacks Monday night.

This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the weekend directed the deployment of additional capabilities to military personnel.

The additional resources were ordered for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Hegseth said.

“Protecting U.S. forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,” he said.

CENTCOM oversees military operations in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.

A black wall that blocks the Israeli pavilions has been erected at the Paris Air Show , Monday, June 16, 2025 in Le Bourget, north of Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Black partition walls were erected around Israeli companies displaying offensive weapons systems at a Paris international arms exhibition by order of French authorities.

“This discriminatory act singled out Israel while representatives of other countries were freely allowed to showcase their technological innovation,” said Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations of the Paris Air Show.

“Israel stands at the forefront of global technology, and it is clear that some nations feel threatened by our exceptional capabilities. This is especially absurd considering that Israel’s actions are aimed at protecting the free world — including France and Europe — from Iranian terror,” he wrote on X.

The companies present at the event — Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aeronautics — make drones and guided bombs and missiles.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou defended the decision during a Monday press conference.

“The French government’s position was very simple: no offensive weapons at the arms exposition,” he said, the Times of Israel reported. “Defensive weapons were perfectly acceptable.”

An image of the of Nantanz facility. (Maxar)

Roughly all of the 15,000 centrifuges at Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz were badly damaged or destroyed because of a power cut caused by an Israeli strike, a United Nations nuclear watchdog said.

“Our assessment is that with this sudden loss of external power, in great probability the centrifuges have been severely damaged if not destroyed altogether,” Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview with the BBC.

“I think there has been damage inside,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, Grossi told the IAEA board that there was a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within the Natanz facility, the Times of Israel reported.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., reacts to reporters after Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference in Los Angeles and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about immigration raids that have led to protests in California and elsewhere, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday said he will postpone a trip to Israel because of ongoing hostilities between the Jewish state and Iran.

Johnson was expected to address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Saturday.

 “Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset," Johnson said in a news release. "We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East.” 

U.S. President Donald Trump, front right, listens to a question being shouted out by a reporter while seated next to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, back left, during working session at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Monday, June 16, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

President Donald Trump is expected to present Iran with a “last chance” offer, American and European officials told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

Trump said that Tehran reached out to his administration in an attempt to stop the barrage of Israeli strikes that have decimated Iran's nuclear facilities and military sites.

“It looks like Iran isn’t winning this war. They need to talk before it’s too late,” Trump said in Canada, where he is attending the G7 Summit.

One official told the newspaper that Trump's new offer may be slightly better than the previous proposal the administration submitted to the Iranians earlier this month.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, welcomes President Donald Trump to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Monday, June 16, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

President Donald Trump will not sign a G7 joint statement that was expected to call for Israel and Iran to de-escalate the fighting between the two nations.

“Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world," a White House official told Fox News. "President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Trump has called for Israel and Iran to strike a deal to end the hostilities.

Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a “very, very long time," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Speaking at a news conference, the Israeli leader said his goal wasn't regime change in Tehran, but that he wouldn't be surprised if the government was topple as a result of the ongoing conflict.

“The regime is very weak,” Netanyahu said.

He added that he has been in touch with President Donald Trump.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister following their talks in Moscow on April 18, 2025. (Getty Images)

Iran's foreign minister on Monday said it would take one call from President Donald Trump to muzzle Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a lengthy social media post, Seyed Abbas Araghchi called Netanyahu a “war criminal” who has “duped” several American presidents into fighting his own wars for three decades. He called on Trump to help de-escalate the growing conflict between both nations.

“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential," Araghchi wrote on X. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”

“It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu,” he added. "That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.”

Araghchi stressed that Iran “did NOT begin this war and has no interest in perpetuating bloodshed.”

However, Iran has trained and funded proxy terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels, all of which have attacked Israel for decades.

Mourners carry the flag-draped coffins of five men, whose names were not immediately available, reportedly killed in Israeli strikes, during their funeral in the city of Khorramabad, Iran, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Aziz Babanezhad/Tasnim News Agency)

Iran is reportedly signaling that it wants an end to hostilities with Israel and a resumption of talks over its nuclear programs, according to media reports.

Tehran has been sending messages to Israel and the U.S. via Arab intermediaries, Middle Eastern and European officials told the Wall Street Journal.

Iran has said it would be open to returning to the negotiating table as long as the U.S. doesn’t join the attack, the officials said.

However, Israel has little incentive to come back to the table as it has ultimate air superiority over Iran. Israeli airstrikes have damaged Iranian nuclear and military sites in recent days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacks will continue until Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles are destroyed, and he has shown no indication he is ready to stop. He has also said regime change isn’t a goal but could be a result given the Iranian leadership’s weakness.

The building that houses Iran's state-run television in Tehran was hit by an Israeli airstrike during a live broadcast on Monday. 

An Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after "the sound of aggression against the homeland." An explosion then occurred, and the broadcast quickly turned chaotic and switched to prerecorded programs.

The strike came as the Israeli military claimed to have obtained "aerial superiority" over Tehran on Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, saying it "conducted a precise strike based on intelligence provided by the Intelligence Directorate, targeting a communication center that was being used for military purposes by the Iranian Armed Forces."

The building "was used by the Iranian Armed Forces under the guise of civilian activity, covering up the military use of the center's infrastructure and assets," according to the IDF.

The strike directly harmed the military capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces, the IDF added. 

This post is an excerpt from an article by Brian Flood.

Smoke billows after an Iranian missile struck an oil refinery in Haifa, northern Israel, early Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Iran has vowed to unleash the "largest and most intense" missile attack in Israel's history on Monday, according to media reports.

Iran's state media announced that Israel should prepare themselves for the most devastating set of airstrikes to date, The Sun reported.

The announcement came amid days of back-and-forth strikes between both countries. Israel has hammered Iran's nuclear facilities and military infrastructure.

On Monday, Israeli jets destroyed a pair of Iranian F-14 jets at Tehran's airport, the Israel Defense Forces said.

An Iranian fighter jet is seen in Tehran, Iran, on Monday, June 16 prior to being destroyed by Israel. (IDF)

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that one of its planes destroyed a pair of Iranian F-14 fighter jets at an airport in Tehran. 

“These jets were intended, among other things, to intercept IAF aircraft. Additionally, the IAF struck and thwarted an attempt to launch UAVs toward the State of Israel,” the IDF said in a statement. 

“In recent days, IAF aircraft tracked a launch cell, identified them deploying UAV launchers and weapons on the ground. In the strike, the launch cell was eliminated, and the launchers were neutralized minutes before they could launch toward Israeli territory,” the IDF also said. 

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that Israel's "Home Front Command has now instructed residents across the country to remain close to protected spaces.

"Movement in public areas should be minimized, and public gatherings must be avoided," the IDF said.

The message comes after the IDF said it has identified new "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel."

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said Monday at the United Nations that the “international community must find its backbone” and “it must sanction Iran now.”  

“Soon, the General Assembly will resume the debate on the topic of sanctions. I come with a clear message -- sanction Iran, isolate its regime, cut off its lifelines. The international community must find its backbone, it must sanction Iran now. The longer the wait, the greater the calamity,” Danon said. 

“In the past 48 hours, Iran has launched over 1,000 missiles and drones directly at Israeli civilians. They targeted every major population center in the north, center and south of Israel. Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jersualem, Bat Yam,” Danon told reporters. 

“Iran’s goal is to kill as many civilians as possible. They are hiding it, they are boasting about it,” Danon said. “Iran aims its missiles at children while we target the regime’s terror machine.” 

Rescue workers, police and military inspect the site where an Iranian missile struck in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP/Leo Correa)

The State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel to Level 4: Do Not Travel. 

“On June 14, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of family members and non-emergency U.S. government employees due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region,” the U.S. Embassy in Israel said in a statement.  

“In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank,” the statement added. 

The State Department says not to travel to Israel “Israel due to armed conflict, terrorism, and civil unrest.” 

President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested Monday that one phone call from President Donald Trump could “pave the way for a return to diplomacy” in the Middle East. 

“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue,” he wrote in a post on X. “It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.” 

“Conversely, getting the U.S. mired in the Mother of Forever Wars will destroy any prospect for a negotiated solution, with dangerous, unpredictable and likely UNFATHOMABLE consequences for regional security and the global economy,” Araghchi also said. 

“Let us not forget: Iran did NOT begin this war and has no interest in perpetuating bloodshed. But we will proudly fight to the last drop of blood to protect our land, our people, our dignity and our achievements,” Araghchi added. 

Israel's air defense targets Iranian missiles in the sky of Tel Aviv in Israel, on June 16, 2025. (Matan Golan/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it has identified "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. 

"Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice," the IDF said.

"Sirens sounding across northern Israel following another barrage of Iranian missiles," it added on X.

A Senate Democrat wants to ensure that Congress can weigh in before the U.S. leaps into "another endless conflict" in the Middle East, a sentiment shared by President Donald Trump.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Monday introduced a resolution that would require Congress to debate and vote before any U.S. force is used against Iran. Kaine said in a statement that it was "not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States."

"I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict," he said. "The American people have no interest in sending service members to fight another forever war in the Middle East."

"This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress," Kaine continued.

Kaine’s sentiment is similar to that of Trump, his former opponent in the 2016 election, when the lawmaker ran alongside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Trump has painted himself as the consummate anti-war president, vowing during his first term and on the campaign trail during the 2024 election cycle to cease endless wars like those started at the beginning of this century in Afghanistan and Iraq.

However, he noted on Sunday in an interview with ABC News that "it’s possible" the U.S. will get involved amid reports that Israel made a plea for America to join the fray.

Some of the most influential evangelical leaders in the U.S. told Fox News Digital that they believe President Donald Trump’s support for Israel is unwavering as the Jewish state finds itself at war with Iran.

Speaking before and after the start of Israel’s military campaign against the regime, the leaders highlighted the millennialong connection of the Jewish people to their historical homeland, while also emphasizing the shared values rooted in biblical teachings.

The evangelical community helped deliver the White House to President Donald Trump and, therefore, believes his administration should support Israel’s biblical rights to its historical heartland of Judea and Samaria, Dr. Mike Evans, founder of Friends of Zion, told Fox News Digital.

"We hold strongly to that stand. President Trump won because of the Evangelical vote. There are 52 million of us in America, and we are Bible believers," he continued. "Jesus said, ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,'" he said. His organization claims nearly 30 million members.

Evans praised the president's stance on Iran, saying, "The Trump strategy is brilliant because he’s giving Iran a way out, but he’s not taking it off the table that the U.S. will bomb Iran. Quite the contrary, he’s made it very clear that if Iran does anything to attack U.S. bases in the Middle East or Americans, they will have hell to pay."

Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, which numbers 10 million members, told Fox News Digital that Israel has long been a central concern for American evangelicals, a priority that has only intensified since the 9/11 attacks and more recently in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre. For evangelical Christians, he said, support for Israel is rooted in religious conviction rather than political ideology. They view appeasement of Iran or engagement with terrorists not just as flawed policy, but as morally wrong and fundamentally evil.

President Donald Trump speaks as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney looks on as they meet during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Brendan Smialowki/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran would “like to talk” about dialing down the Israel-Iran conflict.

Trump, speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, made the comment in response to a reporter asking if he has seen or heard “any signals or seen any messages from intermediaries that Iran wishes to de-escalate the conflict.”

“They'd like to talk, but they should have done that before,” Trump said. “But I'd say Iran is not winning this war. And they should talk and they should talk immediately before it's too late.”

"We've always supported Israel. We have, for a long period of time, strongly. And Israel is doing very well right now," Trump also said.

When asked what it would take for the U.S. to get involved in the conflict militarily, Trump said "I don't want to talk about that."

The U.S. Air Force is moving "a large number" of refueling tanker aircraft to Europe in order to be closer to the Middle East, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Monday.  

This will provide more options for President Donald Trump and CENTCOM Commander, General Erik Kurilla, the U.S. official said.   

The development comes as Israel is launching fresh airstrikes on Tehran, Iran. 

The USS Nimitz carrier strike group is also on its way to the Middle East from the South China Sea, a U.S. official told Fox News earlier today.

The Nimitz was previously scheduled to replace the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group which has been deployed for several months, but is now heading to the Middle East ahead of schedule. The two strike groups will now be in the Middle East at the same time.    

Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report.

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that "Military targets are currently being struck in Tehran.

"More details as the situation progresses," the IDF wrote on a post on X.

The message comes after the IDF warned Iranians to evacuate an area of Tehran Monday ahead of planned airstrikes targeting the “Iranian regime’s military infrastructure.”

“Dear citizens, for your safety, we ask that you immediately leave the aforementioned area in District 3 of Tehran,” the IDF earlier posted on X. “In the coming hours, the Israeli army will take action in this area to attack the Iranian regime's military infrastructure, just as it has done in recent days around Tehran.”

“Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,” it added.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Fox News’ ‘America’s Newsroom’ Monday that “All I say is to the world, if you want to deescalate, get the G------ nukes out of Tehran’s hands.” 

“And bring a new change, bring a new direction. Bring a different direction for the day after. We should think about the day after and I am confident and I trust the administration, the U.S. administration for moving forward with plans. But for that we all have to show unanimity in our cause and objective to make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons,” Herzog said. 

The Israeli president told Fox News that Operation Rising Lion “prevents Iran from being on the doorstep of Europe with a huge nuclear program.” 

“This is a war which where we are trying to eradicate a threat, they are trying to kill civilians,” he said. 

“We are trying with all our might and capabilities... to make sure that they don’t get there, but rather than we delay, postpone and undermine their capability to get to the bomb,” Herzog said about the Iranians. 

“Israel is the closest ally of the United States of America, and America is the closest ally of the State of Israel. And we share joint national security interests on many fields, but the American administration will take its decisions and Israel will take its decisions,” Herzog added. 

U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornets and crew are seen on the flight deck of the USS aircraft carrier Nimitz (CVN-68) during an South Korea and U.S. combined maritime exercise on March 27, 2023, off the coast of South Korea. (Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool/Getty Images)

The USS Nimitz carrier strike group is on its way to the Middle East from the South China Sea, a U.S. official told Fox News. 

The Nimitz was previously scheduled to replace the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group which has been deployed for several months, but is now heading to the Middle East ahead of schedule. The two strike groups will now be in the Middle East at the same time.   

The USS Nimitz is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, commissioned on May 3, 1975. Scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026, this is possibly its final sea voyage.  

This is a very significant symbolic deployment because it was deployed in 1980 and its helicopters that were part of the failed U.S. effort known as Operation Eagle Claw to rescue the American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The U.S. has been in a shadow war against Iran ever since. 

The Israel Defense Forces warned Iranians to evacuate an area of Tehran Monday ahead of planned airstrikes targeting the “Iranian regime’s military infrastructure.”

“Dear citizens, for your safety, we ask that you immediately leave the aforementioned area in District 3 of Tehran,” the IDF posted on X. “In the coming hours, the Israeli army will take action in this area to attack the Iranian regime's military infrastructure, just as it has done in recent days around Tehran.”

“Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,” it added.

The warning echoes similar messages Israel has posted ahead of military activity targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

The Israel Defense Forces released footage Monday showing airstrikes destroying trucks that purportedly were smuggling missiles to Tehran. 

The IDF said the Israeli Air Force “identified several trucks containing weapons, including trucks transporting surface-to-air missile launchers, advancing from western Iran toward Tehran, while attempting to escape IDF strikes.” 

“The IAF struck the trucks, neutralizing the weapons and launchers,” it added. 

The IDF announced earlier Monday that one-third of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed since the beginning of “Operation Rising Lion.”  

“Since the beginning of the operation, more than 120 missile launchers -- constituting one-third of the Iranian regime’s total launchers -- have been destroyed,” the IDF said in a statement.   

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Defense Minister Israel Katz speak on Monday, June 16, at the Tel Nof air base in Israel. (GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that "The Israeli Air Force controls the skies over Tehran.” 

Netanyahu made the remark while visiting the Tel Nof air base in central Israel, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.Eyal Zamir.  

“On behalf of the people and State of Israel, you are doing incredible things. The Israeli Air Force controls the skies over Tehran. This changes the entire campaign,” the prime minister said. 

“We are on the path to achieving our two objectives: eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat. When we control the skies over Tehran, we strike those targets --  regime targets --  unlike the criminal Iranian regime that targets our civilians and seeks to kill children and women. We say to the citizens of Tehran: ‘Evacuate,’ — and we act,” Netanyahu added. 

“We are on the path to victory, and this is made possible thanks to our heroic pilots and our wonderful ground crews, who are also doing an amazing job. I salute you, all the citizens of Israel salute you, and I want to tell you: many around the world salute and admire you,” Netanyahu also told troops stationed at the base. 

Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, second from left, and the deputy chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, far right, pose for a photo at the Natanz nuclear site in Isfahan, Iran, on Nov. 15, 2024. (Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran/WANA/Reuters)

There is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz following Israeli strikes, the leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Monday. 

Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking to an urgent session of the U.N. nuclear watchdog board in Vienna, said the radiation poses a significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested. 

“The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event,” he said. 

Grossi said that the main concern inside the Natanz facility is the chemical toxicity of a gas called uranium hexafluoride, which is the result of fluorine mixed with uranium during enrichment. It is extremely volatile, will quickly corrode, can burn the skin and is especially deadly if inhaled, experts told the Associated Press. 

“Amid these challenging and complex circumstances, it is crucial that the IAEA receives timely and regular technical information about the facilities and their respective sites,” Grossi added. 

Grossi also said U.N. inspectors will remain present in Iran and inspect the nuclear facilities “as soon as safety conditions allow.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

As the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, many say that the airstrikes present a potential opportunity for significant political transformation. 

Iranian Americans and Israeli government officials have been increasingly vocal in their calls for regime change, advocating for a shift toward a more democratic and transparent governance structure.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince HRH Reza Pahlavi told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that it is only a "matter of time" before the Iranian regime is toppled and Iranians "have a tremendous opportunity."

"To rise and get rid of this regime, because we always believe that the ultimate solution to the problem is for this regime to no longer be there," Pahlavi said speaking on "Sunday Morning Futures."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday an Iranian regime change "could certainly be the result" of the escalating conflict, calling on citizens to seize "opportunity."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Monday, “I think the Iranian people are fed up and they want change,” after touring the site of a deadly missile strike in Petah Tikva.

Four civilians were killed in the attack in the central Israeli city.

"What I've seen upstairs in the destroyed apartment is evil, pure evil in and of itself. And it's evil aimed at innocent civilians all over Israel. But I have news … for the Iranian regime. You think you're going to tire us or fatigue us, you're absolutely wrong,” Herzog told reporters. “We're a very strong, resilient nation with very strong capabilities in all fields. I think you're feeling it out there in Iran, and I think the Iranian people are fed up, and they want change. And so, of course, do the entire region, we deserve change."

"Iran has been for decades, been spreading havoc and terror, radicalizing nations, creating an unstable atmosphere in so many places, having terror cells all over the world and placing its proxies, armed to the neck, in order to annihilate Israel - of course, rush to the nuclear bomb,” Herzog added.

"Well, we don't intend to be the scapegoats again, and we are fighting as much as possible. I call upon the leaders of the free world convening in Canada, in the G7 Summit,” he added. “They all should stand up with us, and make clear two things: Iran must not have any capability of nuclear weapons, and secondly, bring back our hostages as soon as possible, till the last one of them, immediately."

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit. (AP)

Group of Seven leaders are meeting in Canada, with issues such as the Israel-Iran conflict and U.S. tariffs high on the agenda, while nations hope to avoid clashes with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to annex the host nation.

Israel and Iran launched new attacks on each other overnight into Monday, raising the death toll in the conflict that began with an Israeli offensive on Friday.

A G7 official said the leaders plan to issue a joint statement calling for de-escalation in the conflict.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters his goals for the summit include for Iran to not obtain nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel's right to defend itself, avoiding escalation of the conflict and creating room for diplomacy.

"This issue will be very high on the agenda of the G7 summit," Merz said. 

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pakistan shut down all its border crossings with Iran for an indefinite period as Israel and Tehran are trading airstrikes, a report said.

"Border facilities in all five districts -- Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar -- have been suspended," Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, an official in the Balochistan province, was quoted as telling the AFP. 

Travel across the skies of the Middle East also has been disrupted since Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran last Friday. 

As of Monday, a message on the website of Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, reads “Due to the current special security situation, all flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport are canceled until further notice.” 

The Israel Defense Forces announced Monday that one-third of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed since the beginning of “Operation Rising Lion.” 

“Since the beginning of the operation, more than 120 missile launchers -- constituting one-third of the Iranian regime’s total launchers -- have been destroyed,” the IDF said in a statement.  

It also said the Israeli Air Force “destroyed more than 20 surface-to-surface missiles last night before they were launched toward the State of Israel” and  “completed several waves of strikes overnight, targeting approximately 100 military targets in Isfahan, central Iran. 

“As part of the strikes, approximately 50 fighter jets and aircraft identified and struck missile storage sites, surface-to-surface missile launchers that were ready for launch toward the State of Israel, and command centers where launch squads were preparing to carry out launches toward the territory of the State of Israel,” according to the IDF. 

Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report. 

Mohammad Hassan Mohaqiq, one of the four senior Iranian intelligence officials killed in the Israeli airstrikes, according to the Israel Defense Forces. (IDF)

The Israeli Air Force killed four senior Iranian intelligence officials who “played a central role in shaping Iran’s strategic assessments and planning terrorist attacks against Israel, the West, and countries in the Middle East,” the IDF announced Monday. 

“Yesterday, IAF fighter jets, following precise IDF intelligence, struck a structure in Tehran where several senior officials from Iranian intelligence organizations were located,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. “In the strike, the Head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization and his deputy, as well as the Head of the Quds Force Intelligence Department and his deputy, were all eliminated.” 

The IDF said Mohammad Kazemi, the head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, held the position since 2022 and “was responsible for counterintelligence, espionage, and targeting opponents of the Iranian regime within Iran.” 

“In his role, Kazemi oversaw intelligence gathering for terrorist activities and the monitoring of Iranian citizens to suppress dissent and preserve the Iranian regime. His deputy, Mohammad Hassan Mohaqiq, previously chaired the Strategic Intelligence Department and played a key role in the regime’s terrorist operations against Israel, the West, and countries in the Middle East,” the IDF continued. 

“The heads of the Quds Force Intelligence Directorate, Mohsen Bakri and his deputy Abu al-Fadl Nikouei, were primarily responsible for operational and intelligence support to members of the Iran’s Axis of Terror, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and militias in Iraq,” the IDF also said. “Bakri and Nikouei played a significant role in Iran’s efforts to reestablish its presence in Syria and supported Hezbollah’s military buildup in Lebanon.” 

Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report. 

The Israeli Defense Forces said Monday it struck the headquarters belonging to Quds Force, a wing of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"Air Force fighter jets attacked the headquarters of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army, under precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Department," the IDF wrote on X.

"In these headquarters, Quds operatives planned terrorist acts against Israel through the Iranian regime's branches in the Middle East," it added.

Eight people have been killed and more than 100 others were evacuated from multiple sites and transported to hospitals after an Iranian ballistic missile attack across central Israel, according to the Israeli Magen David Adom emergency service.

"MDA teams have confirmed the death of 3 victims, including 2 women and a man in their 70s, and have so far evacuated 74 injured people to hospitals, including a 30-year-old woman in serious condition with facial injuries, 5 moderately injured and 68 in light condition," the emergency service wrote earlier on X.

"Rescue activities and the search for additional victims are continuing at 2 of the 4 sites," it added.

The casualty total was later updated to eight dead and more than 100 wounded.

Iran's Ministry of Health said at least 224 people have been killed and nearly 1,300 people have been hospitalized in Iran since Israel began its offensive on Friday, and the vast majority of casualties were civilians.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel will remain closed on Monday, with a shelter-in-place order still in effect, after the Embassy branch in Tel Aviv suffered minor damage from a missile blast overnight, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

"Our @usembassyjlm US Embassy in Israel & Consulate will officially remain closed today as shelter in place still in effect," Huckabee said on X. "Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in @TelAviv but no injuries to US personnel."