Mazzaltov World News provides you with the latest live coverage of Current Affairs, Sports, Health, Weather, Entertainment, Business and Travel News from around the world.
Here’s where things stand on Tuesday 17 June 2025:
- Explosions rock Iran and missiles hit Israel as attacks continue for a fifth-straight day with a Mossad office targeted in Tel Aviv and an alleged high-level assassination in Tehran.
- US President Donald Trump says “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran” after his vice president, JD Vance, says Trump may take “further action to end Iranian enrichment”.
- The Israeli military claims killing Iran’s wartime chief of staff after Iranian media say preparations under way for what they call the largest and most intense missile attack on Israeli soil.
- The death toll from Israel’s attacks on Iran has risen to more than 220, including 70 women and children. More than 20 people have been killed in Iranian attacks on Israel.
- Meanwhile in the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers have killed dozens of more Palestinian aid seekers, according to officials.
- Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 55,432 people and wounded 128,923, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks and more than 200 taken captive.
US suggests it will respond to attacks on Israeli civilians
Echoing an earlier statement by Trump, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said: “The president has made it clear that if Americans are hurt, or, in this case, a missile [is] shot at civilians or American soldiers, that there would be a repercussion.”
Israel has targeted several residential buildings across Iran, killing dozens of civilians, since the start of the attacks.
‘Netanyahu seeks to draw Trump into war’
PM Netanyahu is actively trying to bring President Trump into the war with Iran, according to Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara.
“Netanyahu’s strategy has become how to manipulate Trump, how to convince Trump, how to bring Trump into the war,” Bishara said. “They are looking into the possibility of joint American-Israeli attacks.
Bishara described Trump as lacking a clear vision of his own, saying: “Trump does not have a particular ideological or strategic endgame in mind.”
The remarks come as Trump attends a national security meeting in the White House Situation Room.
Earlier today, the US President claimed on Truth Social that the US knows “exactly” where Iran’s supreme leader is hiding” as speculation grows over whether Washington will be drawn directly into the conflict.
Israel’s missile system ‘overwhelmed’
The Washington Post reports, citing an unnamed source, that Israel may maintain its missile defence for 10 to 20 days only without new supplies of interceptors from the US.
“They will need to select what they want to intercept,” the source said. “The system is already overwhelmed.”
Iran’s military chief calls for Haifa, Tel Aviv residents to leave immediately
Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi urged residents of the major Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv to evacuate, warning of imminent “punitive” attacks.
Referring to Israel, Mousavi said that “residents of the occupied territories, especially Tel Aviv and Haifa, are strongly urged to leave these areas for the sake of their lives”.
‘Search underway’ for Israeli pilot in Iran after plane downed
Iran’s Mehr news agency is reporting that a search is underway for an Israeli pilot after his plane was targeted.
The report said that “an Israeli enemy aircraft was targeted in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in southwestern Iran, and a search is underway for its pilot”.
‘Unacceptable’: UN calls for justice after hundreds killed at food sites in Gaza
The UN chief has called for accountability after the latest incidents of Israeli forces killing Palestinians at a food distribution point in Gaza.
His deputy spokesman, in comments made at the UN headquarters in New York, said: “The Secretary-General condemns the loss of lives and injuries of civilians in Gaza, where once again being shot at while seeking food.
“It is unacceptable,” added Farhan Haq. “As of yesterday, 338 people have been killed and more than 2,800 injured while trying to access food, food near distribution sites.”
Israel claims it struck ‘12 missile launch and storage sites’ in Iran
The Israeli army says it has completed a new wave of air strikes targeting what it claimed were military sites inside Iran.
In a statement, the Israelis said its air force struck “12 missile launch and storage sites” today.
Earlier, Israel claimed one of its recent attacks in Tehran killed a top Iranian commander Major General Ali Shadmani.
War will not end without damaging Iran’s Fordow facility: Israeli official
Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi tells Channel 12 that the military operation against Iran will not end before damaging the country’s main uranium enrichment site Fordow.
Experts say that Israel will require US help – with massive bombers and munition – to penetrate Fordow’s defences.
The facility, near the city of Qom, is built deep inside a mountain.
Trump meeting with national security team
US President Trump is meeting his national security team in the White House Situation Room this afternoon, according to a US media report.
The meeting comes as Trump weighs whether the US should deepen its involvement in the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
He returned to Washington yesterday, cutting short his appearance at the G7 summit in Canada by a day.
Earlier today, Trump made a series of statements on his Truth Social platform, including a pointed message directed at Iran’s leadership, claiming the US knows “exactly” where Iran’s supreme leader is “hiding”.
If you’re just joining us
It is 10:30pm in Iran, 10pm in Palestine and Israel (19:00 GMT). Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
- President Trump says “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran”.
- Iran’s new military chief Abdolrahim Mousavi says Tehran has only launched attacks to deter Israel, and “punitive operation will be executed soon”.
- Iran launches more retaliatory attacks against Israel, with Iranian state media saying eight missiles were fired in the latest volley.
- Iranian news outlets report strong explosions in Tehran as Israel continues its bombardment of the country.
- Qatar’s Foreign Ministry slams the “reckless targeting of energy and nuclear facilities in the region”.
Israel says more Iranian missiles fired
The Israeli army says sirens have sounded in several areas after missile launches were detected from Iran.
Trump may step into war on Iran ‘at another time’
Liqaa Maki, a political analyst at Al Jazeera Arabic, says Trump appears to be engaging in a campaign of deception.
“I think this indecisiveness and confusion are deliberate,” he said. “I think he is planning to intervene in this war at another time.
“He will intervene when he is informed by his military leadership that Iran is in a position of military weakness and cannot respond against US bases and interests. And then maybe he will participate in the war … to get credit for the victory.”
Trump ally in Congress renews opposition to ‘another foreign war’
Right-wing US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says Americans say the United States government should focus on issues at home, including safety, education and housing.
“Considering Americans pay for the entire government and government salaries with their hard earned tax dollars, this is where our focus should be,” she wrote in a social media post. “Not going into another foreign war.”
Trump warns Tehran residents to ‘evacuate immediately’. But can they?
Can a whole city – home to nearly 10 million people – simply pack up and leave?
It would be difficult for all its residents to leave in a timeframe that would ensure their safety. One reason is that Iran’s capital has more people than London or New York.
Traffic congestion is already common in Tehran, especially during rush hour or public holidays, but many of the roads on Tuesday were at a standstill with traffic jams throughout the city as residents attempted to evacuate.
Read more here.
Israel extends restrictions at home
Israel’s Home Front Command says the ban on gatherings and in-person educational activity will remain in place until at least Wednesday at 8pm (17:00 GMT).
Jordan’s king says Israeli attacks on Iran threaten region and beyond
Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned in an address to the European Parliament that Israel’s “attacks” on Iran threatened to dangerously escalate tensions in the “region and beyond”.
Abdullah said that “with Israel’s expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end”.
“And that, my friends, is a threat to people everywhere,” he told lawmakers in Strasbourg.
‘People in Gaza either die of hunger or get killed searching for food’
Crowds of desperate and hungry Palestinians walk through bombed-out neighbourhoods of what were once their homes in the northern Gaza Strip.
They start walking in the evening, hoping they can be the first to get their hands on a bag of flour. They don’t even know if the flour trucks will be there in the next few hours, or at all that day. It’s a chance, they say, they can’t miss.
Israel has recently allowed limited supplies of flour to enter the north of Gaza. There’s no clear distribution mechanism, and desperate families say they have no choice but to try and grab it directly from the trucks.
There’s barely any food left in the local market here in Gaza City. Even the little vegetables that make their way from farms in the south of Gaza are too expensive. Two pieces of tomatoes cost up to $8 – almost impossible for the majority to buy. People here say they either die of hunger or get killed searching for food.
Egypt’s foreign minister urges ‘immediate ceasefire’, return to nuclear talks
Egypt is the latest country to urge de-escalation between Israel and Iran, warning the conflict could trigger regional upheaval.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for an “immediate ceasefire” during separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, according to an official statement.
During the conversations, Abdelatty pushed for “a return to negotiations” on Iran’s nuclear programme, which he said would be “the only path to a sustainable agreement”, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.
Abdelatty also “underscored that there are no military solutions to the region’s crises, highlighting the importance of preventing an expansion of the conflict” that would push the region into “widespread chaos” and “harm all parties”, it added.
Explosions reported in western Tehran
Iranian state media IRNA reports that “continuous and intense” explosions are being heard in the capital, Tehran.
Iran used ‘undetectable’ missile in strike on Israeli intelligence site
Iran’s Defence Ministry says it used a new, undetectable missile in striking an Israeli intelligence facility, claiming the attack penetrated multiple layers of air defences.
“In today’s attack, we deployed missiles that could not be tracked or intercepted,” said Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik, the ministry’s spokesperson, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
He described the operation as a surprise for Israelis, warning that they will witness more.
Earlier today, Iran said its missile attacks hit a military intelligence centre and a Mossad operations planning centre.
Talaei-Nik added that Israel is not prepared for prolonged conflict.
“The Zionist regime cannot withstand a long war,” he said, adding that Iran’s military has been equipped with advanced systems – some of which “have not yet even been deployed”.
Mapping Iran’s oil and gas sites and those attacked by Israel
Iran is one of the top global producers of oil and gas, holding the world’s second largest proven natural gas reserves and third largest crude oil reserves, according to the United States Energy Information Administration.
Iran’s energy facilities – some of which have been targeted in Israel’s latest attacks – include onshore oilfields, offshore platforms, refineries, export terminals and pipelines. They are spread across several regions, mainly in the south and west of the country.
Read our explainer for details on where these facilities are located and which ones Israel has targeted.
Israel says two rockets fired from Gaza
The Israeli army says the projectiles have been launched from southern Gaza and have fallen in open areas.
Will Russia, Turkiye and China provide support to Iran in its conflict?
Moscow, Ankara and Beijing have condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran.
It is a conflict that has the potential to ignite the entire Middle East. Israel has been attacking Iran, saying Tehran’s nuclear programme poses an existential threat. Iran has responded with a barrage of retaliatory attacks.
But now, what role can the global community play?
China, Russia and Turkiye have condemned Israel’s actions.
Beijing and Moscow maintain economic and political ties with both Iran and Israel. So, what, if anything, can these powers do to end the conflict? And is there a shift in dynamics in the region?
Iran’s top general says ‘punitive’ attacks will be launched against Israel
According to Iran’s Press TV, Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said: “The operations carried out so far have been a warning for deterrence – the punitive operation will be executed soon.”
Iran accuses EU of acting as Israel’s ‘apologist’
The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry has accused the European Union of acting as an “apologist” for Israel after the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas raised concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
In a post on X, Esmaeil Baghaei directly addressed Kallas, urging her to “please stop acting as the aggressor’s apologist”.
He also said: “How can you express concern over Iran’s peaceful program that is under the most robust IAEA inspections and ignore the fact that the Israeli regime has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons?!”
Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s position that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
While Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Israel is not a signatory, and is widely believed to possess nuclear arms – although it has never publicly admitted it.
“Iran has never sought nuclear weapons,” Baghaei added, “unlike the aggressor that is the only barrier to a Middle East free from nuclear weapons – a goal Iran has advocated since 1974.”
‘People torn to pieces’: Hundreds of casualties in Israeli attack on south Gaza
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a statement about the growing number of Palestinian casualties in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
The organisation said the bodies of 59 killed Palestinians and more than 200 wounded were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
It added that after many injured Palestinians, including aid seekers, arrived at the facility, the MSF team had to evacuate the maternity ward and turn delivery rooms into emergency operating theatres.
“Every day, Palestinians are met with carnage as they try to receive the limited aid trickling into Gaza,” MSF said.
Wafaa Abu Nemer, an MSF pediatrician, said “she saw people torn to pieces”.
“It’s a disaster,” she added. “Seeking food should not be a death sentence.”
Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, the organisation’s emergency coordinator, said the medical complex was “over capacity and running on limited supplies … dangerously close to breaking point”.
What is Trump’s endgame?
The US president has been issuing seemingly contradictory statements. He would call for ending the war and hint at peace coming “soon”, then suggest that the US may join Israel in bombing Iran.
Last night, he called for the evacuation of Tehran, a city of about 10 million people. And this morning, he shared a text message that he said was from his envoy to Israel that suggested that he is facing some sort of major decision.
Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, said Trump may be building leverage with threats to strong-arm Iran into accepting his demands of dismantling its nuclear programme.
“I think he’s trying to present himself as this madman who is unpredictable, and in so doing, he can then insist on this very hard line that Iran has refused to accept for decades of full dismantlement of its enrichment programme,” Abdi told Al Jazeera.
Another possible explanation of Trump’s latest statements, Abdi added, is that he is “being taken for a ride by Bibi Netanyahu to commit the United States to a full-on war with Iran”.
He warned that destabilising Iran may potentially lead to “long-term US military commitments to dealing with the blowback of this failed state”.
US lawmaker introduces bill to limit Trump’s power to strike Iran
Congressman Thomas Massie, a member of Trump’s Republican Party, has introduced a measure that would require the US president to seek the approval of Congress before attacking Iran.
The bill orders Trump to “terminate” any attacks on Iran that are not authorised by lawmakers.
On Monday, a similar measure was introduced in the Senate.
While the proposed legislation would likely face a presidential veto if Congress approves it, advocates said the effort could add to the pressure Trump is facing from opponents of war with Iran.
Read more about the Senate bill here.
Gaza healthcare at ‘breaking point’ as fuel runs out: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has pleaded for fuel to be allowed into Gaza to keep its few functioning hospitals running.
“For over 100 days, no fuel has entered Gaza, and attempts to retrieve stocks from evacuation zones have been denied,” said Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territory.
“Combined with critical supply shortages, this is pushing the health system closer to the brink of collapse. Without fuel, all levels of care will cease, leading to more preventable deaths and suffering.”
Peeperkorn said 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were currently minimally to partially functional. They have a total of about 1,500 beds – about 45 percent fewer than before Israel’s war on Gaza began.
Israel continues to restrict most goods entering the besieged territory.
Israel says Iranian missile launches weakening
There have been four waves of missiles heading towards Israel from Iran since the early hours of this morning.
The most consequential was early this morning. About 30 missiles were fired. Some got through to an area called Herzliya, hitting and setting on fire what appeared to be parked buses. The Iranians suggested that was an Israeli military sort of installation or intelligence office. If it is a militarily sensitive site, that wouldn’t be reported in Israel, and we wouldn’t be able to find that out because there is military censorship.
The Israeli army says it believes it hit 200 missile launchers in Iran and that Iran can’t fire the number of missiles it wants.
If you look at the figures the Israelis have been giving over the past few days, there certainly are less Iranian missiles being fired. There were over 200 from Saturday to Sunday, then 65 from Sunday to Monday, then 30 from Monday to Tuesday, according to the Israeli army.
The number is going down because Israel says it’s destroying the missile launch locations.
Trump says ‘we are not going to kill’ Iran’s supreme leader, ‘at least not for now’
The US president has issued a number of Iran-related statements on his Truth Social app over the past few minutes.
In one of them, Trump claimed the US, which has not declared direct engagement in the conflict, knows “exactly” where Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “is hiding”.
“He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” he wrote.
“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers,” Trump added, before threatening: “Our patience is wearing thin.”
In another post, Trump wrote in all caps: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” echoing earlier comments where he called for a “complete give-up” from Iran.
There was no immediate reaction from Tehran.
Staunch Israel backer US already ‘very much involved’
Analyst Hamed Mousavi says Iran has been calibrating its response so far to avoid bringing the US into the conflict.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said the US’s entrance into the war would be “critical” for Israel as it is widely understood that it would need United States support to destroy Iran’s most important nuclear facility, Fordow.
Mousavi, a professor of political science at Tehran University, said Iran would “respond in kind” to such a “serious escalation”, warning that it could lead to a wider regional war.
“We have to remember, if we want to be honest about this, that the Americans are very much involved already,” he added.
“They are the ones that are supplying Israel with the most advanced weaponry, they are defending Israel at the UN Security Council. So I think even if the Israelis don’t want to reach a ceasefire, I think the Trump administration does have the power to stop this conflict.”
Iranian stock market remains shut
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that the country’s stock market will remain closed until Sunday.
Iran claims to shoot down 28 ‘hostile aircraft’
Iran’s army says it has tracked and intercepted 28 “hostile aircraft” in the past 24 hours. It says one of them was a spy drone trying to gain intelligence on “sensitive” sites.
Iran’s military has previously claimed to have shot down numerous Israeli fighter jets.
Israel denies this and says no crews or planes have been harmed during the operations in Iran.
Trump: ‘We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran’
Trump says “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran” despite US forces having not announced direct engagement in the hostilities.
It is not clear who the “we” in the statement is referring to.
“Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’ Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Trump appears to be listening to foreign policy hawks
Last year, US President Donald Trump campaigned on bringing global peace and leaned heavily on voters’ frustrations with the outcomes of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now, it appears that foreign policy hawks in Trump’s Republican Party – known as neoconservatives – are gaining sway within the administration, according to Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director for MPower Change Action Fund.
“It seems very clear that he’s feeling pressure from neoconservative actors within his own support system, and that’s why we’re concerned,” Taeb told Al Jazeera.
“It seems like those voices are being amplified and relied on more heavily right now by him. And that’s incredibly alarming and incredibly troubling.”
IRGC launches new wave of attacks
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that Iranian forces have fired a new volley of missiles and drones at Israel “minutes ago”.
The Israeli army has not said it detected launches or urged people to head to shelters.
Trump may take ‘further action to end Iranian enrichment’: US vice president
JD Vance, widely seen as a leading opponent of military interventions within Trump’s inner circle, has expressed full support for the US president, backing his demand for zero uranium enrichment by Iran.
In a social media post, the US vice president said Trump “has earned” trust on handling the Iranian issue.
“Meanwhile, the president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens,” Vance wrote.
“He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.”
Qatar warns Israeli attacks on Iran’s energy facilities will affect oil prices
Qatar has warned that Israeli attacks on energy facilities in Iran will affect oil prices.
“The attack on the Iranian side of the South Pars gas field is an uncalculated move that threatens energy security,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said during a press briefing in Doha.
“Regional security cannot withstand more crises or escalation,” he said, cautioning against the “reckless targeting of energy and nuclear facilities in the region.”
Al-Ansari denied reports that Iran had requested Qatari mediation to halt Israeli air strikes.
Germany’s Merz says ‘complete destruction’ of Iran’s nuclear programme possible
The German chancellor says if Iran does not make concessions, the “complete destruction” of its nuclear programme could be “on the agenda”.
“The Israeli army is obviously unable to accomplish that. It lacks the necessary weapons,” Merz told the broadcaster ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit. “But the Americans have them.”
Earlier, Trump said he wants a “real end” to the Israel-Iran conflict with Iran “giving up entirely” on nuclear weapons.
Offer of diplomatic help to ‘weakened’ Iran still stands: Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the leadership in Tehran has been weakened by Israel’s attacks and is not likely to recover.
“This regime is very weakened and will probably not return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain. We will have to wait and see,” Merz said in an interview with the broadcaster Welt at the G7 summit in Canada.
The Europeans’ offer of diplomatic assistance should talks resume still stands as it did before the attacks, he said.
“If a new situation were to arise, Germany, France and the United Kingdom would again be prepared to provide diplomatic assistance as they were until last Thursday,” he said.
Official Iranian news agency says eight missiles launched in latest wave
IRNA says Iranian forces have fired eight missiles at Israel in their latest volley.
Iran has been launching fewer projectiles in a single wave at Israel over the past two days compared with the first days of the conflict when it was firing dozens of missiles at a time.
‘Very premature’ for US to expect deal that leads to Iran surrender
Hamed Mousavi, a professor of political science at Tehran University, says the Iranian side would be interested in talking even indirectly to the US one, but ultimately that depends on what Trump is seeking.
“If the agreement he wants is a kind of surrender by Iran, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he told Al Jazeera. “However, I think if he wants to negotiate a nuclear deal and that leads to a ceasefire, then I think that’s doable.”
Asked to comment on Trump’s call for a “complete give-up” from the Iranian side, Mousavi replied: “What we’re hearing from Washington looks like a complete surrender by Iran – that’s what Donald Trump seems to want”.
He said he did not believe this would occur “any time soon”, arguing that the Iranian government is “actually quite confident with the way things are going with Israel”.
“They are still able to carry out multiple ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities, so the balance of power from the perspective of the Iranian government is still not against Iran, and I think it’s very premature for the Trump administration to expect a sort of an agreement that leads to … a surrender of Iran.”
Israeli fuel distributor reduces supply amid Iranian strikes
According to the Israeli business website Calcalist, Sonol, one of the country’s leading fuel distributors, has significantly decreased deliveries following severe damage inflicted on Haifa’s oil refinery facilities by Iranian strikes.
“In this state of affairs, and due to these circumstances beyond our control, we are forced to inform you that we will reduce or stop, as the case may be, the supply of fuels to our customers, of which you are one,” Calcalist reported, quoting Sonol.
More explosions rock Tehran
A number of explosions have been heard in central and western Tehran.
The exact locations and the possible targets in the Iranian capital were not immediately clear.
We’ll bring you more as soon as we have it.
Despite repeated shootings, Palestinians have no option but to return to aid points
Despite the horrifying massacre that was committed earlier today in Khan Younis near the aid distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Palestinians are still gathering and willing to go.
This shows how desperate they are. This is the only way they can get food. This is the only way they can feed their families. They don’t have any other option.
Those who were wounded approaching the aid point are struggling to get treatment due to a shortage of medical supplies, which will likely cause the death toll to further rise, according to doctors at Nasser Hospital.
Photos: Israel steps up attacks on Tehran
Israel appears to be expanding its air strikes on Iran’s capital.
The attacks on Tuesday targeting Tehran, as well as locations Israel branded military bases in western Iran, came as President Trump posted an ominous message warning residents of the capital to evacuate.
The Israeli army said Iran launched a new barrage of missiles on Tuesday, and explosions could be heard in northern Israel.
