Iran has apprehended a “terrorist team” allegedly linked to Israel, equipped with explosives in a town located southwest of Tehran, according to reports from Reuters citing Iran’s state-run news agency. This development follows closely on the heels of another report from Reuters, which stated that Iran had detained a foreign national for filming “sensitive” locations near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The Iranian news outlet Eghtesad Online claimed that the foreigner was acting on behalf of Israel.
On Tuesday, air raid sirens sounded briefly across northern Israel, signaling a potential barrage of missiles from Iran, as reported by the military. The military confirmed, “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel.” This incident marks the seventh warning of its kind since midnight local time. Shortly after, Israeli authorities reassured residents that they could leave their shelters, as no strikes had been reported by officials.
In a significant escalation, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has announced that Iranian attacks are now targeting Israeli air bases that have been utilized for military strikes against Iran. The statement from the Guard emphasized that these strikes would “continue in a successive, complex, multi-layered, and gradual manner.”
In response to a warning from the Iranian government urging citizens to cease using “location-based applications” like WhatsApp and Telegram, Meta has clarified its position. The tech giant stated that it does not share user data with Israel. Iranian state-run news agency IRIB reported that Israel allegedly uses these applications to track and identify individuals, referencing “recent targeted assassinations” as evidence of mobile phone tracking used to target people in Iran. Meta expressed concern that these “false reports” could lead to their services being blocked at a critical time for communication.
In a show of solidarity, a representative of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced on Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that the group would intervene to support Iran against Israel, similar to their actions in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, confirmed that coordination with Tehran is ongoing amid the escalating military conflict with Israel. The Houthis have recently targeted Israel in organized attacks, marking the first public acknowledgment of joint operations with Iran during this conflict.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has caused a spike in oil prices, reaching their highest levels since January. US oil futures closed at $74.84 per barrel, reflecting a 4.28% increase from the previous day. This crisis has already triggered the largest single-day surge in oil prices observed over the last three years.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, warning that “military strikes” could lead to “chaos.” Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron expressed a desire to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but cautioned against military action aimed at regime change, which he believes would exacerbate the situation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also weighed in on the conflict, labeling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “greatest threat to the region’s security” during a phone call with the Emir of Qatar. Erdogan criticized Netanyahu’s actions since the onset of the Gaza conflict and stressed that the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions should not overshadow the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a bold military operation, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) reportedly struck deep within Iran, resulting in the death of a prominent Iranian security figure. IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin confirmed the killing of Iran’s wartime chief of general staff, Ali Shadmani, who had recently assumed the position following the assassination of his predecessor. Defrin stated, “We have struck deep, hitting Iran’s nuclear, ballistic, and command capabilities.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has established a task force to assist American citizens and permanent residents seeking to leave the Middle East amid the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. This task force, operated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, is available 24/7, as confirmed by spokesperson Tammy Bruce. While the situation remains fluid, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has stated that it is unable to facilitate evacuations or directly assist Americans in leaving Israel, and it will be closed today.
