✕ Close Trump says ‘nobody knows what I’m going to do’ about Iran as he warns ‘the next week will be big’

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The main hospital in southern Israel has suffered “extensive damage” in a direct hit from an Iranian missile this morning, officials said.

Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba has requested patients not to come for treatment following the attack that left several people wounded.

Israel on Thursday attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor after warning the locals to flee the area.

Explosions were heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the week-long conflict showed no signs of easing. Israeli strikes have wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military command, damaged its nuclear capabilities, and killed about 640 people. Iranian retaliatory strikes have killed two dozen civilians in Israel.

Donald Trump has touted the prospect of joining Israel’s attacks and claimed late on Wednesday that Iran was “just weeks away” from having a nuclear weapon, in contradiction to his own US intelligence agencies.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in March that Iran had not made a decision to build nuclear weapons despite having stockpiles of enriched uranium.

Israel Iran Conflict LIVE Updates: Israel and Iran continued their deadly exchange as a new wave of missiles and drones as strikes struck key targets across Iran, pushing the nationwide death toll to nearly 600. The strikes have triggered alarm across the region. read more

US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Iran and Israel to “make a deal” and bring their deadly exchange of strikes to an end. “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Trump said on his Truth Social media platform, adding that there are “many calls and meetings now taking place” on the issue and that peace could be achieved “soon” between the longtime adversaries.

The evacuation was carried out under ‘Operation Sindhu’ after tensions flared in the Middle East due to escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. As part of the operation, 110 students were moved out of Tehran and crossed into Armenia on Tuesday with assistance from the Indian Embassy.

Responding to the development, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Dannon said, “Israel not only defended itself, it eliminated a major threat facing the entire free world.”

The meeting was requested by Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria and is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, CBS News reported.

The closed-door session included top military and national security advisers, signaling the seriousness with which Washington is monitoring the crisis in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump concluded a high-level meeting in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday as he weighed potential responses to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Amid the ongoing conflict, the IDF also reported successfully intercepting the majority of Iranian missiles launched toward Israeli territory, according to the BBC.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it carried out strikes on more than 20 military sites in Tehran on Wednesday night, targeting what it described as key nuclear and missile facilities that support Iran’s weapons program and attacks on Israeli civilians.

Air defence systems were activated over Tehran early Thursday morning, according to a post by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Telegram. The alert was issued just before 4 am local time, amid heightened regional tensions.

Human Rights Activists previously gained attention for documenting deaths during the 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini’s death. Iran, which has not regularly released updated tolls during the current conflict, last reported 224 deaths and 1,277 injuries on Monday.

The group reported that among the dead are 263 civilians and 154 security personnel. The casualty data, which covers the entire country, is based on cross-verified local reports and a network of sources within Iran.

At least 639 people have been killed and 1,329 injured in Israeli strikes across Iran, according to figures released Thursday by Human Rights Activists, a Washington-based group.

When asked whether he had decided to launch an attack, Trump said, “I may do it, I may not.” He added, “The next week is going to be very big — maybe even sooner.” He also reiterated that Iran must completely abandon its nuclear ambitions without any conditions.

One possible US target is Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility, a heavily fortified site built deep underground. Experts say only extremely powerful bombs would be capable of destroying it.

US President Donald Trump has told his top aides that he has approved a plan to strike Iran but has not yet given the final order, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump stated that he wants to see whether Iran will halt its nuclear programme before taking further action.

In a post on X, the Israeli Air Force announced that it had initiated “a wave of attacks in Tehran and other areas,” though it did not provide further details about the specific targets.

The Israeli Air Force has confirmed that the military is currently carrying out a series of strikes in Tehran and other parts of Iran, as reported by the BBC.

The reason for the warning has not been officially disclosed, but it comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations inside Iranian territory.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued an evacuation warning to residents of Arak and Khandab in Iran, according to a report by Reuters.

“This is not an uncommon practice. Force protection is the priority,” the official said.

One official confirmed that US naval vessels were relocated from a port in Bahrain, home to the Navy’s 5th Fleet, while aircraft not sheltered in hardened structures were moved from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the move was part of precautionary steps to protect American forces in the region. They did not disclose how many assets were moved or their new locations.

The United States has moved some of its military aircraft and naval vessels from bases in the Middle East that could be vulnerable to an Iranian attack, two US officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

The strikes come shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that air defence systems had been activated over the capital.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that the Israeli Air Force is conducting multiple airstrikes on Tehran and several other locations across Iran, CNN reported early Thursday.

The statement, published by state-run KCNA, described Israel’s actions as “state-sponsored terrorism” and warned they were increasing the risk of a full-scale war in the Middle East.

North Korea on Thursday strongly condemned Israel for launching strikes that it says sparked the current conflict with Iran, warning the United States and European powers against “fanning the flames of war,” according to a statement from its foreign ministry.

“Our Iranian friends have not asked us about this,” Putin told an AFP reporter during a televised press conference in Saint Petersburg.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Iran has not sought military assistance from Moscow amid its escalating conflict with Israel.

Wong described the situation as “increasingly dangerous” and urged Iran to halt its nuclear weapons programme and return to negotiations. “Iran has a choice here… to discontinue its programme and to return to talks,” she said.

Australia has begun evacuating its citizens from Israel amid rising tensions in the Middle East, CNN reported. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that a small group was evacuated by land on Wednesday, with more expected to follow within the next 24 hours.

Citing growing violence, the embassy warned, “The Israel-Iran conflict continues to intensify, with increasing casualties. The possibility of further deterioration cannot be ruled out.”

The operation will transport Chinese nationals by bus to the Taba Border Crossing into Egypt, located about 360 kilometres from Tel Aviv.

China will begin assisting its citizens in evacuating from Israel to Egypt starting Friday, the Chinese embassy in Israel announced in a notice on Thursday.

A source familiar with the matter said the intelligence community’s position remains unchanged since Gabbard’s testimony. However, the president’s public rebuke has raised questions about whether Gabbard has been sidelined from key decision-making.

Tensions became public this week when Trump pushed back on Gabbard’s March testimony to Congress, in which she stated the U.S. intelligence community did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon. That assessment contradicts Trump’s recent warnings about the Iranian nuclear threat.

While Gabbard’s allies acknowledge some friction with the White House, they say the backlash has been exaggerated and do not expect her to resign over Trump’s Iran policy, NBC News reported.

CIA Director Tulsi Gabbard, known for her criticism of past US military interventions, appears to have lost favour with President Donald Trump as he considers military action against Iran, according to multiple senior administration officials.

“They cannot have the weapons that can destroy Israel, which they claim and which they want to do every day,” he added.

Leiter warned of the destructive power of Iranian missiles, saying, “They come cruising out of the sky and create incredible damage. That production capacity has to be eliminated as well.”

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said on Wednesday that Iran’s capacity to produce ballistic missiles must be eliminated alongside its nuclear weapons programme, CNN reported.

The July contract expires on Friday. The more actively traded August contract declined 21 cents, or 0.29 per cent, to $73.29 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July delivery fell 28 cents, or 0.37 per cent, to $74.86 a barrel. The contract had risen 0.4 per cent in the prior session, despite an earlier drop of 2.4 per cent.

Brent crude futures dropped 37 cents, or 0.48 per cent, to $76.33 a barrel by 0110 GMT, after gaining 0.3 per cent in a volatile previous session that saw prices swing by as much as 2.7 per cent.

Oil prices edged lower on Thursday as investors remained cautious following mixed signals from US President Donald Trump regarding possible American involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

“There are real limits, hard limits, on what the government can do. The airspace remains closed,” Wong told reporters. She advised Australians in Iran to leave if it is safe to do so or otherwise shelter in place.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday that around 1,500 Australians in Iran and 1,200 in Israel have registered for help. A small group was evacuated from Israel via a land crossing on Wednesday, and further options are being explored.

Australia has evacuated a small group of its citizens from Israel, while New Zealand has withdrawn embassy staff from Iran, as both governments face challenges in assisting thousands more due to restricted airspace in the region.

Authorities have urged residents to take shelter immediately and remain in bomb shelters “until further notice.”

“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF said in a statement.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported a new wave of missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, triggering air raid sirens across the country.

The IDF stated that the Israeli Air Force is actively working to intercept the incoming missiles and strike where necessary to neutralise the threat.

Loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, AFP reported, shortly after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed missile launches from Iran and activated sirens across several areas.

In response, Israeli authorities instructed civilians to remain in bomb shelters until further notice for their safety.

🚨Millions of Israel across the country are currently running to shelter as sirens sound due to a missile launch from Iran🚨 pic.twitter.com/5HqmbUOmtZ

The Israeli military said the latest round of airstrikes targeted Tehran and other locations in Iran. Following the strikes, Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles at Israel, prompting authorities to instruct the public to take shelter.

Earlier in the day, Israel had issued a warning via a post on X, urging civilians to leave the area. The message included a satellite image of the reactor marked in red, similar to past strike alerts.

Israel has attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television reported on Thursday. Authorities stated there was “no radiation danger whatsoever” and confirmed the facility had been evacuated before the strike.

Several hits were identified as a result of the missile barrage—one of them hitting the largest hospital in southern Israel. https://t.co/G29iJqGyiH

“Several hits were identified as a result of the missile barrage — one of them hitting the largest hospital in southern Israel,” the IDF said in a post on X, shortly after air raid sirens were activated across the country

Iranian missiles struck several locations in Israel late Thursday, including the largest hospital in the country’s south, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

With over 1,000 beds, Soroka serves around one million residents across southern Israel, according to its website.

A spokesperson for the hospital, located in Be’er Sheba, confirmed that multiple areas of the facility were damaged and urged the public not to come in for treatment.

Israel’s Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in the country’s south, suffered a direct hit from an Iranian missile on Thursday, causing extensive damage and injuring several people, officials said.

Footage from Reuters showed a damaged multi-storey building in Tel Aviv, with debris scattered on the road and emergency responders cordoning off the area.

Israeli search and rescue teams are active across multiple locations following reports of fallen projectiles from Iran’s latest missile barrage, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Israel had issued a public warning urging civilians to evacuate the site ahead of the strike.

Iranian state television confirmed on Thursday that Israel struck the Arak heavy water reactor but said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever.” Authorities added that the facility had already been evacuated before the attack.

Israel’s Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in the country’s south, sustained heavy damage after being hit by Iranian missiles, officials confirmed. The hospital, located in Be’er Sheba, serves nearly one million residents.

The Israel Defense Forces said Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been deployed to multiple impact sites across the country to assess damage and assist civilians.

Iran launched “dozens” of ballistic missiles at Israel on Thursday morning, resulting in “several hits” on civilian areas, including the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, according to an Israeli military official.

IRNA claimed that the hospital sustained only minor damage from the shockwave, emphasising that “the military infrastructure was a precise and direct target.”

Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Thursday morning’s missile barrage was aimed primarily at the Israeli army’s Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and a military intelligence camp located in the Gav-Yam Technology Park near Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.

According to a Tel Aviv hospital, three of the injured are in serious condition.

At least 16 people were injured in Tel Aviv after Iranian missiles struck a high-rise apartment building and other locations in central Israel, the Associated Press reported.

Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) said 32 people were injured in the Iranian missile attacks. Reports say that a 60-year-old man was in critical condition following the strikes.

Sharren Haskel, posting on X, said the site that was struck is “not a military base” but “a hospital”, adding that this was the main medical centre for Israel’s entire Negev region.

The Reuters news agency reported that the site had been hit shortly after Israel warned residents in the Arak-Khondab region to evacuate.

In response, Israeli forces launched strikes at Iran’s Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor, a facility long viewed with concern by Western powers due to its potential to produce plutonium for weapons.

“This morning, Iran’s terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,” said a translated version of the post.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has issued the following statement on X after the Iranian strikes.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said it has repeatedly reported Israel’s threats and attacks to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but the UN nuclear watchdog has not taken any action so far, according to a report by IRNA.

Israel, Iran exchange fresh rounds of missile strikes as the UK gets dragged into the conflict

Among the targets was a nuclear weapons development site near Natanz. “The site contained components and specialised equipment used to advance nuclear weapons development, and hosted projects aimed at accelerating Iran’s nuclear programme,” the IDF said in a statement.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air force struck dozens of military targets across Tehran and other regions of Iran overnight Thursday, using over 100 munitions.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has accused Israel of targeting the Khondab research reactor and heavy water facility, calling the strike a “renewed violation of international law,” according to state news agency IRNA.

At least 47 people have been injured across Israel as a result of Iranian missile strikes, according to Reuters report citing rescue teams responding to multiple impact sites on Thursday.

A video shared by Israel’s official X account showed hospital staff rushing through smoke-filled corridors, with glass shards, broken furniture, and debris scattered throughout. Patients and staff could be seen crying and shouting in the aftermath of the attack.

The strike occurred amid a broader wave of Iranian missile attacks across the country. Israeli media aired footage showing blown-out windows, thick smoke billowing from the hospital, and scenes of chaos inside.

The Iranian regime targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile—hitting a major medical center. We will not stand by. We will continue doing what must be done to defend our people. pic.twitter.com/4ldeTQhATW

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The death toll grew Sunday as Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks for a third consecutive day, with Israel warning that worse is to come.

Israel targeted Iran’s Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran’s nuclear program, while Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel.

In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country’s total death toll to 13. The country’s main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day. There was no update to an Iranian death toll released the day before by Iran’s UN ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded.

The region braced for a drawn-out conflict after Israel’s strikes hit nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior generals and top nuclear scientists. President Donald Trump said the US had “nothing to do with the attack on Iran” and warned Tehran to expect “the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces” if it retaliates against the United States.

Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: The conflict between the two heavily armed nations, Iran and Israel, has entered its seventh day. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has declared that the “battle has begun” and that they will show no mercy to Zionists. He also warned that the US military involvement would cause “irreparable damage to them”.

“We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” Khamenei wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). In another post, he wrote, “The battle begins”. It accompanies a poster of a man entering a cave set on fire with a sword and lions on either side as others look at him. It is a reference to the historic Battle of Khaybar.

The stark warning and battle cry come after the US President Donald Trump said that they know Khamenei’s whereabouts and that he is an “easy target”. He also said that the US will not kill him at the moment and demanded an “unconditional surrender” from Iran.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ 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. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, before demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” in a separate post.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in contrast, emphasised that their military offensive is not aimed at the Iranian people. “We are doing everything we can to protect them,” he told Iran International, before adding, “That’s the difference between a terrorist regime and a democracy like ours, fighting a just war with just means.”

Why did Israel attack Iran? The attack came after tensions between Iran and the international community escalated sharply after Tehran announced the activation of a third nuclear enrichment facility. The announcement came just hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued its first formal censure against Iran in two decades, criticising its failure to meet nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the attack was on “the heart of Iran’s ballistic missiles program.” He asserted strikes would continue “for as long as it takes to remove this threat.” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasised the urgency of the operation, saying, “We had reached the point of no return. Freedom is granted to those willing to fight for it.”

War casualties: Iran’s health ministry reported that at least 224 Iranians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Friday, while the Israeli death toll has climbed to 24. 500 people in Israel have been injured in the ongoing conflict. Despite repeated international calls for de-escalation, tensions continue to spiral.

Live Updates

Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: Stay up to date with all the latest updates and breaking news from the region as the Middle East heads into a dangerous war.

Israel’s main southern hospital sustained a direct hit Thursday from an Iranian missile, with officials reporting “extensive damage” there, while Donald Trump is understood to be mulling attacks on Iran as the crisis escalates alarmingly. A spokesperson for the Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheba, which serves more than one millon people, said the hospital suffered “extensive damage” in different areas and people had been wounded in the attack.

Mr Trump has heightened fears that the United States may get involved in the now six day war between Israel and Iran, which has sparked concerns that the escalating conflict could devolve into World War 3. In comments late on Wednesday, the US President said cryptically: “The next week is going to be very big,” and then added after reflection, “maybe less than a week.” Additionally, Israel has attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television confirmed, with Tehran also targeting Tel Aviv with at least one missile.

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Israel’s main southern hospital sustained a direct hit Thursday (June 19, 2025) from an Iranian missile, with officials reporting “extensive damage” there.

The Soroka Medical Centre is the main hospital in Israel’s south.

Also read: Israel-Iran conflict updates on June 19, 2025

A spokesperson for the Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheba said the hospital suffered “extensive damage” in different areas and people had been wounded in the attack. The hospital has requested people not come for treatment.

The hospital has over 1,000 beds and provides services to the approximately 1 million residents of Israel’s south, according to the hospital’s website.

Details remained sparse after the attack, but firefighters said it appeared the medical building and some apartment buildings had been hit. There was no immediate word on if anyone was hurt.

The strike came as Israel struck Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television said Thursday (June 19, 2025).

The report said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever.” An Iranian state television reporter, on live in the nearby town of Khondab, said the facility had been evacuated and there was no damage done to civilian areas around the reactor.

Israel had warned earlier Thursday (June 19, 2025) morning it would attack the facility and urged the public to flee the area.

The Israeli military said Thursday’s (Thursday 19, 2025) round of airstrikes targeted Tehran and other areas of Iran, without elaborating. It later said Iran fired a new salvo of missiles at Israel and told the public to take shelter.

Also read: Iran’s Khamenei says ‘never surrender’; warns U.S. of ‘irreparable damage’ if it intervenes

Israel’s seventh day of airstrikes on Iran came a day after Iran’s supreme leader rejected U.S. calls for surrender and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause “irreparable damage to them”.

Israel also lifted some restrictions on daily life, suggesting the missile threat from Iran on its territory was easing.

A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded.

In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds. Some have hit apartment buildings in central Israel, causing heavy damage.

The Arak heavy water reactor is 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran. Heavy water helps cool nuclear reactors, but it produces plutonium as a byproduct that can potentially be used in nuclear weapons. That would provide Iran another path to the bomb beyond enriched uranium, should it choose to pursue the weapon.