Iran, Israel continue to "retaliate" against each other
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Iran has launched a new barrage of missiles at Israel , and urged residents to immediately take shelter and stay there until further notice.
“Israel’s defense systems are currently operating to intercept the threats,” the IDF said in a statement. Sirens were sounded in several areas across Israel to warn residents of the potential for rocket attacks. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said nearly 3,000 Israelis had been evacuated due to damage from the Iranian airstrikes.
Meanwhile, Iranian media also reported explosions and heavy anti-aircraft fire in Tehran early Tuesday morning. According to Asriran news site, air defense systems were also activated in Natanz, which is home to key nuclear facilities 320km away.
On June 16 (local time), Israel launched airstrikes on missile facilities, fighter jets and the studio of Iran's state-run television channel IRINN. The Iranian government condemned the attack on the state television headquarters in Tehran, calling it a "heinous act" and a "war crime", and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
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| The scene of devastation after Iran's missile attack on Israel on June 16. Photo: Reuters |
Since last Friday, Iran and Israel have been firing missiles at each other. According to the latest statistics, 24 Israelis have been killed, all of them civilians. In Iran, the number is 224, most of them civilians.
Israel has confirmed that the attack campaign is still ongoing and has not ruled out the possibility of targeting senior Iranian leaders.
On Iran's side, officials asserted that any attack on Israel was an act of self-defense, targeting only military targets and infrastructure. According to Reuters, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations declared before the Security Council that their military actions were in accordance with international law.
Pentagon denies US involvement in Iran attack, insists it is only strengthening defense
On June 17, a US Department of Defense spokesman denied rumors circulating on social media that the US had participated in attacks on Iran amid the escalating conflict between Tehran and Israel.
“That is not true,” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, wrote on social media X in response to a post spreading the false information. In another post, he asserted: “US forces remain defensive and that has not changed. We will protect US personnel and interests.”
Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he had ordered the deployment of additional forces to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran shows no signs of cooling down.
On social network X, Mr. Hegseth wrote: “Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional forces to Central Command (CENTCOM), the unit in charge of the Middle East region... The protection of US forces is a top priority and this deployment is to strengthen the US defense posture in the region.”
It is unclear what exactly Hegseth is referring to as “additional forces.” CNN previously reported that the USS Nimitz carrier strike group, which was scheduled to rotate into the region to replace the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, canceled a planned port visit and is being urgently deployed to the Middle East.
Reuters news agency quoted its own sources as saying that the US has deployed a large number of military refueling aircraft and dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Middle East region.
In another development, US President Donald Trump, who is currently attending the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada, announced that he will leave the event on the evening of June 16 (local time), a day earlier than planned, due to developments in the Middle East.
CNN quoted a US official as saying that the US President has directed members of his cabinet to urgently seek meetings with Iranian officials, as he tries to determine whether Tehran is serious about diplomacy to end the conflict with Israel.
Since Israel launched its first missile attack last week, President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Iran to come to the negotiating table with the United States, while urging his advisers to maintain communication channels with Tehran and intermediaries.
In talks with European leaders at the G7 summit in Canada, Donald Trump said discussions to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran were underway, and he wanted US officials to meet directly with Iranians this week.
According to the official, although no specific plans have been set, the situation between Israel and Iran is “going in the right direction.” Mr. Donald Trump also confirmed that the Iranian side had contacted through intermediary channels on Monday morning.
“I think Iran is basically ready to negotiate, they want to make a deal,” Donald Trump said before announcing his plans to leave Canada early to return to Washington.
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| US President Donald Trump and leaders of other countries attending the G7 Summit in Canada. Photo: Reuters |
As of Monday evening, the White House insisted the US had not participated in any attacks against Iran.
Earlier, as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalated, Donald Trump called on all residents of the capital Tehran to evacuate immediately. “Everyone should leave Tehran immediately!” Trump wrote in capital letters on Truth Social. The US president conveyed the message but did not specify the reason. This has raised concerns about a major military outbreak scenario in the Middle East. Tehran is currently home to nearly 10 million people.
There has been a proposal for ceasefire negotiations.
On June 17, French President Emmanuel Macron said that a proposal for ceasefire negotiations between Iran and Israel had been made, as fighting between the two countries entered its fifth day and continued to escalate.
“There was indeed a proposal to meet and talk. The goal was first to achieve a ceasefire and then to start broader negotiations,” Macron told reporters at the G7 summit in Canada.
“We have to wait and see if there is a real willingness to implement this proposal,” the French president said. French President Emmanuel Macron said it was positive that Trump left the G7 summit early, as the immediate goal was to get Israel and Iran to agree to a ceasefire. “I believe that the time has come to resume negotiations, and it is important to protect civilians,” Macron said.
The French president added that things might not change in the next few hours, but if the US is really determined to seek a ceasefire, the situation could change.
China urges citizens to evacuate Israel
As hostilities between Iran and Israel escalate and Israeli airspace remains closed for security reasons, the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv has called on Chinese citizens to leave Israel through land border crossings as soon as possible.
"Currently, the Israel-Iran conflict continues to escalate, with civilian facilities damaged and civilian casualties increasing, making the security situation more severe," the embassy warned in a notice on WeChat on Tuesday.
The notice advises Chinese citizens to leave by land towards Jordan.
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