TEHRAN, Jun. 19 – Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has promised more attacks on Israel as the regime continues its aggression against Iran for nearly a week now.

“With God’s help, we will constantly attack any target that belongs to the invading Zionist regime, and we see no limitation ahead of us,” the top military official said on Thursday.

Mousavi made the remarks as he paid a visit to one of the bases of the Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

He praised the forces at the base for their high morale and full preparedness.

He also hailed the I.R.G.C.’s Aerospace Force for its crushing and precise attacks conducted on Israeli targets over the past several days in response to the regime’s aggression against Iran.

On Wednesday night, the I.R.G.C. said in a statement that the Armed Forces had launched a new type of powerful missiles at targets in Israel. It said that the missiles were of the Sejjil type, potent weapons that are two-stage, long-haul, and super-heavy.

MEHR

TEHRAN – The Zionist regime launched an airstrike on a research nuclear reactor and heavy water facilities in northern Iran on Thursday.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced on Thursday that the Zionist enemy has attacked the research nuclear reactor of Arak and the Khondab heavy water complex in violation of international laws on prohibition of military action against nuclear facilities.

The Israeli attack has not caused any casualties, the AEOI said.

It also gave an assurance that the local people residing near the nuclear site would not face any threat or damage thanks to the precautionary measures the AEOI had taken beforehand.

The organization said it has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) several times about the Israeli regime’s threats and military acts of aggression in the past recent days, but the UN nuclear agency has sadly failed to take any action in this regard.

The AEOI said it has notified the IAEA of the most recent Israeli attack on the Arak heavy water reactor.

TASNIM

TEHRAN – The Iranian Armed Forces launched a fresh round of retaliatory missile strikes against the Zionist regime on Thursday morning in what the Israelis described as the heaviest attack they have come under since their regime waged a war of aggression against Iran on June 13.

Israeli media outlets have reported that the most recent wave of Iran’s missiles have rained down on three locations in the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area and one spot in south of the city.

Thursday’s missile attack, which is believed to have been the heaviest strike since the beginning of Iran’s retaliatory operations, has killed three and wounded 30 so far, the Hebrew-language media reported.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said Iran has used a combination of missiles and drones in the attack.

The Exchange Ramat Gan building has been apparently targeted in eastern part of the municipality of Tel Aviv.

The Israeli Army Radio said Iran has launched the largest wave of missile strikes against the Zionist regime during the past 48 hours by firing up to 30 ballistic missiles.

On Wednesday night, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps launched a round of missile strikes against Israeli targets using heavy, long-range, two-stage Sejjil missiles for the first time.

TASNIM

TEHRAN, June 19 – Iran targeted Israel’s military intelligence facilities in its strikes on the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as was reported by some media outlets, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said.

The strikes were aimed at the Israeli army’s C4I telecommunications corps headquarters and an intelligence facility, IRNA said, adding that the hospital in question was affected by the blast’s shockwave.

Several media outlets reported that an Iranian missile hit Soroka Medical Center in the southern city of Beersheba, Israel, with officials reporting “extensive damage.”

Israeli media released footage showing blown-out windows and heavy black smoke. It is not yet clear how many people were wounded in the strike.

Meanwhile, Israel attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water facility, Iranian state television said Thursday, adding that the facility was evacuated before the attack and there is no threat of leakage.

Israel had previously warned of a potential strike on the facility.

XINHUA

TEHRAN, June 19 – Iran’s Arak heavy water facility was attacked by Israel, Iranian state television said Thursday.

The report said the facility was evacuated before the attack and there is no threat of leakage.

Israel had previously warned of a potential strike on the facility.

XINHUA

TOKYO, June 19 – A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the Nemuro Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido on Thursday, Japan’s weather agency said.

The temblor occurred at 8:08 a.m. local time (2308 GMT Wednesday) at a shallow depth off the southeastern coast of the Nemuro Peninsula, measuring 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Kushiro Town, Hokkaido Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The quake may cause changes in the tide levels of less than 20 centimeters on the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido, but there is no need to worry about damage, it added.

XINHUA

ST. PETERSBURG, June 19 – Russia is prepared to hand over the bodies of an additional 3,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

“We have returned the bodies of 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers. We are ready to hand over approximately 3,000 more,” he said during a meeting with the heads of leading international news agencies in St. Petersburg.

“These are, I repeat, sad and tragic figures,” Putin said.

XINHUA

ST. PETERSBURG, June 19 – Russia does not consider any rearmament efforts by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a threat to its national security, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a meeting with the heads of major global news agencies.

“We do not see any NATO rearmament as a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our own security,” Putin said.

Putin emphasized that Russia continuously enhances its military and defense capabilities. “Whatever NATO does, of course, creates certain risks, but we are fully capable of neutralizing all emerging threats. There is no doubt about that,” he said.

Putin also questioned the rationale behind NATO member states increasing their defense budgets, suggesting such actions are unnecessary. “Any rearmament or raising budgets to five percent of GDP by NATO countries makes no sense,” he added.

His remarks came amid growing discussions within NATO about increasing defense spending. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that all NATO members are expected to agree to raise defense expenditures to five percent of GDP over the next decade.

XINHUA

WASHINGTON, June 18 – The U.S. State Department on Wednesday directed its diplomatic missions to screen the social media and online presence of all foreigners applying for student visas.

U.S. diplomatic missions will review applicants’ social media and online presence for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States,” according to a departmental cable quoted by U.S. media.

“Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” the department said.

The screening will apply to both new and returning student visa applicants, and applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts’ privacy settings to “public” may be rejected.

On Wednesday, the department also authorized its outposts to resume the process for foreigners applying for student visas, which had been suspended since May 27.

XINHUA

JERUSALEM/TEHRAN, June 18 – Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin said in a video statement that Israeli Air Force launched new attacks in western Iran on Wednesday evening.

He said that Israeli jets flew over launch and storage sites for surface-to-surface missiles, targeting operatives attempting to access and remove munitions from locations previously struck.

According to the spokesperson, this marked the third major wave of Israeli airstrikes over Iran in the past 24 hours. The initial overnight operation involved more than 50 fighter jets hitting approximately 40 targets around Tehran.

“Among the targets struck was a centrifuge production site, a key component in the Iranian regime’s efforts to enrich uranium,” he said, adding that another target struck overnight was a site near Tehran used to manufacture anti-tank missiles, some of which were intended for the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

The second wave of strikes began Wednesday afternoon, with over 20 additional targets in the Tehran area hit.

“The targets struck were part of Iran’s military weapons industry and its security apparatus,” he added. “This includes three significant sites connected to missile production, including engines, navigation systems, and missile assembly.”

Meanwhile, speaking in a video address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has air superiority over Tehran’s skies.

An Israeli strike on Wednesday hit an area near the police headquarters in Tehran, wounding several policemen, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned German ambassador to Iran in protest over German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks supporting Israel’s attacks on the country, state TV reported on Wednesday.

Iran also summoned the Swiss envoy, who represents U.S. interests in the country, to protest what it called “provocative” comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, after he demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” Iranian media reported.

XINHUA

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps launched fresh missile strikes against Israeli targets, using heavy, long-range, two-stage Sejjil missiles for the first time.

The IRGC carried out the 12th wave of retaliatory missile strikes against the Zionist regime as part of Operation True Promise III on Wednesday night.

In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations office announced the launch of the operation, warning the Israeli settlers to flee the occupied territories.

The statement is as follows:

“The twelfth wave of Operation True Promise III began with the firing of ultra-heavy, long-range, two-stage Sejjil missiles.

To the residents of the occupied territories of al-Quds (Jerusalem):

The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, backed by the heroic Iranian nation, have shattered the Zionist army’s air defense systems in previous operations. Now, the skies of the occupied territories are open to Iran’s missiles and drones.

The missile strikes will be precise, impactful, and continuous, just as yesterday, Mossad and Aman headquarters, along with the Zionist army’s fighter bases across the occupied territories, were targeted.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had warned that the gates of hell would open upon you. The thunderous missiles of the IRGC Aerospace Force will not allow you a single moment outside underground shelters. For days, you have not seen the light of the sun.

Rest assured, the sound of red alert sirens will not cease for a moment. You must either choose a slow death in the hellish life of shelters or save yourselves from the 24-hour missile barrage and flee the lands usurped by your ancestors as soon as possible so that you may survive.”

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force has launched several rounds of retaliatory strikes against Israel since June 13 after the Zionist regime attacked Iran. The Iranian counterattacks have inflicted heavy damages on the Israeli military, intelligence and industrial sites.

TASNIM

TEHRAN, Jun. 18 – Another Hermes drone of the Israeli regime was destroyed over Iran.

Iran Army air defense on Wednesday shot down an advanced Israeli Hermes drone over Lorestan province.

MEHR, 18.6.2025

TEHRAN, Jun. 18 – Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has destoryed Israeli defense systems, adding that the settlers now have to choose between gradually dying in shelters and fleeing occupied territories of Palestine.

Issuing a statement after launching the 12th phase of Operation True Promise III against Israel, the IRGC said that it has successfully managed to destory Israeli defense systems across occupied Palestine.

“And now, the airspace of the occupied territories is open to hug the Iranian missiles and drones,” it added.

Addressing the residents of the illegal Israeli settlements, the IRGC said that it is set to launch continous missile attacks on occupied Palestine, recalling the promise made by the former IRGC chief Hossein Salami who had vowed that Iran would open the gates of hell to the criminal Zionists in response to their numerous crimes.

“Be sure that the sound of alarm sirens would not turn off for even a second,” it said, adding that the Zionists now have to choose between gradual death in shelters and fleeing occupied territories as soon as possible.

MEHR, 18.6.2025

TEHRAN, Jun. 18 – Israeli sources reported a new wave of attacks from Iran on Wednesday evening.

Al Mayadeen, citing Israeli sources, reported that Iran has launched a new retaliatory attacks targeting occupied Palestine.

Videos on social media show the moment when the Iranian missiles were fired toward occupied Palestine.

Zionist media reported that sirens went off in occupied Palestine following an Iranian missile attack.

Additional details have not been released as of yet.

MEHR, 18.6.2025

MEXICO CITY, June 18 – At least 13 people were killed during a shoot-out involving organized crime in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas, authorities said on Wednesday.

REUTERS