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Iran-Israel Conflict: Intense Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran early Wednesday, escalating an already volatile conflict just a day after US President Donald Trump issued a dramatic call for Iran’s “unconditional surrender," according to AP.
The strikes followed Iran’s warning about a new area Israel could target, marking a significant turn in the six-day military campaign.
Panic swept through the Iranian capital as residents fled their homes in droves amid booming explosions and mounting uncertainty. The Israeli air campaign, aimed at dismantling Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, continues to roil the region.
While the US deployed warplanes to the Middle East, Trump issued a direct warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming the US "knows where he is hiding" and declaring there were "no plans to kill him at least not for now." Trump’s online posts combined aggressive threats with a hint at potential diplomatic outreach, suggesting Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff could meet Iranian officials.
Trump left the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early to deal with the escalating conflict. Speaking to reporters, he said: "I'm not looking at a ceasefire. We're looking at better than a ceasefire." While warning that US "patience is wearing thin," he also indicated that diplomatic talks remained on the table.
Natanz nuclear facility hit, says UN watchdog
For the first time, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog confirmed that Israeli strikes damaged Iran’s key uranium-enrichment site at Natanz. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that the underground centrifuge facility not just surface structures had sustained serious damage.
Meanwhile, the US State Department announced that the embassy in Jerusalem would remain closed from Wednesday through Friday due to the security situation and in accordance with Israeli guidance.
Also Read:Israel-Iran conflict in 10 key points: Why Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran
Israel claims killing top Iranian general in Tehran
A major explosion shook central Tehran around 5 am Wednesday, one of several blasts heard in the early hours. Israeli officials claimed they had killed Gen. Ali Shadmani, who had recently been appointed as head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
Shadmani had only just taken over after the killing of his predecessor, Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, in another Israeli strike. Iranian authorities did not acknowledge Wednesday’s attack — a response that has become increasingly common as the strikes continue.
Civilian areas at risk, casualties mount
Israel had earlier warned it could target a neighbourhood south of Mehrabad International Airport, which includes residential areas, military installations, pharmaceutical companies and industrial sites. The escalating campaign has left at least 224 people dead in Iran.
In retaliation, Iran launched around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones toward Israel. The attacks have killed 24 people so far, as both nations remain locked in an increasingly deadly exchange.
Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press appeared to show no vessels anchored off the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain — a standard safety move by navies during high-alert situations.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone on Tuesday to discuss the fast-evolving conflict, according to a White House official who was not authorised to
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