Israeli military says several sites hit Sunday night by Iranian missiles
Israel’s military said that Iranian missile strikes hit several sites across Israel on Sunday evening, Agence France-Presse reports.
“Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran,” the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters.
The fire services, meanwhile, said rescuers were heading to building on the country’s Mediterranean coast that sustained a “direct hit”.
According to Israel’s first responder agency, Magen David Adom, seven people were injured in the attacks, including a 72-year old woman.
Key events
Donald Trump has said he is hopeful for a ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel, but that countries sometimes “have to fight it out” first, Reuters reports.
Talking to reporters as he left for the G7 summit in Canada, the president said that the US would continue to support Israel in its defence.
He added that he did not want to say whether he had asked the country to pause strikes on Iran.
He had previously said on Truth Social that there were many calls and meetings happening between the two countries, claiming that there would be peace “soon”.
Iran not open to ceasefire negotiations while still under Israeli attack
Iran has told mediators Qatar and Oman that it is not open to negotiating a ceasefire while it is under Israeli attack, an official briefed on the communications told Reuters on Sunday.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the conflict, said Iran has made “clear that it will not negotiate while under attack.”
They said:
The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli pre-emptive strikes.
The official told Reuters that media reports stating Iran appealed to Oman and Qatar to engage the US to broker a ceasefire and renew nuclear talks were inaccurate.
Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to the agency’s request for comment, nor did Qatar’s foreign ministry or Oman’s ministry of information.
Oman has in recent months mediated nuclear talks between the US and Iran, though the most recent round was canceled a day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against Iran.
Qatar has also played a role facilitating talks between the two foes in the past, most recently mediating a prisoner swap agreement in 2023.
Oman and Qatar have good relations with both Iran and the US and they also have communicated directly with Israel.
The Swiss embassy in Iran said on Sunday it will remain temporarily closed until further notice due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
The announcement was made through the embassy’s X account. It added that new information would be communicated in due course.
Switzerland’s embassy in Tehran represents US interests in Iran, Reuters reports.
Switzerland, which maintains a policy of neutrality, has held that mandate since the fallout from Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
The embassy provides consular services to US citizens living in or travelling to Iran.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has claimed several civilians have been injured after a strike from Israel hit one of the buildings of Iran’s ministry of foreign affairs.
In a tweet on X, the deputy foreign minister described the move as a “deliberate and ruthless strike” by Israel.
He said a number of his colleagues had been taken to hospital for treatment.
First Syrian casualty reported since beginning of Iran-Israel escalation
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that a civilian woman was killed on Sunday in Syria’s western Tartus province when a drone struck her home, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
It marked the first reported casualty on Syrian soil since the latest escalation between Iran and Israel began.
The Britain-based war monitor reported the death of “a woman after a drone fell on her house” in a village in rural Tartus, suggesting the drone was likely Iranian.
AFP reports that dozens of missiles have been seen flying overhead across Syria since the Iran-Israel escalation started.
It added that several missiles had been intercepted, exploding in various regions and fuelling concerns among residents over a broader regional conflict.
Since the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel – wary of the new authorities in Damascus – has carried out hundreds of strikes on military sites across Syria, claiming it aims to prevent weapons from reaching the new leadership, which it labels as “jihadist”.
Simon Harris, Ireland’s tánaiste (deputy prime minister), has said there is “grave concern” across Europe over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, PA Media reports.
Mr Harris was speaking after being in touch with European counterparts in relation to the crisis in the Middle East.
He said:
There is grave concern across Europe at the extremely dangerous and ongoing escalatory situation in the Middle East.
I reiterate my call on Israel and Iran to step back, to urgently de-escalate the situation, and to allow space for dialogue and diplomacy.
The tánaiste said Ireland’s embassy staff were in contact with Irish citizens in Israel and Iran and were providing advice.
He urged citizens to be vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities, including any orders to shelter that were in place.
Iran claims 224 killed since Israel’s strikes began on Friday
Iran’s health ministry says 224 people have been killed since Israel’s attack began Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
Spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said on social media that 1,277 other people were hospitalised, claiming that over 90% of the casualties were civilians.
The region has braced for a protracted conflict after Israel’s surprise bombardment of Iranian nuclear and military sites killed several top generals and nuclear scientists.
Israel has said 14 people have been killed there since Friday and 390 others wounded.
Summary
Here’s a look at where things stand:
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The intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy were killed in Israel’s attacks on Tehran on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said. In an earlier interview on Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News anchor Bret Baier: “I can tell you we got their chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran.”
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Israel’s military said that Iranian missile strikes hit several sites across Israel on Sunday evening, Agence France-Presse reports. “Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran,” the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters.
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The foreign policy chief of the European Union has called for a video conference of the EU’s foreign ministers on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. “In light of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, EU high representative Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers via video link for Tuesday,” an EU spokesperson said.
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An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in downtown Tehran killed 5 people, Iranian state TV reported on Sunday. “A residential building was targeted in the centre of Tehran, killing five people,” the broadcaster said, adding that the death toll may rise due to the densely populated area in central Tehran where the strike hit.
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Israeli strikes across Iran have killed at least 406 people and wounded an additional 654, the Associated Press reports, citing the Washington-based Human Rights Activists.
The group crosschecks local reports in Iran against a network of sources it has developed in the country, the Associated Press said, adding that the group is working to identify civilians and security services personnel among the victims. -
US president Donald Trump has said there will “soon” be peace between Israel and Iran, adding that there were many calls and meetings happening and that the two countries should make a deal. “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that “we will have PEACE, soon”.
Patrick Wintour
European leaders gathering for a G7 summit with Donald Trump in the Canadian Rockies plan to spend the opening day asking Trump to justify his confidence that Israel and Iran will make a deal that will mean “peace soon”.
As the military exchanges worsen and the death toll mounts on both sides, European leaders are intending to pin the US president down on his whole Iran strategy, including getting a definitive response on whether he will use his influence over Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to call a ceasefire, or instead let the war run its course.
Trump’s largely unsubstantiated remarks about “peace soon” suggest he believes a ceasefire could be imminent, even though Jerusalem appears determined to wipe out not just Iran’s nuclear programme but its entire security apparatus.
For the full story, click here:
Intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards killed in Israeli attacks
The intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy were killed in Israel’s attacks on Tehran on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said.
In an earlier interview on Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News anchor Bret Baier: “I can tell you we got their chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran.”
Israeli military says several sites hit Sunday night by Iranian missiles
Israel’s military said that Iranian missile strikes hit several sites across Israel on Sunday evening, Agence France-Presse reports.
“Homefront Command Search and Rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran,” the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters.
The fire services, meanwhile, said rescuers were heading to building on the country’s Mediterranean coast that sustained a “direct hit”.
According to Israel’s first responder agency, Magen David Adom, seven people were injured in the attacks, including a 72-year old woman.
EU foreign policy chief calls for meeting with EU foreign ministers to discuss Iran-Israel conflict
The foreign policy chief of the European Union has called for a video conference of the EU’s foreign ministers on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
“In light of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, EU high representative Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers via video link for Tuesday,” an EU spokesperson said.
“The meeting will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps,” the spokesperson added.
The Israeli military has instructed the public that it is safe to leave protected shelters, Reuters reports.
The latest directive from the military comes after reports emerged from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that explosions where heard over the sky on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, footage in Haifa showed the apparent projectile crossing through the night sky as plumes of smoke rose from buildings.
Here is video of the apparent projectile hitting Haifa in Israel on the third night of conflict with Iran:
Here are some images coming through the newswires from Israel where explosions were heard recently:
Explosions heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem – witnesses
Explosions are currently being heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, according to Reuters witnesses.
Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces have warned Israelis to leave the vicinity of “vital areas” in a video statement reviewed by Reuters on Sunday evening.
Israeli airline El Al has also extended all flight suspensions through Thursday 19 June.
Israeli airstrike kills 5 in downtown Tehran residential building
An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in downtown Tehran killed 5 people, Iranian state TV reported on Sunday.
“A residential building was targeted in the centre of Tehran, killing five people,” the broadcaster said, adding that the death toll may rise due to the densely populated area in central Tehran where the strike hit.
According to an Agence France-Presse journalist, powerful explosions occurred twice in the area and minutes apart.
AFP added that crowds of people rushed to the site of the blast near the communications ministry.
In a call with Donald Trump on Sunday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that “urgent action” was needed to prevent the conflict between Iran and Israel from spilling over to the rest of the Middle East.
“President Erdoğan hailed the recent comments by US president Trump concerning a resolution of the conflict between Israel and Iran … and stressed that urgent action is needed to prevent a catastrophe that could enflame the whole region,” the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
During the call, which marked the second call between the two leaders in 24 hours, Erdoğan said that the “spiral of violence unleashed by Israel’s attacks on Iran have caused irreparable economic and civil damage to both sides” and called for moves to “halt this dangerous escalation”.
