Category: Middle East

By a Displaced Iranian Journalist | June 2025 Gilan, Iran – Tehran has fallen into a deep state of shock, panic, and uncertainty following a devastating wave of Israeli attacks that began in the early hours of June 13. My family and I are among the millions forced to flee our homes, unsure if—or when—we will return, or what may be left when we do. The first explosions shook the capital shortly after 3am, as Israeli jets, drones, and quadcopters coordinated with internal agents to unleash a precision assault across the country. Dozens of sites were hit simultaneously—residential buildings, military facilities, air defense systems, and parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including facilities near Natanz. The air raids killed scores of civilians, alongside several top military commanders and nuclear scientists, shaking Iran’s leadership and stunning its people. Chaos and Panic in the Capital In the immediate aftermath, Tehran resembled a ghost city. The attacks struck on a Friday, the last day of the weekend in Iran, leaving the streets hauntingly quiet except where the bombs fell. As news of the devastation spread, the city came alive with fear. Long lines formed at fuel stations as millions tried to flee or prepare for what was coming. I visited some of the worst-hit areas in western Tehran. In Patrice Lumumba, multiple homes were reduced to rubble. In Saadat Abad, a building that housed university professors had partially collapsed. The adjacent buildings in Marzdaran had gaping holes where top floors once stood. These were not random strikes—each appeared to be a targeted assassination. Retaliation and Escalation That same night, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones in retaliation. As of this writing, there have been at least 16 waves of Iranian strikes targeting Israel. The government has vowed to continue responding for as long as Israeli aggression persists. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of direct American involvement in the conflict—stoking fears of an all-out regional war. The U.S. already provides critical support to Israel through advanced weapons systems, aerial refueling aircraft, and intelligence coordination. Fear Takes Over For days, the sound of explosions became part of daily life. Airstrikes rang out at all hours, many landing dangerously close to homes and offices. I felt the impacts firsthand—at home and at the Al Jazeera bureau—some just 2km (1.2 miles) away. With the bombing intensifying, Tehran shut down. Streets emptied. People rushed to petrol stations in numbers greater than I had ever seen. The government, unprepared for the scale of the assault, opened metro stations and mosques as makeshift shelters, lacking any permanent infrastructure or coordinated civilian protection plans. A Nation on the Brink Iran now faces its most volatile moment in decades. While the war’s political and military dimensions dominate headlines, it’s the human cost that is truly staggering. Millions like myself have fled cities, carrying only what we can, and leaving behind lives built over generations. We left with heavy hearts—uncertain if our homes still stand, uncertain if our nation will ever be the same. As Tehran reels from the violence, and the world watches the Israel-Iran war unfold, we can only hope that diplomacy, not further destruction, will define what comes next.

By Kamal Yalwa June 21, 2025 Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in Geneva for high-stakes talks with his counterparts from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — the first major diplomatic effort aimed at ending the week-long war between Iran and Israel. The Geneva talks, set to focus on Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader regional conflict, come as the war enters its eighth day. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, after meetings with senior U.S. officials on Thursday, told Al Jazeera that “a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.” This marks Europe’s first significant diplomatic involvement since Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran last week. While Germany has aligned with Israel, France has voiced caution, warning of a potential regional destabilization if hostilities escalate further. Europe has long played a central role in nuclear diplomacy with Iran, having been instrumental in brokering the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), which curbed Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief. That agreement faltered in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal, prompting Iran to resume uranium enrichment. Israel Accuses Iran of War Crimes The conflict intensified Thursday when Iran launched a barrage of missiles into Israel, with one striking near Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel. Iranian officials claimed they were targeting military infrastructure, not civilian sites. Israel has condemned the strike as a war crime. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sharren Haskel stated on X (formerly Twitter) that, “Iran is targeting Israeli children… This is terror aimed at the most innocent from the genocidal maniacs in Tehran. The world must not stay silent.” Israeli officials say 24 people have been killed and over 270 injured in the recent attacks. Meanwhile, the Iranian government last updated its death toll on June 15, reporting 224 fatalities. However, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates that 639 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the war. How the War Started The war erupted on June 13, when Israeli airstrikes killed several senior Iranian generals and atomic scientists. Iran responded swiftly, launching dozens of missiles and drones into Israeli territory. Both sides have since pledged to escalate their military actions. Last Friday, Israel warned that the conflict was “likely to last weeks, not days.” Trump Weighs U.S. Involvement Amid growing international concern, the U.S. appears to be recalibrating its stance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Thursday that President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether the U.S. will get directly involved. “The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution… He is the peace through strength president,” Leavitt said. “If there’s a chance for diplomacy, the president’s always going to grab it. But he’s not afraid to use strength as well.” The U.S. had initially distanced itself from Israel’s attack. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously labeled the strikes as a “unilateral action” and warned Iran against targeting American personnel or interests. So far, Iran has not attacked any U.S. assets since the war began. As diplomatic channels reopen in Geneva, global powers will be closely watching whether talks can bring an end to what risks becoming a prolonged and regionally destabilizing conflict.

Beersheba, Israel – Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated further as an Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Beersheba for the second consecutive day, injuring seven people and damaging multiple buildings. The latest attack, confirmed by Israeli emergency services, occurred early Friday morning, sending residents scrambling for shelter as air raid sirens wailed across the city. The missile reportedly landed in a residential area, shattering windows, setting off car alarms, and leaving a deep crater in the street. Among the injured are two children and an elderly woman, all of whom suffered moderate to serious injuries due to flying debris and the impact of the blast. Several others were treated for shock. Emergency teams rushed to the scene and transported the wounded to Soroka Medical Center. Israeli military officials said the missile was launched from Iranian territory and evaded the Iron Dome defense system due to its low-altitude trajectory and short-range speed. Buildings within a 200-meter radius suffered varying degrees of structural damage, including broken glass, collapsed ceilings, and fire outbreaks. This marks the second Iranian missile to hit Beersheba in 48 hours, part of what Israeli authorities are calling a “deliberate and sustained escalation.” The previous attack, on Thursday, resulted in three injuries and caused extensive damage to a shopping center. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated: “These attacks are unacceptable. Iran’s direct targeting of Israeli civilian areas marks a new and dangerous phase in their aggression. We are reviewing our response options and remain on high alert.” The latest strike comes amid an ongoing regional crisis, with Israel also carrying out targeted strikes inside Iran earlier this week, hitting nuclear and military infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with the security cabinet today to assess military and diplomatic responses. Meanwhile, residents in Beersheba and other southern cities have been advised to remain near protected shelters. This is a developing story.

Gaza Strip — Israeli forces have killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more during an assault on civilians gathered for food in Khan Younis on Tuesday, marking the deadliest single day at aid distribution points since the conflict escalated. According to Palestinian health authorities, the attack—carried out with tank fire, drones, and machine guns—targeted desperate civilians along a major road in southern Gaza where aid had been expected to arrive. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 89 Palestinians have been killed across the enclave since dawn, with the toll rising. Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, Israeli air strikes continued to pound residential areas, displacing families and killing dozens: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a controversial relief initiative backed by Israel and the United States — has been operating distribution points since May 26, but has drawn criticism over a surge in violence around aid areas. Hamas condemned the Israeli military’s continued bombardment of residential neighborhoods and aid collection points, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians under the guise of humanitarian aid coordination. International rights organizations have renewed calls for immediate ceasefires, protection of civilian infrastructure, and safe access to humanitarian relief, warning of catastrophic hunger and mass displacement in the war-ravaged enclave. No official comment has been released by the Israeli military regarding Tuesday’s widespread attacks.

Gaza City — In one of the bloodiest days of the war for Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid, Israeli forces killed at least 70 people on Tuesday in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and wounded hundreds more as they gathered for desperately needed food assistance. According to Gaza health officials and local eyewitnesses, Israeli tanks, drones, and machine guns opened fire on crowds assembled along the main eastern road in the city early Tuesday. The attacks occurred as civilians gathered at a known distribution point for food supplies. The fatalities in Khan Younis are part of a broader pattern of escalating violence, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed since dawn to at least 89 across the besieged enclave, with scores more injured. This latest assault comes just three weeks after the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — backed by Israel and the United States — began distributing aid across Gaza. Since the start of GHF operations on May 26, aid sites have increasingly become targets, with reports indicating hundreds of aid-seeking civilians have been killed while attempting to access food. Human rights observers have condemned the killings, calling for immediate international intervention and unfettered access to humanitarian corridors. The Gaza Health Ministry and local aid workers have decried the pattern of attacks as part of a systematic obstruction of humanitarian relief, warning of famine conditions and rising child malnutrition amid the continued blockade. As of Tuesday night, no official comment had been issued by the Israeli military regarding the Khan Younis incident. Would you like a version with quotes from humanitarian agencies, or a short format for social media headlines?