US has bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, Trump announces:
‘Now is the time for peace’
The United States military launched airstrikes against Iran Saturday night – a historic attack that followed repeated demands from President Trump to the Islamic Republic to surrender after Israel initiated extensive strikes on the country’s nuclear infrastructure and military.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump posted on Truth Social just before 8 p.m. Saturday — marking the first-ever US strike against Iranian territory.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump spent days behind closed doors vacillating between negotiating a deal with Iran to limit its uranium enrichment — ultimately giving a two-week deadline for renewed negotiations.
On Friday, Tehran, however, said it would refuse to hold nuclear talks with the US while it was still under attack from Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said negotiations with the US wouldn’t happen “until Israeli aggression stops.”
A source close to the White House said Trump decided Friday to strike Iran with “overwhelming force.”
Israel began its attack on Iran last Friday by taking out its top nuclear scientists and military officials responsible for the country’s nuclear enrichment program.
As the two nations continued to trade deadly and destructive blows, Trump unleashed an open threat to Tehran to give up its nuclear program or else he’d seek a “real end” to the Iran-Israel conflict.
He also revealed that the US knows “exactly” where Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding out – but is letting him live “for now.”
Khamenei, at least publicly, balked at Trump’s demands that he concede defeat, with a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry warning that US involvement would trigger “all-out war in the region.”
“The US President threatens us,” Khamenei wrote on X. “With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats”
“It isn’t wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender. What should the Iranian nation surrender to?” the ayatollah asked. “We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone.”
Asked about the ayatollah’s response, Trump responded: “I say good luck.”
Israel has asked the US to intervene to take out the Iranian Fordow nuclear facility buried deep in a mountain, as US military technology would have a good chance at eliminating it.
The US military has guided 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs that could more effectively collapse underground nuclear facilities – averting a potential incomplete demolition of sites by Israel, which has been dropping 2,000-pound bombs sourced from America.
No indication here as to whether or not the B2 Stealth bombers and 30,000lb bunker buster bombs were used. If not, expect another strike within days.
“We’re the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it — at all,” Trump said about the possibility of the US taking out the site, adding that he’s “thinking about it.”
He remained open to possibly meeting with the Iranian delegation in DC, saying they reached out about coming to the White House, but noted that it’s difficult for them to leave given Tehran is under Israeli fire.
Trump also claimed Iranian officials blew through a 60-day deadline to strike a deal.
The Israeli Air Force began conducting a new wave of airstrikes in western Iran later Wednesday, which was met with retaliatory missiles being launched from Tehran.
“The aircraft are striking operatives who are attempting to return and take munitions from the sites that were previously targeted,” said IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
“Our message to them is clear: If you try to restore the terror capabilities in the area, you will be targeted.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently offered to mediate between Israel and Iran amid the escalating conflict — but Trump rejected the move.
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, publicly warned of a “surprise” Thursday or Friday.
He suggested, without divulging any detail, that a potential attack on Iran would make Israel’s infamous Hezbollah pager detonation operation in Lebanon last year “look simple.”
“Let’s just say the world will understand how serious we are about stopping Iran’s capabilities — and not just in Gaza or southern Lebanon,” Leiter told Merit TV on Monday.
“We’ve pulled off a number of surprises. When the dust settles, you’re going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday, that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple.”
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U.N. refugee chief: 2 million Syrians
have returned home
BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 19 (UPI) -- U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Thursday that the international community and financial institutions must support efforts to secure the safe return of Syrian refugees to their country, noting that some 2 two million have returned since Bashar al Assad's regime fell in December.
Grandi said he discussed with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun "how to increase opportunities" to now return home for an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon for safety when an uprising in 2011 quickly turned into civil war.
"Many refugees have already made that choice," he said on his X account. "But for returns to be sustainable, Syria needs more and faster international support."
Grandi noted in a separate X post that it was "a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions" that the 2 million people have returned home.
"This proves that we need political solutions, not another wave of instability and displacement," he said, referring to the ongoing Israel-Iran war.
You can't have a political solution when one side is determined to completely destroy the other and is building nuclear weapons to do that.
Aoun called on the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, to intensify efforts to help refugees return and to continue providing aid to them within Syrian territory now that "reasons for their displacement no longer exist" with the fall of the Assad regime.
Unless, of course, they are Alawite, or Druze, or ....
Grandi, who confirmed that his U.N. agency has begun providing direct financial assistance to Syrian families returning to Syria, said he supported the Lebanese government for having adopted a plan for the return of the refugees.
"We have started a very constructive discussion on how to translate the policy into a very practical operation that will allow many refugees, as many as possible ... to go back to Syria," he said in a statement after meeting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. "Many refugees want to go back, but, you know, there are many challenges."
He emphasized that Lebanon, UNHCR and Syria "cannot do this alone" and they need help from the international community.
"Syria is a country that is on its knees. It needs reconstruction of infrastructure, public services, the economy, their security system," Grandi said.
The U.N. estimates the cost of destruction from the war in Syria to be close to $400 billion.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump decided to lift sanctions on Syria during his trip to the Middle East, where he met with Syria's new president, Ahmed Sharaa.
Grandi said Trump's decision was "a major step" but he hoped it will be followed by "substantive investments in infrastructure, in creating jobs [and] in security, as well," making a strong appeal to European and Gulf countries and international financial institutions "to help us do the work in Syria."
"It is a rare opportunity in this world of crises," he said. According to UNHCR, Syria remains one of the world's largest refugee crises after more than a decade of conflict.
Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. They include 7.4 million Syrians who remain internally displaced in their own country, where 70% of the population needs humanitarian assistance and 90% live below the poverty line.
More than 6 million Syrian refugees live in neighboring countries, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, or abroad.
This is an opportunity for Europe to unload some Muslims cheaply and easily.
The latest in the Middle East conflict
Here is a quick overview of the latest developments in the Middle East:
- Israel began a fresh round of strikes on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), targeting “missile storage and military infrastructure” in southwestern and central Iran.
- The United States has moved B-2 stealth bombers into position within striking distance of Iran, in a show of force as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate.
- This comes after Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday that US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict would be “very very dangerous”.
- The Houthis threatened to attack US warships in the Red Sea if the White House became more involved in the war.
- US President Donald Trump deepened uncertainty about his readiness for the US to become involved in the war, warning he could order military action sooner than the two-week deadline he flagged on Thursday.
- Israel has said it may open some outgoing flights for foreigners from Monday, and Australians in the region are advised to check smartraveller.gov.au and register with DFAT.
- Australia has shut its embassy in Tehran, and sent defence personnel and assets to the region to help evacuate Australians.
