Gaza death toll rises

While the Israeli military intensifies its air attacks on Iran, it has continued killing Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In its latest daily update released just now, the Health Ministry in Gaza said the bodies of at least 39 people killed have been brought to hospitals over the past 24-hour reporting period.

Additionally, at least 317 people were wounded in Israeli attacks over the same time. The figures bring the number of people killed in the territory since the start of Israel’s 20-month war to 55,998, with at least 131,559 wounded.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 5,685 Palestinians and injured 19,518 since Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas in March.

From the outset, Israel’s aims were unmistakable:

1) torpedo U.S.-Iran diplomacy;
2) drag Washington into conflict;
3) take out Iran’s nuclear and missile programs;
4) trigger regime change.

If the ceasefire Trump just announced holds—and is paired with serious U.S.-Iran diplomacy—it would mark a strategic defeat for Israel in launching this war.

Netanyahu took his shot. A desperate Hail Mary. And none of it has worked up until now.

Fordow was evacuated. The site may very well be intact.

And in any case, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and advanced centrifuges are now hidden, with a stronger covert breakout ability than ever.

The Iranian public has rallied in defense of the country and against foreign aggression.

If the government channels this unity into a new social contract, it could be transformative. If not, the old polarization may return.

Meanwhile, Iran has hit Israel hard over these 12 days: Tel Aviv, Haifa, the north, south, and other cities have seen major destruction. Military and intelligence sites damaged. Energy and research infrastructure hit.

Israel’s vaunted air defenses failed the test. Its reliance on the U.S. has never been clearer.

Netanyahu saw the costs of a war of attrition and blinked.

But for Iran, can any ceasefire be trusted?

Unless it’s tied to credible U.S. diplomacy—not maximalist demands—and unless Israel halts covert attacks and assassinations and continued airstrikes (a la Lebanon and Syria), this truce will likely collapse.

Trump helped create this mess by enabling Netanyahu.

If he truly wants to stop the region from being “destroyed,” as he just said, he’ll have to restrain Netanyahu and force a ceasefire in Gaza too.

Lasting peace is impossible until Netanyahu and his war-first approach is gone for good.

Sina Toossi on X:

2/ REMEMBER: Netanyahu explicitly said Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what he called the "existential threat of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles."

That hasn't happened! Far from it.

Sina Toossi on X

My internet was out today, just got restored. I'm glad to see a ceasefire announced, hoping it's not just another Trump lie or deception.

Of course the real question is whether Netanyahu will actually accept it and not treat it like the ceasefire in Lebanon. I doubt Iran will stand for continued assassinations and more Mossad shenanigans.

Anyway I'll comb through the news later.

Wave of Israeli strikes targets south Lebanon

Israeli air raids have targeted the outskirts of several areas in south Lebanon, including the villages of Zrariyeh, Kfrar Milki and Ansar, according to the country’s National News Agency.

Attacks appear to have targeted open areas outside of the towns. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Despite the ceasefire it reached with Hezbollah in November last year, Israel has been carrying out near-daily strikes on Lebanon.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned last week that the group may take “appropriate” measures if the war between Iran and Israel escalates. So far, the Iran-allied group has not militarily intervened in the conflict.


UN mission says medical facilities in Iran overwhelmed

The UN fact-finding mission on Iran has released a detailed statement on the situation in the country amid ongoing Israeli attacks. Among other things, it said:

Iran strikes on Israel: ‘We’ve never seen so much damage'

At least four waves of missiles were fired at Israel from Iran today, but not many in total – about 10 or so maximum.

Having monitored these missile launches for the past week, there seems to be a slight change in tactics: less missiles but much more disruption, launched over different periods of time.

Today, raid alert sirens sounded for up to 40 minutes in parts of Israel. One damaged an electricity substation, knocking out electricity to 8,000 residents in the Ashdod port area. It’s now been restored.

And this is coming at a financial cost to Israel. According to the tax authority director, so far, 40,000 claims for compensation have been made by Israelis, totalling $1.3bn. Thirty buildings will have to be demolished.

“We’ve never seen so much damage,” says the tax director.

Iran attacks US bases in Qatar, Iraq

Iran’s Tasnim news agency says a missile operation targeting US bases in Qatar and Iraq has begun. The operation, it said, is called “Annunciation of Victory”.

An unprecedented, choreographed attack

Many analysts think this could be a kind of choreographed attack – that is, the US was informed in advance, just like in 2020 when Iran retaliated for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, and Iran was reportedly aware in advance of the attack on Fordow. 

Muhanad Seloom, an assistant professor in critical security studies at the Doha Institute, says the significance of the attack is the escalation of the confrontation between Iran and the US, stressing that it is the first time ever Iran targeted US bases outside Iraq.

“They did that in the past in Iraq, and that country has been a battleground between the US and Iran probably since 2003,” he said, stressing that those attacks have been “normalised”. “Now, this is going way beyond Iraq by attacking a third country such as Qatar.”

He reminded that the Al Udeid Air Base, which was already evacuated, not only has US troops but also Qatari troops.

Qatar says one missile hit Al Udeid Air Base, no casualties

Qatar has confirmed that a total of 19 missiles were fired from Iran. It added that only one of those hit Al Udeid Air Base, but caused no casualties.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry says its air defence systems successfully intercepted missiles targeting the Al Udeid Air Base. In a statement, the ministry said the incident resulted in no deaths or injuries, crediting “the vigilance of the armed forces and precautionary measures taken”.

The ministry reassured the public that Qatari airspace and territory remain safe and that its armed forces are fully prepared to handle any threat.

Qatar says missile targeting Al Udeid was intercepted, no casualties reported

Qatar’s Defence Ministry says its air defence systems successfully intercepted missiles targeting the Al Udeid Air Base. In a statement, the ministry said the incident resulted in no deaths or injuries, crediting “the vigilance of the armed forces and precautionary measures taken”.

The ministry reassured the public that Qatari airspace and territory remain safe and that its armed forces are fully prepared to handle any threat.

It was all for show as we already know now (ceasefire)

Trump says Israel, Iran agreed to ceasefire

The US president has just announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a complete and total ceasefire, which will eventually lead to an end to the war.

Qatari PM secured Iran’s agreement to truce deal: Report

The Reuters news agency, citing an unnamed US source, is reporting that Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, secured Tehran’s agreement to the proposed US ceasefire between Israel and Iran during a call with Iranian officials.

The phone call came after US President Donald Trump told Qatar’s emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha’s help in persuading Tehran to agree to the deal, the official told Reuters.

Trump had earlier announced that both parties had agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire. The ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached after Iran struck the US airbase Al Udeid in Qatar late on Monday.

Meanwhile, no official confirmations have been issued by either Iran or Israel regarding the ceasefire.

Iran’s IRGC vows further response if provoked

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed it launched a missile strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, calling the attack a retaliatory response to what it described as a blatant US assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In a strongly worded statement carried by the official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC warned that any further acts of aggression would be met with force, declaring that US military bases in the region are now points of “vulnerability”.

Iran “will never leave any aggression against its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national security unanswered”.

The IRGC said the operation was coordinated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and signalled the end of the era of “hit-and-run” attacks. It also linked US actions to broader Israeli military goals, vowing continued resistance until the “Zionist entity” is dismantled.

Iran-backed Iraqi group says US attacks will not pass without ‘punishment’

Al-Nujaba Movement says the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities constitutes a crime that violates all legal and ethical norms. The Iraqi group portrayed Trump as an Israeli puppet, calling on “wise” people in the US to stop him from bringing woes to the country and the region.

Al-Nujaba Movement said in a statement that if Iran had not evacuated the nuclear facilities, the US strikes could have led to deadly radiation leaks. “All of this will not pass without accountability and punishment,” the group added.

EU’s Kallas to discuss Israel’s alleged human rights breaches with Tel Aviv

The European Union’s foreign policy chief says she would discuss with Israel a review conducted by the EU’s diplomatic service regarding the country’s human rights obligations.

The EU’s diplomatic service said on Friday there were indications Israel had breached its human rights obligations under the terms of a pact governing its ties with the bloc.

“I will now address the results of the review with Israel,” said Kallas at a news conference.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the EU report, which ministers discussed on Monday, as a “moral and methodological failure”.

Palestinian teenager succumbs to wounds after being shot by Israeli forces

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed the killing of 13-year-old Ammar Moataz Hamayel, who succumbed to his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces near the town of Kafr Malek, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli troops reportedly opened fire at the boy earlier in the evening and detained him for a period before handing him over to a Palestinian ambulance.

He was transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, where he was later pronounced dead, Wafa news agency reported.

Main events on June 23rd

• US President Trump announced on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a complete ceasefire, which would eventually lead to an end to the war.
• Iran launched a missile attack at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US troops, in retaliation for US strikes that targeted nuclear facilities in Iran on Sunday.
• Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty, while the Defence Ministry said Qatari forces intercepted the missiles, adding that the incident resulted in no deaths or injuries.
• The attack was condemned by many countries, including Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
• Israel resumed bombing Iran’s capital, Tehran, and announced attacks on government and military sites. Iran also sent waves of missiles and drones into Israel, with blasts heard in multiple cities.
• In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to bombard the enclave, killing at least 43 people, including 13 aid seekers.
• In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed a 13-year-old boy near Ramallah.

‘Loud explosions’ rock Tehran: Report

Sounds of several explosions have been heard across the Iranian capital, according to the country’s Tasnim news agency, amid reports that a ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel was reached and will come into effect in the next few hours.

In a post on X, Tasnim also reports that Iran activated air defence systems to repel the latest attacks carried out by Israeli aircraft.

According to Hamshahri News, “loud explosions” were heard in the west and centre of Tehran, as well as in the western suburb of Karaj.

Drone attacks Iraq’s Taji military base: Report

An unidentified drone attacked a site at Iraq’s Taji military base north of Baghdad, the Iraqi state news agency INA reported, citing a military official. There were no casualties, the official said.

The Drop Site investigative news outlet earlier posted video clips on X showing the purported explosion at the Taji military base.

Reports of drone attack near Baghdad airport

Iran’s Tasnim news agency is citing sources saying that the Victory Base Complex, a cluster of former US military installations in Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, has been hit by a drone attack.

Israeli officials reportedly under ‘gag order’ to not speak about ceasefire

No word whatsoever from the Israeli government and Israeli officials, who have not been speaking to Israeli media. Israeli media are reporting that there is a gag order in place for [Prime Minister Netanyahu] and all of his ministers and other government officials to not speak about the ceasefire.

That’s going to mean that if there is some sort of announcement from the Israelis, it is going to come directly from Netanyahu himself.

It’s also worth mentioning that, behind the scenes earlier in the day, there were Israeli officials saying that because of the pressure from President Trump, the Israelis were now trying to wrap all of this up by the end of the week.

This is before the announcement from the American president.

So it is still a little bit unclear where we stand now because there has been no word from Israeli officials.

Iran says ‘no agreement’ on any ceasefire as of yet

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says there is no agreement on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations as of now.

“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time [00:30 GMT], we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,” he wrote on X.

“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”

The Iranian foreign minister has issued a second statement on X, saying the military operations to punish Israel continued “until the very last minute, at 4am”.

“Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute,” Araghchi added.

This comes moments after the top diplomat said there was no formal agreement for a ceasefire, but that Iran will halt attacks if Israel ends its “aggression” by 4am local time (00:30 GMT).

Attack reported on Iraq’s Balad military base

The Balad military base in Iraq has come under attack, according to reports from the Kurdistan24 news channel, citing its correspondent in Baghdad.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the attack on the base, located in Iraq’s Salahuddin province about 100km (62 miles) north of the Iraqi capital.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency earlier reported that two explosions were heard inside the base, which previously served as the second-largest US base in Iraq.


Iraq’s Imam Ali base under attack: Report

The Al Sumaria TV network is reporting an attack on the radar systems at Imam Ali base in Iraq. The Baghdad-based television channel did not say who carried out the attack.

Imam Ali base is located in Iraq’s Dhi Qar governorate, just southwest of the provincial capital of Nasiriya.

Israeli attacks on Iran continue as FM says no ceasefire agreed ‘as of now’

This is what we heard from the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, coming out with a post on his X account saying that he cannot confirm so far that a deal has been reached.

Up until the very last hour, we have been able to hear the sounds of explosions across the capital and also reports about the sounds of explosions being heard in different Iranian cities, meaning that Israeli strikes continue.

And from previous statements, I can tell you that Iranians are saying that they are not going to stop as long as Israeli strikes continue.

Israel’s Home Front Command says ‘no change’ to situation as ceasefire reports conflict

Since the announcement by US President Donald Trump, there has been no word from Israeli officials.

Netanyahu actually convened his Security Cabinet – those are top ministers with defence positions and also his security chiefs – to discuss the situation at hand. However, there is a gag order in place.

Netanyahu told his government not to talk about any sort of ceasefire with the Iranians just yet. An indication that perhaps there are details that need to be finalised. That perhaps Israel didn’t agree to this. But there has been nothing official from the Israelis.

In fact, within the last hour, the Israeli military’s Home Front Command… has said that there are no changes in place and people still need to listen to the directives of the government and military. That places are still going to be closed and there are still bans and limitations on public gatherings.

Russia sees little chance of reviving Iran nuclear deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says he does not see conditions for restoring the 2015 deal, known as the JCPOA, but that now is the time to ramp up diplomacy.

Ryabkov’s comments to the Izvestia news outlet came before Trump claimed Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire.

“I do not see at the moment, conditions for restoring the [Iran deal],” Ryabkov told Izvestia. “But this does not mean abandoning diplomacy, quite the opposite. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to achieve… to come to some decisions that would help stabilise the situation.”

Ryabkov said that Russia “understood the logic and argumentation of our friends in Tehran, and of course, this means an end to the strikes, an end to further escalation by the other side”.

He said the cessation of attacks was the “clear pre-condition for our Iranian colleagues to consider their political-diplomatic options”.

The Iran nuclear deal, signed in 2015, aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. But Trump pulled Washington out of the pact in 2018, only to begin negotiations this year. Iran, however, cancelled the latest meeting after Israel launched attacks on the country.