News Update: June 18, 2025
Time: 5.57 IST
Trump Holds Security Meet Amid Rising Iran-Israel Tensions
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump convened a high-level National Security Council meeting on Tuesday, June 17, to assess the escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran. The White House confirmed the meeting as speculation mounts over Washington&rsquo;s possible entry into the conflict alongside Israeli forces.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump is reportedly weighing options that include direct military involvement against Tehran, marking a potential turning point in the widening Middle East crisis.
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News Published: June 18, 2025
Time: 5:34 IST
The <a title="Iran-Israel War" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/opinion/arab-silence-as-iran-burns-exposes-deep-regional-rifts/14008" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel-Iran conflict</a> has entered its sixth day with no signs of a ceasefire, as the war theatre expands from the skies over Tehran to the heart of Tel Aviv. The spectre of regional war has now reached a critical juncture, with Washington appearing ever closer to entering the battlefield.
The situation escalated overnight as Israeli air raids pummelled military and civilian sites across Tehran and key Iranian provinces. Simultaneously, Iran launched a large barrage of ballistic missiles targeting central and northern Israel, with at least two missiles reportedly striking Tel Aviv, triggering widespread panic.
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In the early hours of Wednesday, Israel's Air Force confirmed a new wave of attacks on Tehran, describing the mission as targeting &ldquo;missile launch and storage sites.&rdquo; Multiple explosions rocked Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz, while the Iranian military claimed to have intercepted several incoming Israeli munitions.
Tehran's skyline turned into a warzone as missile strikes damaged infrastructure and residential quarters, prompting a mass exodus. Long queues of cars stretched across fuel stations and highways, as families fled the capital amidst warnings of further Israeli raids. At least a dozen military and strategic locations were said to have been targeted, including facilities in the Natanz nuclear complex. The IAEA, having analysed satellite imagery, confirmed damage to enrichment halls in Natanz but found no significant impact on sites in Fordow and Isfahan.
In retaliation, Iran launched &ldquo;Operation True Promise III&rdquo;, firing over 30 ballistic missiles toward Israeli cities. <a title="Israel" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/mossad-hq-allegedly-hit-in-iranian-missile-strike/14118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tel Aviv</a> bore the brunt, with at least two missiles reportedly landing in the centre of the city, setting off a wave of explosions and panic. Sirens wailed across central Israel, and the US Embassy in Jerusalem announced a temporary three-day closure citing the deteriorating security environment.
Diplomatic pressure is mounting globally. Russia, which has condemned the Israeli strikes as &ldquo;illegal,&rdquo; has offered to mediate, though Moscow acknowledged Israeli reluctance to engage in talks. Jordan&rsquo;s King Abdullah II warned of catastrophic consequences, calling the escalation a threat &ldquo;to people everywhere.&rdquo;
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ALSO READ:https://www.benefitnews24.com/editorial/middle-east-war-risks-global-power-realignment/14051
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, following a security briefing, hinted at deeper American involvement. In a strongly worded statement, he declared that Iran must accept &ldquo;unconditional surrender,&rdquo; boasting that the US now exercises full control over Iranian airspace. &ldquo;We know exactly where Khamenei is hiding,&rdquo; Trump said in a post, adding that the option to target Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader remained &ldquo;off the table &mdash; for now.&rdquo;
Vice President JD Vance signalled further American military action was under consideration to end Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions. Speculation is rife that precision US strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure could be imminent, pending a final decision from the Oval Office.
Despite international appeals for calm from France and various Middle Eastern nations, Israel remains determined to dismantle Iran&rsquo;s retaliatory capabilities. Prime Minister Netanyahu held another call with Trump, urging the US to step in militarily. Washington&rsquo;s next move could determine whether this regional crisis escalates into a broader international war.
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/geo-politics/egypt-us-discuss-urgent-de-escalation-in-mideast-crisis/13926

exchange of air strike continued between Israel-Iran

Israel pounds Tehran, Iran hits Tel Aviv; Trump hints at US military action, no ceasefire in sight

Tehran, Tel Aviv Burn as War Enters Sixth Day

Israel pounds Tehran, Iran hits Tel Aviv; Trump hints at US military action, no ceasefire in sight

June 18, 2025 | 11:04 IST

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