Skip next section Israeli strike hits area near Iran’s Khondab nuclear facility
06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Israeli strike hits area near Iran’s Khondab nuclear facility
An area near the heavy-water research reactor in Khondab, a key site in Iran’s nuclear program, was struck by Israeli forces, according to a report by the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) on Thursday.
ISNA said that officials had evacuated the facility before the attack and emphasized that there was no radiation risk.
The reactor, formerly known as Arak, is still under construction. Iran has informed the UN nuclear watchdog that it plans to begin operating the facility next year.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wAIO
Skip next section Iranian missile hits hospital in southern Israel06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Iranian missile hits hospital in southern Israel
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has reported a direct hit on a hospital in the south, after Iran launched another round of missile attacks on the country on Thursday morning.
“BREAKING: A direct hit has been reported at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel. More details to follow,” the ministry posted on X.
A hospital spokesperson said there had been “damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA9Y
Skip next section At least 639 killed in Israeli strikes on Iran, human rights group says
06/19/2025June 19, 2025
At least 639 killed in Israeli strikes on Iran, human rights group says
The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists says Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,329 others.
Of those killed, the group identified 263 civilians and 154 security force personnel.
Iran has not given regular updates on the number of people killed in Israeli strikes. On Monday, the figure given was 224 killed and 1,277 injured.
At least 24 people have been killed by Iranian strikes in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA4d
Skip next section Israel’s Iran attack sparks legal debate06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Israel’s Iran attack sparks legal debate
Israel says it struck Iran in self-defense, fearing a nuclear threat.
But international law covering self-defense by states is very strict — fueling heated debate about the legality of Israel’s initial attack.
Read the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA5G
Skip next section Iranian official threatens US if attacked
06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Iranian official threatens US if attacked
‘s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi threatened to retaliate against the United States if it enters the war on Israel’s side.
“If the Americans get involved… our hands will not be tied,” Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN, adding that Iran would not be restrained in its response to a US intervention.
“We will do whatever is necessary to protect our people and our interests,” the official said.
While the US government supports Israel’s defense efforts, it has said that it is not participating in the military conflict between Israel and Iran.
However, US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is considering it. On Thursday, US outlet Bloomberg News reported that senior White House officials were planning for a possible US attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA4c
Skip next section Israeli military says it is striking Tehran and other parts of Iran
06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Israeli military says it is striking Tehran and other parts of Iran
‘s military announced that it was carrying out a “series of strikes” around the Iranian capital Tehran and other areas of Iran.
The intended targets of the strikes were not immediately disclosed. The strikes came after Israel said it had intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” launched from Iran.
Earlier, the Iranian semi-official news agency SNN reported that air defense systems had been activated in central Tehran.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) also advised Iranians in two villages to evacuate the area around Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor.
Heavy water is used to cool reactors but can also be used to produce plutonium, another possible source for a nuclear weapon.
“The IDF issues an urgent warning to residents, workers and those present in the area of the two Iranian cities of Arak and Khondab, in the areas marked on the map, to evacuate immediately before the IDF targets military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime,” it wrote on social media in Arabic and Farsi.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA4f
Skip next section German, French, British foreign ministers to meet Iranian counterpart06/19/2025June 19, 2025
German, French, British foreign ministers to meet Iranian counterpart
The foreign ministers of , and the are set to meet with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, news agencies reported on Wednesday evening, citing diplomatic sources.
The meeting is being coordinated by German Foreign Minister , who recently changed plans to visit Lebanon, Syria and Israel to instead hold crisis talks in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman following Israel’s strikes on Iran last Friday.
Muscat, in particular, is believed to maintain very strong contacts with Tehran and had been mediating in negotiations between the and Iran for nearly two months prior to Israel’s attack.
The meeting was reportedly being coordinated with Washington.
Wadephul is hoping to launch an initiative involving the so-called “E3” — Germany, France and the UK — as well as with neighboring Arab states such as Oman to help bring about a diplomatic solution to the current conflict.
“It’s never too late to come to the negotiating table,” Wadephul said earlier in the day.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA3I
Skip next section Summary: What happened on Wednesday, day 6?
06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Summary: What happened on Wednesday, day 6?
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the countries.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said warplanes had struck an Iranian centrifuge production site in Tehran, along with a number of weapons factories in the latest series of strikes.
The first plane carrying Israelis who were stranded abroad because of flight cancellations landed at Ben Gurion Airport.
Iran’s ambassador to the , Ali Bahreini, said the country would “respond strongly” to Israel’s “aggression” as well as to the United States, should it join the hostilities.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it had information that two facilities in Iran that made centrifuge parts have been hit.
US President said Iran had approached him to re-enter the negotiations over the country’s nuclear program. He also said he has not yet made a decision on whether to order the US military to join the Israeli campaign in Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to Tehran due to remarks made a day earlier by Chancellor , saying that by striking Iran, Israel was
At the same time, there have been continued reports of Palestinians being killed close to aid distribution sites in Gaza.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA3e
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage06/19/2025June 19, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Welcome to DW’s coverage of the escalating .
While the countries continue to exchange strikes, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom hope to help bring about a diplomatic solution to the current conflict.
According to media reports, the foreign ministers of the three European countries are scheduled to meet with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.
In addition to the latest news, this blog will bring you photos, videos, analysis and on-the-ground reporting from DW correspondents.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wA3d
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