Israeli airstrikes shake Tehran as Iran warns US against entering conflict

Dhaka, June 18 -- Israeli warplanes launched fresh attacks on Tehran overnight, striking key military and nuclear-linked facilities, while Iran responded with a limited missile volley toward Israel, resulting in no reported casualties. Amid rising tensions, Iran issued a stark warning to the United States, saying any intervention could trigger a full-scale regional war.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, speaking to Al Jazeera English, cautioned that "any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war." While he didn't go into detail, the presence of thousands of U.S. troops stationed across nearby countries makes the situation highly volatile.

Israel's latest attacks reportedly targeted a uranium centrifuge production site and a missile manufacturing facility. The Israeli military also claimed to have intercepted 10 missiles overnight, as Iran's retaliatory strikes appeared to decrease.

Israel's assault on Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure began last Friday with a surprise offensive. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists group, the strikes have so far killed at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, and injured over 1,300.

Iran, in response, has launched about 400 missiles and numerous drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and injuring hundreds more. Residential areas in central Israel have been hit, triggering frequent air raid sirens and panic among civilians.

Iran's reduced missile activity may be linked to Israeli strikes on launch facilities, although Tehran has not provided an explanation.

In Washington, all eyes are on President Donald Trump, who has so far distanced himself from direct involvement but hinted at deeper engagement, suggesting he wants more than a ceasefire. U.S. forces and additional warplanes have been deployed to the region as a precaution.

Casualties in Iran Continue to Rise

The Human Rights Activists group reported that among those killed in Iran, 239 were civilians and 126 were security forces. Known for verifying reports through a network of in-country sources, the group had also tracked casualties during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests.

Iran has not regularly released casualty figures and tends to downplay them. Its latest official update, issued Monday, reported 224 dead and 1,277 wounded.

Israel-Iran tensions spark security concerns in Pakistan

In Tehran, the capital is reeling. Shops have shuttered, the Grand Bazaar is largely closed, and people are lining up for gas while fleeing the city. Loud explosions, including a major blast around 5 a.m. Wednesday, rattled the city, with reports suggesting one strike hit the Hakimiyeh area - home to a Revolutionary Guard academy. Iranian authorities have remained silent on the bombardment.

No De-escalation in Sight

Israel claims its military campaign is aimed at halting Iran's nuclear ambitions, following what it says was a failed two-month window for diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. Trump reportedly greenlit the Israeli action after this deadline expired.

Although Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, it continues enriching uranium up to 60%, nearing weapons-grade levels. U.S. intelligence, however, has not concluded that Iran is actively building a bomb.

Israeli strikes killed at least 585 people in Iran, human rights group says

As the war entered its sixth day, rhetoric escalated on both sides. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on social media, "We will show the Zionists no mercy," while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz proclaimed, "A storm is passing over Tehran... This is how dictatorships collapse."

Trump Demands Iran's Total Surrender

On social media, Trump called for Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER," claiming he knows the whereabouts of Khamenei but has no immediate plans to target him. He also held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

Iran did not directly respond to Trump's remarks, but top military officials warned of more attacks. Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi said the current operations were just the beginning, with a "punishment operation" still to come.

Israeli Repatriation Flights Resume

For the first time since Ben Gurion International Airport was closed due to missile attacks, two flights from Larnaca, Cyprus, landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, according to airport spokesperson Lisa Dvir. The airspace shutdown had stranded thousands of Israelis overseas and disrupted flight routes throughout the region.

Source: With inputs from agency