International
Iran launches new strikes on Israel
Iran launches new strikes on Israel
Israel and Iran launched strikes against each other for a third day on Sunday, with both countries vowing to continue responding to attacks.
On Sunday evening, there were explosions in the sky above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Israel’s defence system shot down missiles fired from Iran.
In overnight strikes on Saturday, ten people, including two children, were killed and more than 100 injured in Israel, authorities said.
Israel said its strikes had hit dozens of targets in Tehran. Iranian media, quoting the health ministry, said 224 Iranians had been killed and 1,277 injured as of Sunday evening.
Israel initially launched an attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and other targets on Friday.
Iran later confirmed the head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit, Mohammad Kazemi, had been killed, alongside a deputy and another commander.
BBC journalists are unable to report from inside Iran due to restrictions by the country’s government, making it difficult to assess the damage caused by Israel’s offensive.
In Israel, sirens blared on Sunday evening, causing people to take shelter as incoming missiles were intercepted.
Iran’s state TV said the country attacked Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities with “tens of Iranian missiles and drones”.
Israeli police confirmed a weapon hit “one of the settlements” in the northern coastal port city of Haifa, where footage showed thick columns of smoke rising into the night sky.
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“At this stage, no reports of casualties have been received, but property damage has occurred,” officials said.
The evening attack came after overnight strikes into Sunday morning, which hit homes in northern and central Israel.
A 10-storey block of flats in Bat Yam was struck in the early hours, killing six people, including a 10-year-old-boy and a eight-year-old girl. Others were trapped underneath rubble.
Four people were also killed in Iranian attacks on the northern Arab town of Tamra, according to emergency services and the local hospital.
Rescue paramedic Ori Lazarovich, who was working at the scene in Bat Yam, told BBC News: “We started triaging people, while the building was still on fire on one side.
“Some were crying and some were holding their family members, I saw fear in their eyes.”
“People came out all grey, covered in soot and ash and debris and suffering from smoke inhalation,” he added.
A woman who lived in a building next to the blast zone in Bat Yam sat surrounded by suitcases.
“We’ve been here 24 years and now we have to start over. I’m holding myself back from crying,” she told the BBC.
Visiting the scene of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would pay a “very heavy price” for “the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children”.
Meanwhile in Iran, Tehran’s oil ministry said the Shahran oil depot in the capital was hit by Israeli strikes overnight.
Israel’s military said fighter jets struck more than 80 targets in Tehran overnight, including the Iranian Ministry of Defense and “additional targets where the Iranian regime hid the nuclear archive”.
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An aerial refuelling aircraft was also struck at an airport in the north-east city Mashhad.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a warning on social media to the Iranian people, telling them to stay away from all weapons manufacturing facilities.
Writing in Farsi, IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said: “For your own safety, we ask you to evacuate these facilities immediately and not to return until further notice.”
One resident in Tehran told BBC Persian: “Everyone is trying to escape Tehran – one way or another”.
Another said: “Tehran isn’t safe, clearly. We get no alarms or warnings from officials about Israeli attacks. We just hear the blasts and hope our place isn’t hit.
“But where can we go? Nowhere feels safe.”
Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that he thinks Israel has set Iran “back quite a bit” in its nuclear capacity.
“I think they were completely surprised,” he said.
Between Saturday and Sunday, the officially reported death toll in the country increased by almost 100 – from 128 up to 224.
However, other estimates put the number of fatalities in the country much higher.
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a Washington-based human rights organisation that has long tracked Iran, said the total number of civilian or military deaths in the country over the past two days – as of 22:00 GMT on Saturday – reached at least 863.
Both countries have promised further retaliation
“If [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country had the right to defend itself from aggression – and that Israel must stop its attacks.
Three US officials told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that US President Donald Trump rejected a recent Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
During an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu did not directly confirm or deny the story, first reported by Reuters.
The Iranian former crown prince Reza Pahlavi – the son of Iran’s former Shah who was overthrown in the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution – has told the BBC people who oppose the country’s government have been “re-energised” by Israel’s attacks, which killed senior Iranian military leaders.
“The ultimate solution is regime change, and now we have an opportunity because this regime is at its weakest point,” he said, speaking from exile on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show.
On Sunday, Trump told ABC News that “it’s possible [the US] could get involved” after reaffirming the country is not involved in the conflict “at this moment”.
He added he is “open” to Russia’s Vladimir Putin becoming a mediator between the two sides.
Iran launches new strikes on Israel
BBC
International
Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges
Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges
A 26-year-old United States citizen of Nigerian origin, Olaolukitan Adon Abel, has been arrested in connection with a series of shootings that claimed the lives of two women and left a man critically injured in the state of Georgia.
The incidents occurred across multiple locations, including DeKalb County and Brookhaven, sparking widespread concern among residents. Authorities have described the attacks as seemingly random, with no confirmed motive at this stage.
According to law enforcement officials, the shootings took place at a Checkers outlet on Wesley Chapel Road, a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza in Brookhaven, and along Battle Forest Drive in DeKalb County.
Investigators were able to trace Abel through rental vehicle records, leading to his eventual arrest in Troup County. He is currently facing two counts of murder, along with charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.
During a court hearing on Tuesday, a DeKalb County magistrate judge transferred the case to a superior court after the suspect’s legal team waived a formal reading of the charges. Details regarding his next court appearance have not yet been disclosed.
Authorities also revealed that this is not Abel’s first encounter with the law. He was previously convicted of a felony in California in 2024. In a separate case last year, he was arrested in Savannah and later pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. He was subsequently sentenced to 48 months’ probation, banned from the city for four years, and ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation.
Court records from Chatham County confirm that Abel is a United States citizen.
Police officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, emphasizing that the suspect is now in custody. Investigations remain ongoing as detectives continue to analyze evidence to determine the circumstances and motive behind the attacks.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” a police spokesperson said, adding that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice and public safety.
Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges
International
US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers
US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers
The United States Senate has voted against a resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to carry out further military strikes on Iran without prior approval from Congress, in a move that underscores deep divisions in Washington over war powers and executive authority.
In a closely watched vote, senators rejected the measure by 52 votes to 47, effectively allowing the president to continue ongoing military operations against Iran without needing immediate congressional authorization.
The proposed resolution, introduced under the framework of the War Powers Act, was aimed at reasserting Congress’s constitutional role in decisions involving armed conflict. Lawmakers backing the measure argued that the escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran required clear legislative approval to prevent a broader and potentially prolonged war.
However, the effort fell short, with most Republican senators voting against the proposal, aligning with the president’s position that the executive branch retains the authority to act swiftly in matters of national security. The vote largely followed party lines, although there were notable exceptions. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke ranks to support the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it.
Supporters of the failed measure warned that allowing continued military engagement without congressional oversight risks setting a dangerous precedent and undermines the balance of powers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They maintained that Congress must play a decisive role in authorizing acts of war, particularly in a volatile region like the Middle East.
Opponents, however, contended that imposing restrictions on the president at this stage could weaken the United States’ strategic position and limit its ability to respond effectively to emerging threats. They argued that the commander-in-chief must retain flexibility to protect American interests and personnel.
This marks the latest in a series of unsuccessful attempts by lawmakers to curb presidential war-making powers in relation to Iran. Analysts note that the repeated failure of such measures reflects enduring political divisions and the challenges Congress faces in reclaiming authority over military engagements.
The vote comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with concerns growing internationally over the risk of further escalation. While the Senate’s decision preserves the president’s current latitude to act, it also signals that the debate over war powers is far from settled, with the possibility of renewed legislative efforts in the coming weeks.
As the situation continues to evolve, attention is expected to remain focused on both the White House and Capitol Hill, where questions over the scope of executive power and the role of Congress in matters of war and peace persist.
US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers
International
Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran
Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that China has agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
In a statement shared via his verified account on X (formerly Twitter), Trump said he had secured an understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping to prevent arms transfers to Tehran.
“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting???” Trump wrote.
He added a warning note on U.S. military strength, stating that while diplomacy remains preferable, the United States is “very good at fighting, if we have to — far better than anyone else.”
The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran and ongoing military developments in the region, which Trump referred to as “Operation Epic Fury.” However, no official confirmation has been provided by the U.S. government or international bodies regarding the existence or scope of such an operation.
Chinese authorities have not publicly confirmed any agreement to halt weapons transfers to Iran as of the time of filing this report. Analysts note that Beijing has historically maintained strategic and economic ties with Tehran, making any sudden policy shift significant if verified. Foreign policy experts have also urged caution in interpreting Trump’s statement, stressing that it reflects his personal account rather than a confirmed diplomatic agreement.
If substantiated, such an arrangement could mark a major development in international efforts to contain military escalation in the Middle East. China remains a key global player with influence over Iran, and any restriction on arms supply could affect the balance of power in the region. However, in the absence of independent verification, observers say the claim should be treated as part of ongoing political messaging rather than established fact.
Trump has remained an influential voice in U.S. and global politics, frequently using his social media platforms to comment on international affairs and ongoing conflicts.
Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran
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