JUST IN: IDF Confirms Striking Iranian Nuclear Camp In Preemptive Operation

Published

1 year ago

June 13, 2025

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JUST IN: IDF Confirms Striking Iranian Nuclear Camp In Preemptive Operation—-Israeli Defence Force (IDF) launched large-scale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it had targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Iran promised a harsh response and Israel said it was working to intercept about 100 drones launched towards Israeli territory in retaliation.

But around 08;00 GMT, Israeli media said an order to citizens to remain near protected areas had been lifted, suggesting that most or all the drones had been neutralised.

The price of crude oil leapt on fears of retaliatory attacks on a major oil producing region, but then eased back somewhat.

An Israeli security source said Israeli Mossad commandos had operated deep inside the Islamic Republic before the attack and the Israeli spy agency and military had led a series of covert operations against Iran’s strategic missile array.

Israel also established an attack-drone base near Tehran, the source added. The military said it had carried out a large-scale strike against Iran’s air defences, destroying “dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers”.

Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.

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Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps said its top commander, Hossein Salami, had been killed and state media reported the unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children were killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital, they said.

“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.

“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”

He warned Israelis that they might have to remain in shelter for extended periods.

At the same time, Israel has limited Iran’s ability to retaliate by severely weakening its Middle East allies since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, assassinating top leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Some 200 Israeli fighter jets took part in the strikes, hitting more than 100 targets in Iran, military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said.

He told an online briefing Israel had been able to confirm that the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards and the commander of Iran’s Emergency Command had all been killed in the strikes.

Six Iranian nuclear scientists were killed, Iranian state media reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said there was no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear site, citing information provided by Iranian authorities.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that Israel had “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand in a crime against Iran and that it would receive “a bitter fate for itself”.

REGIONAL AIRSPACE EMPTIES, FLIGHTS CANCELLED

Airlines quit the airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq and Jordan after the Israeli strikes, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers diverting or cancel flights.

Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia said they were moving their planes out of Israel and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut.

Dubai-based Emirates cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran as Iran closed its airspace.

The United States, which was due to hold the latest round of talks with Iran on restricting its nuclear programme on Sunday, said it had had no part in the operation.

The global crude oil benchmark Brent blend was up more than 6% at $73.73 at 08:21 GMT, but well down from peaks around $78.

The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said oil refining and storage facilities had not been damaged and continued to operate.

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of soldiers had been called up and “prepared across all borders”.

“We are amidst a historic campaign unlike any other. This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat, by an enemy who is intent on destroying us,” he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and that the United States was hoping to get back to the negotiating table, in an interview with Fox News after the start of the Israeli air strikes on Iran.

“We will see,” Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin quoted Trump as saying in a post on X.

U.S. officials have repeatedly said that any new nuclear deal with Iran – to replace a 2015 accord between Tehran and six world powers from which Trump withdrew – must include a commitment to scrap enrichment, a potential pathway to developing nuclear bombs.

NUCLEAR TALKS WITH IRAN DUE ON SUNDAY

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied such intentions, saying it wants nuclear energy only for civilian purposes, and has publicly rejected Washington’s demand to scrap enrichment as an attack on its national sovereignty.

The IAEA’s Board of Governors on Thursday declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

Iran said in a statement that Israel’s “cowardly” attack showed why Iran had to insist on enrichment, nuclear technology and missile power.

The Israeli military said it had been forced to act by new intelligence information showing that Iran was “approaching the point of no return” in the development of a nuclear weapon.

But a source familiar with U.S. intelligence reports said there had been no recent change in the U.S. assessment that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei had not authorised a resumption of the nuclear weapons programme that was shut in 2003.

Trump was convening a meeting the National Security Council on Friday morning, the White House said. He had said on Thursday that an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen” but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.

Iran’s armed forces spokesperson said Israel and its chief ally the United States would pay a “heavy price” for the attack, accusing Washington of providing support for the operation.

While the U.S. tried to distance itself from Israel’s attack, an Israeli official told public broadcaster Kan that Israel had coordinated with Washington.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was not involved in the strikes and Tel Aviv had acted unilaterally for self-defence.

U.S. and Iranian officials are scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday. A U.S. official said those talks were still due to proceed.

The attacks triggered sharp falls in stock prices in Asian trade, led by a selloff in U.S. futures. Israel’s shekel slid nearly 2%.

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BREAKING: Vinícius Rescues Brazil as Morocco Hold Selecao to Thrilling World Cup Opener

Published

4 days ago

June 14, 2026

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BREAKING: Vinícius Rescues Brazil as Morocco Hold Selecao to Thrilling World Cup Opener—-Morocco stunned the five-time champions with an early breakthrough before Vinícius Júnior’s moment of brilliance earned Brazil a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Group C.

Brazil were forced to settle for a point in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a spirited Morocco side held the South American giants to a 1-1 draw in a captivating Group C encounter at MetLife Stadium.

The Atlas Lions struck first in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Brahim Díaz before calmly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alisson Becker to give Morocco a deserved lead. The African side’s intensity and organization troubled Brazil throughout the opening stages.

Brazil responded through their star man Vinícius Júnior, who produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 32nd minute. The Real Madrid winger drove into the box and unleashed a powerful finish beyond Yassine Bounou to restore parity and ignite the Brazilian supporters.

Despite enjoying more possession after the break, Brazil struggled to break down a disciplined Moroccan defence. Morocco, meanwhile, continued to threaten on the counterattack and arguably created the clearer opportunities in the closing stages.

The result leaves Group C finely poised, with both teams earning a valuable point in what was billed as one of the most anticipated fixtures of the opening round. While Brazil avoided an early setback thanks to Vinícius’ heroics, Morocco once again demonstrated why they remain one of the most dangerous sides on the international stage.

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Alpha Morgan Bank Delivers Historic N1.9 billion PBT in First 10 Months of Operations

Published

2 weeks ago

June 1, 2026

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Alpha Morgan Bank Delivers Historic N1.9 billion PBT in First 10 Months of Operations

Alpha Morgan Bank has announced a landmark financial performance, recording Profit Before Tax of N1.9 billion in just 10 months of operations, a result that stands as a major milestone in Nigeria’s banking industry and reinforces the Bank’s emergence as one of the country’s most remarkable new-generation financial institutions.

With this performance, Alpha Morgan Bank did not only break-even within an exceptionally short period, but also delivered what is believed to be a record-setting early-profit performance in the Nigerian banking sector, underlining the strength of its strategy, the discipline of its execution and the confidence the market has placed in its business model.

The Bank’s strong debut performance was supported by robust growth across key financial and operating indicators. Highlights of the 10-month financial statement include customer deposit of over ₦103BN, gross earning of ₦13.1 billion, net interest margin of 67%, non-performing loan ratio of 0%.

The performance was driven largely by strong synergy in customer acquisition and branch expansion, a deliberate focus on growth in demand deposits, creation of quality risk assets and balance sheet efficiency. These achievements were further supported by robust operational processes powered by sound technology and systems, management depth and expertise, experience and strategic oversight provided by the Bank’s Board.

Speaking on the performance, the Managing Director, Ade Buraimo, described the result as a significant validation of the Bank’s vision, business model and execution capacity.

“This is more than a financial milestone; it is a strong statement of what is possible when vision, discipline, sound execution, and market opportunity come together. From inception, Alpha Morgan Bank was built to be a commercial bank that is solution-driven and committed to delivering value at scale. To record a PBT of N1.9 billion in our first 10 months of operations is both historic and deeply encouraging. It reflects the dedication of our people, the trust of our customers and the solid foundation we have laid for long-term growth.”

About Alpha Morgan Bank

Alpha Morgan Bank is a customer-centric, innovative, and solutions-driven commercial bank, with a clear commitment to delivering “Satisfying Banking.”

Alpha Morgan Bank commenced operations in March 2025 with the rare distinction of regulatory approval for 14 branches across the country. This early footprint, combined with disciplined market execution, has enabled the Bank to build momentum across key business segments in record time.

Alpha Morgan Bank focuses on:

Human-Centred Technology: Digital tools designed for intuitive, everyday relevance and not vanity metrics.
Transparent Operations: From pricing to service promises, every process is clear, accountable, and customer friendly.
Customer-Centric Innovation: Continuously developing solutions and services driven by customer insights to deliver meaningful value and enhance satisfaction.

More than a financial institution, Alpha Morgan Bank positions itself as a partner in progress. Its vision is to drive possibilities, enable dreams, and reemphasize what it means to experience Satisfying Banking in Nigeria.

More about Alpha Morgan Bank on www.alphamorganbank.com

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