Connect with us
IDF Confirms Striking Iranian Nuclear Camp

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

More Videos

Published

on

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.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

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%.

Facebook 0 Twitter/X 0 LinkedIn0 WhatsApp0 0Shares
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Sports

BREAKING: Manchester City Agree £125m Deal to Sign Enzo Fernández From Chelsea On Deadline Day

Published

on

BREAKING: Manchester City Agree £125m Deal to Sign Enzo Fernández From Chelsea On Deadline Day—-Cityzens have reached a British record-equalling agreement with Chelsea for the Argentina international on Deadline Day, with Fernández set to undergo his medical.

Manchester City have agreed a £125 million deal with Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernández in one of the biggest transfers of Deadline Day.

The agreement, reported by Sky Sports and other leading outlets, will see the Argentina international leave Stamford Bridge for the Etihad Stadium in a move that matches the British transfer record previously set by Liverpool’s £125m signing of Alexander Isak.

Fernández is expected to undergo his medical before completing the transfer, with City working against the clock to finalise the deal before the summer transfer window closes.

Maresca Reunites With Fernández

The move will see Fernández reunite with Enzo Maresca, who previously coached him at Chelsea and is now Manchester City’s manager.

Maresca is understood to have been a major driving force behind City’s pursuit of the midfielder as he looks to reshape his squad and strengthen the centre of midfield.

Fernández played an important role during Maresca’s time at Stamford Bridge, helping Chelsea win major silverware before the Italian manager’s move to Manchester.

Chelsea Accept Record Fee

Chelsea signed Fernández from Benfica in January 2023 for approximately £107 million, making him one of the most expensive players in Premier League history at the time.

Just over three years later, Chelsea have agreed to sell the 25-year-old for £125 million, representing a significant return on their original investment.

The Argentine had recently been left out of Chelsea’s squad for successive matches, increasing speculation that his Stamford Bridge future was coming to an end.

City Make Deadline-Day Statement

Manchester City had been pursuing Fernández for much of the summer, but negotiations intensified dramatically as the transfer deadline approached.

Chelsea had previously valued their midfielder at around £120 million and had initially expected him to remain at the club after an earlier deadline for bids passed without a formal offer. However, City’s interest never disappeared, and the two clubs eventually found an agreement on Deadline Day.

The final £125 million package now puts Fernández level with the British transfer record.

Fernández Begins New Chapter

For Fernández, the transfer brings an end to a turbulent period at Chelsea and opens a new chapter under a manager he already knows.

The World Cup-winning midfielder arrived in England with enormous expectations after starring for Argentina and Benfica.

At Manchester City, he will be expected to become a central figure in Maresca’s midfield and help the club compete on multiple fronts.

A Record-Breaking Transfer

The £125 million agreement places Fernández among the most expensive players in football history and makes the Deadline Day transfer one of the biggest stories of the summer window.

City are now racing to complete the remaining formalities, including the medical, before the deadline.

Facebook 0 Twitter/X 0 LinkedIn0 WhatsApp0 0Shares
Continue Reading

Sports

BREAKING: Leo Messi Announces Retirement From International Football After 21-Year Argentina Career

Published

on

BREAKING: Leo Messi Announces Retirement From International Football After 21-Year Argentina Career—-Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player has called time on his international career after guiding the nation to the 2022 World Cup title and the 2026 final.

Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 21-year career with the national team.

The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday through an emotional statement posted on Instagram, saying he had reached a point where he felt there was “nothing more to give” and that a new generation of Argentine players deserved an opportunity.

Messi’s announcement comes weeks after Argentina reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they were defeated by Spain. He had captained his country throughout the tournament and remained one of Argentina’s most influential players.

A Difficult Decision for Argentina’s Greatest

Messi admitted that walking away from the national team was an extremely painful decision.

The Argentine icon revealed that he had already written his retirement message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, but did not immediately make the decision public.

The recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier in August further strengthened his resolve to step away from international football.

Messi said he had always given everything to Argentina and believed the time had come to allow younger players to take over.

A Record-Breaking International Career

Messi leaves the Argentina national team as the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals.

His international career finally brought the major trophies that had once appeared out of reach.

After heartbreaking defeats in major finals, Messi eventually led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, followed by the 2022 Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He also helped Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, giving him another memorable chapter in the national team’s history.

The End of an Era

Messi made his Argentina senior debut in 2005, beginning a journey that would span more than two decades.

He endured criticism and disappointment early in his international career, particularly after Argentina’s defeats in major finals. But his persistence ultimately transformed his relationship with the national team and its supporters.

The World Cup triumph in Qatar cemented his status as an Argentine football legend, while his record-breaking statistics placed him among the greatest international players in football history.

Messi Says He Will Support Argentina From Outside

Although his playing days with Argentina are over, Messi made it clear that his love for the national team has not changed.

He said he would now support the team as a fan, cheering them on through the good times and the difficult moments.

His departure leaves Argentina without the player who has been at the centre of its football identity for more than 20 years.

For a generation of supporters, the sight of Messi wearing Argentina’s famous No. 10 shirt will now belong to history.

Lionel Messi leaves international football with 207 caps, 125 goals, a World Cup title, two Copa América titles and an extraordinary legacy as one of Argentina’s greatest-ever footballers.

Facebook 0 Twitter/X 0 LinkedIn0 WhatsApp0 0Shares
Continue Reading

Trending

Facebook 0 Twitter/X 0 LinkedIn0 WhatsApp0 0Shares