According to Israeli sources, Iran used a missile with multiple warheads. Israel's threat against Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei is barely concealed. And US President Trump has set himself a deadline for a decision on American intervention. More in the live ticker.
Israel and Iran continue their mutual attacks. The Israeli military attacked a nuclear facility in Arak on Thursday. Iran, in turn, fired missiles at Israel. Speculation continues about a possible US entry into the war, which US President Donald Trump himself fueled this evening.
Since last Friday, Israel has been attacking nuclear facilities in Iran, among other things, killing several military leaders and nuclear scientists. The"preemptive strike" was justified by Iran's advanced nuclear program.
All developments of the military conflict:
7:39 PM – Trump wants to decide within two weeks whether the US will attack Iran
US President Donald Trump plans to decide within the next two weeks whether the US will intervene alongside Israel in the war against Iran. This is happening against the backdrop of a"significant opportunity" for negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt quoted the president as saying at a press conference.
19:31 – Insider: Iran and the USA have recently held several direct talks
According to insiders, high-ranking representatives from Iran and the US have held direct talks several times since the beginning of the Israeli-Iranian conflict. According to three diplomats, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi spoke by phone. The aim was to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. According to the diplomats, Aragchi said his country would not return to negotiations until Israel ceased its attacks. According to the insiders, a US proposal from late May to establish a regional consortium to enrich uranium outside of Iran was also briefly discussed. Iran has so far rejected the proposal.
5:37 PM – Government-critical rapper Salehi imprisoned in Iran
The well-known Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has reportedly been detained. He was arrested on the island of Kish in the Persian Gulf, according to his Telegram channel. No information was available about which authority arrested him, where he is being held, or his health status.
Salehi, 35, was arrested during the wave of protests in the fall of 2022. He expressed his solidarity on social media early on with the demonstrators protesting against the government's repressive policies and the Islamic system of rule. The judiciary initially sentenced him to death, but later overturned the sentence. For insulting Islamic holy sites and inciting unrest on social media, he was imprisoned in Dastgerd Prison in the city of Isfahan, where he served his sentence and was released in December 2024.
4:55 p.m. – Families of German diplomats to leave
Due to the war between Israel and Iran, the Federal Foreign Office has called on the families of those posted to German missions abroad to leave the country."With a view to the security of our missions abroad, the Federal Foreign Office has taken further necessary measures. This includes, among other things, the departure of all family members," the ministry announced in Berlin. Details were not being disclosed for security reasons. The fate of German embassy staff in Israel and other countries in the region was left open.
16:43 – Merz and Emir of Qatar warn against escalation of the war
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Emir of Qatar have warned against an escalation of the war between Israel and Iran. Both emphasized in a telephone conversation on Thursday morning that there must be room for diplomatic efforts, said government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius. The Chancellor informed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani about the meeting planned for Friday in Geneva between the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Great Britain and the Iranian foreign minister. Merz also expressed his grave concern about Iran's nuclear program, which threatens the security and stability of the region. The Chancellor and Emir also emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza. Relations between the two countries should be expanded. Qatar is also an important investor in the German economy.
16:37 – Second special flight for German returnees from Israel on its way
The Federal Foreign Office has flown a second group of Germans and close family members stranded in Israel out of Jordan on a special flight. The plane is expected to arrive in Berlin in the early evening. 174 passengers are on board, the Foreign Office said. Including the first special flight to Frankfurt on Wednesday, 345 people have been able to leave the region. Another flight from the Jordanian capital, Amman, is planned for the weekend, the statement added.
4:31 p.m. – Iraqi militia leader threatens attacks on US citizens
An Iraqi militia leader has threatened the US with attacks on American citizens if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is attacked."If you harm even a hair on the head of the Guardian of the Nation, Imam Khamenei, you, your allies, and your filthy henchmen will be the target of our hunt and fire throughout the Islamic region," Akram al-Kaabi, head of the Iran-backed Shiite militia Harakat al-Nujaba, declared on Platform X.
He further threatened that no American soldier or diplomat would be safe."In fact, anyone of your nationality and any of your direct or indirect interests in our region will be a legitimate target for us," al-Kaabi told US President Donald Trump.
16:28 – More than ten Iranian missiles fired at northern Israel
According to Israeli military sources, Iran fired more rockets at Israel this afternoon. According to the civil defense agency, warning sirens sounded in the north of the country, including in the port city of Haifa. The TV station"Kan" reported more than ten rockets fired. The Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said there was initially no information on injuries or impacts.
16:14 – Merz urges Netanyahu to act with restraint in Iran
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a measured and controlled approach in Iran. According to information from government sources obtained by the Reuters news agency, Merz spoke with Netanyahu on Wednesday evening and assured him of Germany's fundamental support for Israeli military strikes, for example against Iranian nuclear facilities. However, diplomatic channels must also be given a chance, the Chancellor emphasized, with a view to the talks between European foreign ministers and their Iranian counterparts on Friday, which had been agreed upon with the US. Merz and Netanyahu also discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip. The German government has long been calling for better care for the civilian population there.
3:57 PM – Military sources: Iran used missile with multiple warheads
According to Israeli military sources, Iran used a missile with multiple warheads in an attack. The attack reportedly took place on Thursday. The information could not initially be verified by independent analysis.
Missiles with more than one warhead can pose a greater challenge to air defense systems such as Israel's Iron Dome.
3:42 PM – Iranian police arrest 24 suspected Israeli spies
Police in Iran have announced the arrest of 24 suspected Israeli spies."Twenty-four individuals have been arrested who spied offline and online (for Israel) and attempted to disrupt public opinion and tarnish and destroy the image of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said a statement Thursday by West Tehran Police Commander Kiumars Asisi.
2:47 p.m. – China calls on “Israel in particular” to end the fighting
China has called for a swift end to the fighting in the war between Iran and Israel. Both countries,"especially Israel," should cease fire to prevent further escalation, said Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the Beijing Foreign Ministry.
Without directly naming the US, Xi said that major powers with particular influence over the parties involved in the conflict should strive to de-escalate the situation and"not do the opposite." China is willing to further strengthen communication and coordination with all parties.
2:31 p.m. – Wave of arrests in Iran against suspected collaborators
In the midst of the war with Israel, Iranian security authorities have launched a wave of arrests. Iranian media reported dozens of arrests in recent days. According to Iranian authorities, these were suspected spies and collaborators with their arch-enemy Israel.
2:24 p.m. – Laschet dampens expectations of Wadephul's Iran meeting with counterparts
CDU foreign policy expert Armin Laschet has dampened expectations for the meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and his counterparts from France and Great Britain on the war between Iran and Israel."In my view, the Americans are the decisive factor. Less so are the European foreign ministers," the chairman of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee told WELT TV on Thursday."A lot of things are riding on Washington now."
2:02 p.m. – 114 organizations call for suspension of the EU-Israel agreement
Ahead of the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, more than 110 human rights organizations and trade unions – including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – are calling for the suspension of the EU Association Agreement with Israel. The European Union must live up to its responsibilities in light of alleged serious human rights violations in the Gaza war and in the occupied territories, they said in a statement.
1:46 p.m. – Putin and Xi condemn Israel’s actions
According to the Kremlin, the heads of state of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, have strongly condemned Israel's attack on Iran. In a telephone conversation this Thursday, the two presidents agreed that the current situation and the issue surrounding Iran's nuclear program cannot be resolved militarily, but only through political and diplomatic means.
During the phone call, Putin also reiterated that Russia was ready to mediate between the warring parties. Xi stated that he supported the idea, as he believed it could de-escalate the situation. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that Xi stated that"major countries" with "special influence" in the region should intensify diplomatic efforts to calm the situation.
13:45 – Israel’s military: Did not attack Iranian nuclear facility in Bushehr after all
Israel claims it did not attack Iran's only active nuclear reactor in Bushehr. This was falsely stated, an Israeli military spokesman emphasized. Instead, the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak were attacked, he added. Following Israel's initial announcement, Russia declared that the Bushehr nuclear power plant was operating normally.
1:24 PM – Majority of Israelis in favor of attacks against Iran, according to poll
According to a survey, nine out of ten Israelis support Israel's military action against Iran. However, according to the opinion poll published Thursday by the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem, there are significant differences between the Jewish and Arab populations. Among Arab Israelis, 65 percent oppose air strikes against nuclear facilities and other targets in Iran.
Among the general population, 82 percent said they considered the attack to be justified. Ten percent expressed their support in principle but considered the timing unwise, given the Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. Even among respondents who identify with the left of the political spectrum, 57 percent support the initiative of right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
13:16 – Israel: Two-thirds of Iranian missile launch pads destroyed
Israel claims to have destroyed about two-thirds of Iran's missile launch sites. However, Iran still has 100 more launch sites, according to an Israeli military spokesperson.
12:37 p.m. – Israel's Defense Minister: Khamenei must no longer exist
Following recent Iranian missile attacks, including on a hospital, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a thinly veiled death threat against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."A dictator like Khamenei, who is at the head of a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, must not continue to exist," Katz said. The armed forces are"instructed and know that this man absolutely must no longer exist so that they can achieve all their goals."
US media had reported that Israel had plans to kill Khamenei. However, US President Donald Trump vetoed the plan. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that the US knew where Khamenei was."He's an easy target, but he's safe there—we're not going to take him out (kill him!), at least not right now," he added.
12:30 p.m. – Cruise ship participates in Israeli return operation
Despite the daily escalation of the situation in the Middle East, thousands of mostly Israeli citizens have gathered in the Cypriot port of Limassol to return to Israel. According to the Cyprus Radio and Television (RIK) and other media outlets, the cruise ship"Crown Iris" is scheduled to depart Limassol on Thursday evening, bound for the Israeli port of Haifa. It is estimated that around 1,600 people will be on board. If all goes according to plan, the ship will arrive in Haifa on Friday, according to sources in the port's management.
Long lines had formed at times at the Cypriot port, but the processing process was orderly and speedy, reporters reported. Many of the travelers emphasized that they were not afraid despite the tense security situation."We want to return. We trust our government and are not afraid," several passengers told reporters.
11:09 a.m. – Wadephul and EU colleagues want to meet Iran’s Foreign Minister
Against the backdrop of the military escalation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and his counterparts from France and Great Britain are apparently planning a meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Aragchi on Friday. They had already announced on Monday that they would continue to strive for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear program. Germany, France, and Great Britain form the so-called E3 group within the framework of the nuclear negotiations with Iran.
11:04 a.m. – Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Lebanon
Israel's military says it has killed a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon. He was allegedly a member of the anti-tank unit, the army said. The attack took place last night in the Nabatiya region.
The Lebanese news agency NNA reported that the victim was riding a motorcycle at the time of the attack. Another person was injured by shrapnel.
09:37 – 32 injured in Iranian missile attack on hospital
At least 32 people were injured, two of them seriously, in the attack on a hospital in Israel, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. Initial reports of 23 injuries had been reported.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously reported a"direct hit" on Soroka Hospital. A hospital spokesperson stated that the attack"caused severe damage in several areas." The hospital treats, among other things, many soldiers wounded in the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
08:57 – Netanyahu threatens revenge for attack on clinic
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised retaliation for the Iranian attack on a hospital in the south of the country."We will demand the full price from the tyrants in Tehran," Netanyahu said.
According to hospital reports, the rocket attack in Beersheba caused extensive damage. The exact number of injured was not yet known. According to its website, Soroka Hospital has more than 1,000 beds.
Israel's government considers the impact of an Iranian missile a deliberate attack on a civilian target. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called it a war crime. Shortly after the incident on Thursday morning, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel announced that Iran had deliberately and criminally attacked the clinic."The world must speak out," Haskel demanded on Platform X.
08:41 – Around 25 rockets fired – multiple impacts
Media reports say around 25 rockets were fired from Iran at Israel this morning. Several direct hits occurred in the greater Tel Aviv area, including the cities of Holon and Ramat Gan.
