On 19 August 2013, the CIA officially acknowledged its role in the coup that removed Iran’s elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. 

On 19 August 2013, the CIA officially acknowledged its role in the coup that removed Iran’s elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.&nbsp;

History repeating? This is how US engineered Iran’s 1953 coup and why it still matters

Who is Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei? In his increasingly rare appearances at Friday sermons, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei often kept a loaded gun by his side. The Islamic Republic's 86-year-old leader has good reasons to do so, particularly amid the current war with Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead. Often reported to be living in bunkers, Khamenei has survived bids on his life in the past. So, who really is Khamenei? How did he rise to power in Iran? And who all want him dead? Here is a profile:<h2>Ali Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader</h2>Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei&nbsp;has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, becoming only the second person to hold that post after the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini.&nbsp;This means he has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in present-day world. Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei is a so-called ‘Grand Ayatollah’. Born into the family of a modest Islamic scholar,&nbsp; Khamenei studied Islamic theology in Qom under prominent scholars, including Ruhollah Khomeini, his mentor.<h2>A political life dotted with protests, arrests, exile</h2>As a young man, Khamenei was active in protests against the Shah dynasty's rule, way back in the 1960s. He was arrested several times, and lived in exile for three years during the Shah's regime.&nbsp; His humble background, which included studying the religion, has informed his commitment to Islamic governance and his fight against Western influence.<h2>Confidant and inheritor of Khomeini's power</h2>After the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei became a close confidant of Khomeini. He rose through the ranks in the clergy-government nexus of Iran.&nbsp; Since the Revolution, Khomenei held important posts, such as the deputy defence minister in the provisional revolutionary government. He was also the Supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards or IRGC and oversaw the parallel military's early operations.<h2>Rise through the ranks: From president to Supreme Leader</h2>In 1980, Khomeini appointed him as Tehran’s Friday Prayers Imam, &nbsp;a key post in Iran with significant religious and political import. He was elected a parliamentarian in 1980, representing &nbsp;Tehran in the Majlis. A year later, he was elected the President of Iran after the assassination of then president Mohammad Ali Rajai, and went on to serve two terms till 1989. &nbsp;After the death of Khomeini in 1989, he was elected by the Assembly of Experts as the Supreme Leader of Iran.&nbsp;Thus, the son of a simple Islamic scholar became the ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, social and religious life. Over the years, Khamanei served in several other important positions in Iran, including as the&nbsp; chairman of the Revolution’s Cultural Council, President of the Expediency Council, and Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution.<h2>Survivor of assassination attempts</h2>Much of the hagiography around Khamenei is about his survival of assassination attempts. While several of the attempts are either unreported or underplayed in Iran, two of them stand out.&nbsp;Perhaps the most prominent is the bid on his life in 1981.<h2>The Friday prayer bomb attack</h2>On 27 June 1981, Khamenei was at a Friday sermon at Abuzar Mosque in Tehran when a bomb exploded near him. &nbsp;The bomb, hidden in a tape recorder, severely injured Khamenei, leaving him permanently paralysed in his right arm. The blast also damaged his vocal cords and lungs. After months in the hospital, Khamenei came back to the limelight. The assassination attempt and survival made him almost a demigod for his supporters.<h2>Attack at Tehran University</h2>An almost similar attack took place on 15 March 1985 in Tehran University, again during Friday prayers. This time, it was a suicide bomber.&nbsp;Khamenei, who was president at the time, escaped unharmed, even as several people died in the blast.&nbsp; &nbsp;Khamenei continued in office, but this time, he began a crackdown on opposition groups. &nbsp;There have been other reported attempts on the life of Khamenei, including a drone attack in 2022.&nbsp;<h2>Who all wanted him dead?</h2>The opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq or MEK was the 1981 attack perpetrators, according to Iran’s official narrative. For the 1985 attack, no group has been named officially, but the needle of suspicion still pointed to MEK. &nbsp;Over the past two decades, Israel has been among the main adversaries who wanted Khamenei dead. In the first hours of its attacks on Iran this month, Israel reportedly targeted Khamenei's residence or nearby areas.&nbsp; He is reportedly sheltering in a bunker. And Israel is closing in. Iran’s military leaders and Khamenei's top advisor Ali Shamkhani are among those killed in Israel’s initial wave of airstrikes on June 13. With several top names in his inner circle gone, Khamenei, one of the longest-serving leaders of West Asia, is looking more vulnerable than ever.&nbsp; But will he weather this storm too? Watch this space.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead

Who is Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei? In his increasingly rare appearances at Friday sermons, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei often kept a loaded gun by his side. The Islamic Republic's 86-year-old leader has good reasons to do so, particularly amid the current war with Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't kept it a secret that he would like Khamenei dead. Often reported to be living in bunkers, Khamenei has survived bids on his life in the past. So, who really is Khamenei? How did he rise to power in Iran? And who all want him dead? Here is a profile: Ali Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, becoming only the second person to hold that post after the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. This means he has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in present-day world. Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei is a so-called ‘Grand Ayatollah’. Born into the family of a modest Islamic scholar, Khamenei studied Islamic theology in Qom under prominent scholars, including Ruhollah Khomeini, his mentor. A political life dotted with protests, arrests, exile As a young man, Khamenei was active in protests against the Shah dynasty's rule, way back in the 1960s. He was arrested several times, and lived in exile for three years during the Shah's regime. His humble background, which included studying the religion, has informed his commitment to Islamic governance and his fight against Western influence. Confidant and inheritor of Khomeini's power After the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei became a close confidant of Khomeini. He rose through the ranks in the clergy-government nexus of Iran. Since the Revolution, Khomenei held important posts, such as the deputy defence minister in the provisional revolutionary government. He was also the Supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards or IRGC and oversaw the parallel military's early operations. Rise through the ranks: From president to Supreme Leader In 1980, Khomeini appointed him as Tehran’s Friday Prayers Imam, a key post in Iran with significant religious and political import. He was elected a parliamentarian in 1980, representing Tehran in the Majlis. A year later, he was elected the President of Iran after the assassination of then president Mohammad Ali Rajai, and went on to serve two terms till 1989. After the death of Khomeini in 1989, he was elected by the Assembly of Experts as the Supreme Leader of Iran. Thus, the son of a simple Islamic scholar became the ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, social and religious life. Over the years, Khamanei served in several other important positions in Iran, including as the chairman of the Revolution’s Cultural Council, President of the Expediency Council, and Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution. Survivor of assassination attempts Much of the hagiography around Khamenei is about his survival of assassination attempts. While several of the attempts are either unreported or underplayed in Iran, two of them stand out. Perhaps the most prominent is the bid on his life in 1981. The Friday prayer bomb attack On 27 June 1981, Khamenei was at a Friday sermon at Abuzar Mosque in Tehran when a bomb exploded near him. The bomb, hidden in a tape recorder, severely injured Khamenei, leaving him permanently paralysed in his right arm. The blast also damaged his vocal cords and lungs. After months in the hospital, Khamenei came back to the limelight. The assassination attempt and survival made him almost a demigod for his supporters. Attack at Tehran University An almost similar attack took place on 15 March 1985 in Tehran University, again during Friday prayers. This time, it was a suicide bomber. Khamenei, who was president at the time, escaped unharmed, even as several people died in the blast. Khamenei continued in office, but this time, he began a crackdown on opposition groups. There have been other reported attempts on the life of Khamenei, including a drone attack in 2022. Who all wanted him dead? The opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq or MEK was the 1981 attack perpetrators, according to Iran’s official narrative. For the 1985 attack, no group has been named officially, but the needle of suspicion still pointed to MEK. Over the past two decades, Israel has been among the main adversaries who wanted Khamenei dead. In the first hours of its attacks on Iran this month, Israel reportedly targeted Khamenei's residence or nearby areas. He is reportedly sheltering in a bunker. And Israel is closing in. Iran’s military leaders and Khamenei's top advisor Ali Shamkhani are among those killed in Israel’s initial wave of airstrikes on June 13. With several top names in his inner circle gone, Khamenei, one of the longest-serving leaders of West Asia, is looking more vulnerable than ever. But will he weather this storm too? Watch this space.

&nbsp;Khamenei has been in power for 36 years, making him one of the oldest heads of state in the present world. No small feat, given who all wanted him dead &nbsp;

Israel wants to kill Ali Khamenei but he's survived assassination bids in the past. Who wanted Iran Supreme Leader dead? A profile

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would bring an end to the ongoing conflict, not worsen it.Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Netanyahu dismissed concerns that targeting Iran’s top leadership would intensify the situation.“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” he said, referring to reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected such a proposal for fear of escalation.Also read <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-iran-war-air-raid-sirens-blare-in-israel-after-iran-threatens-largest-missile-attack-in-history-1750093467888">Israel-Iran war: Air raid sirens blare in Israel after Iran threatens ‘LARGEST missile attack in history’</a>Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”He added, “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.”<h2>‘Doing what we need to do,’ says Netanyahu</h2>When asked directly if Israel would target Ayatollah Khamenei, Netanyahu replied, “I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists. It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.”<h2>Iran vows historic missile attack as fighting escalates</h2>The comments came as Israel and Iran entered their fourth day of deadly exchanges. On Monday, Iran launched another volley of missiles towards northern Israel, prompting air raid sirens across the region.“A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.Iranian state media warned that the country was preparing for “the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil.”

Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would bring an end to the ongoing conflict, not worsen it. Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Netanyahu dismissed concerns that targeting Iran’s top leadership would intensify the situation. “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” he said, referring to reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected such a proposal for fear of escalation. Also read Israel-Iran war: Air raid sirens blare in Israel after Iran threatens ‘LARGEST missile attack in history’ Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.” He added, “We can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.” ‘Doing what we need to do,’ says Netanyahu When asked directly if Israel would target Ayatollah Khamenei, Netanyahu replied, “I’m not going to get into the details, but we’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists. It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.” Iran vows historic missile attack as fighting escalates The comments came as Israel and Iran entered their fourth day of deadly exchanges. On Monday, Iran launched another volley of missiles towards northern Israel, prompting air raid sirens across the region. “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement. Iranian state media warned that the country was preparing for “the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil.”

Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of fuelling decades of unrest in the Middle East. “We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorises everyone in the Middle East… What Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression.”

Israel-Iran war: Netanyahu says KILLING Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei would end war, not escalate it

Benjamin Netanyahu, an elite soldier-turned prime minister of Israel, has been described as a war monger, maverick politician known for brinkmanship, or a strong leader of the Jewish nation, depending on where you look. But one thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel. As the Israel-Iran war rages on, here is a look at the life, military career and political controversies of Bibi, the man of the moment.&nbsp;<h2>Benjamin Netanyahu: Early life details</h2> Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He spent parts of his youth in the US, where his father taught at a college. In 1956-1958 and from 1963 to 1967, his family lived in Cheltenham Township of Pennsylvania. Netanyahu studied at the Cheltenham High School and Cornell University. The nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu served in 1996–1999, 2009–2021, and since 2022 in the top post.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2> Netanyahu's military career: Elite soldier on risky missions</h2>Netanyahu’s military service began in 1967 when he returned from the US at the age of 18. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that year, and served in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was part of several risky operations of Israeli forces, such as the 1972 rescue of a hijacked Sabena plane. He was injured in the shoulder during that operation. Netanyahu fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and was promoted to captain.&nbsp;He was also part of several IDF missions across Lebanon and Jordan in 1968.&nbsp; He lost his brother Yonatan, who led the 1976 Entebbe counterterrorism raid, a life event that shaped his hardline stance against terrorism. He later went on to found the Jonathan Institute to combat global terrorism.&nbsp; His military experience led to the ‘Mr Security’ image of Netanyahu, which gave him political legitimacy. &nbsp;<h2>Netanyahu's political career: Right-wing leader known for brinkmanship &nbsp;</h2>Netanyahu joined the right-wing Likud party and rose through the ranks, often through sheer brinkmanship. He negotiated crises at home and abroad, including court cases alleging corruption, the hearings of which continued even as he was in and out of power. Through deft handling of coalitions, Netanyahu focused on staying in power despite not having a clear majority in recent elections, by aligning with far-right parties and leaders. He shrugged off massive protests seeking his arrest in corruption cases. &nbsp;<h2>Iran and Palestinians: Arch rivals of Netanyahu &nbsp;</h2>Having been a frontline soldier, Netanyahu was openly opposed to the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which established a framework for the two-state solution that aimed to eventually create a Palestinian state alongside Israel.&nbsp;Instead of a solution, Netanyahu was interested in ‘managing’ the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is often accused of supporting one Palestinian group against the other and stalling the peace process in spite of several direct talks with the other side's leaders. Netanyahu is one of the most vocal leaders against Iran, which he accused of supporting anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis. At every opportunity on the international stage, Netanyahu criticised the Iranian nuclear programme, arguing that Tehran aimed to develop nuclear weapons, which Israel saw as an existential threat. Netanyahu was unreserved in his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a speech to the US Congress the same year, he railed against it, which strained his ties with the then-US administration of Barack Obama, who had led the US in the deal. This was an example of Netanyahu's risk-taking behaviour: he was ready to openly challenge even an ally like the US, in order to achieve Israel's strategic goals. &nbsp;<h2>Netanyahu, a polarising figure in domestic politics &nbsp;</h2>For more than five years now, Netanyahu has faced continuing protests against his rule. He and his wife Sara have faced corruption charges since 2019. But he used the war situation emerging after the 2023 October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel to his political advantage: first by creating a war cabinet that included opposition figures and far-right leaders, &nbsp;second by pushing for reforming the judiciary, and third by expanding the war in the larger region. &nbsp;This was seen as his willingness to polarise the nation politically to stay in power. Now that the Israel-Iran war is raging, it has only further cemented his position at the helm.<h2> Netanyahu, from soldier to wartime prime minister</h2>Besides taking part in military missions himself, Netanyahu also led the nation in several conflicts, mainly involving the Palestinians, Iran and its proxies. The Gaza War of 2014 was a brief conflict under his leadership in which Israel targeted Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, allegedly leading to thousands of civilian deaths. After the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed, Netanyahu ordered a full-scale invasion of Gaza, triggering the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. More than 44,000 Palestinian deaths have been reported, mostly civilians.&nbsp; Amid the continuing political challenges to his leadership, Netanyahu in 2024 ordered an invasion of Lebanon to counter Hezbollah, expanding regional tensions.&nbsp; Under his orders, the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in Gaza as well as in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu is a man on a mission. He has continuously rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hamas, drawing global condemnation, and defied even the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza.<h2> A contentious legacy shaped by controversy &nbsp;</h2>Netanyahu is keen on political survival and is known for his resiliency.&nbsp;The polarising leader's military background, political manoeuvring, and wartime decision-making appear to put his own security and survival upfront, despite the lack of diplomatic consensus or domestic unity.&nbsp; His ability to do the strategic tight rope walk is informed by his military experience and personal involvement in Israel’s conflicts in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

Benjamin Netanyahu, an elite soldier-turned prime minister of Israel, has been described as a war monger, maverick politician known for brinkmanship, or a strong leader of the Jewish nation, depending on where you look. But one thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel. As the Israel-Iran war rages on, here is a look at the life, military career and political controversies of Bibi, the man of the moment. Benjamin Netanyahu: Early life details Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He spent parts of his youth in the US, where his father taught at a college. In 1956-1958 and from 1963 to 1967, his family lived in Cheltenham Township of Pennsylvania. Netanyahu studied at the Cheltenham High School and Cornell University. The nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu served in 1996–1999, 2009–2021, and since 2022 in the top post. Netanyahu's military career: Elite soldier on risky missions Netanyahu’s military service began in 1967 when he returned from the US at the age of 18. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that year, and served in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit. He was part of several risky operations of Israeli forces, such as the 1972 rescue of a hijacked Sabena plane. He was injured in the shoulder during that operation. Netanyahu fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and was promoted to captain. He was also part of several IDF missions across Lebanon and Jordan in 1968. He lost his brother Yonatan, who led the 1976 Entebbe counterterrorism raid, a life event that shaped his hardline stance against terrorism. He later went on to found the Jonathan Institute to combat global terrorism. His military experience led to the ‘Mr Security’ image of Netanyahu, which gave him political legitimacy. Netanyahu's political career: Right-wing leader known for brinkmanship Netanyahu joined the right-wing Likud party and rose through the ranks, often through sheer brinkmanship. He negotiated crises at home and abroad, including court cases alleging corruption, the hearings of which continued even as he was in and out of power. Through deft handling of coalitions, Netanyahu focused on staying in power despite not having a clear majority in recent elections, by aligning with far-right parties and leaders. He shrugged off massive protests seeking his arrest in corruption cases. Iran and Palestinians: Arch rivals of Netanyahu Having been a frontline soldier, Netanyahu was openly opposed to the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which established a framework for the two-state solution that aimed to eventually create a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Instead of a solution, Netanyahu was interested in ‘managing’ the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is often accused of supporting one Palestinian group against the other and stalling the peace process in spite of several direct talks with the other side's leaders. Netanyahu is one of the most vocal leaders against Iran, which he accused of supporting anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis. At every opportunity on the international stage, Netanyahu criticised the Iranian nuclear programme, arguing that Tehran aimed to develop nuclear weapons, which Israel saw as an existential threat. Netanyahu was unreserved in his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a speech to the US Congress the same year, he railed against it, which strained his ties with the then-US administration of Barack Obama, who had led the US in the deal. This was an example of Netanyahu's risk-taking behaviour: he was ready to openly challenge even an ally like the US, in order to achieve Israel's strategic goals. Netanyahu, a polarising figure in domestic politics For more than five years now, Netanyahu has faced continuing protests against his rule. He and his wife Sara have faced corruption charges since 2019. But he used the war situation emerging after the 2023 October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel to his political advantage: first by creating a war cabinet that included opposition figures and far-right leaders, second by pushing for reforming the judiciary, and third by expanding the war in the larger region. This was seen as his willingness to polarise the nation politically to stay in power. Now that the Israel-Iran war is raging, it has only further cemented his position at the helm. Netanyahu, from soldier to wartime prime minister Besides taking part in military missions himself, Netanyahu also led the nation in several conflicts, mainly involving the Palestinians, Iran and its proxies. The Gaza War of 2014 was a brief conflict under his leadership in which Israel targeted Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, allegedly leading to thousands of civilian deaths. After the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed, Netanyahu ordered a full-scale invasion of Gaza, triggering the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. More than 44,000 Palestinian deaths have been reported, mostly civilians. Amid the continuing political challenges to his leadership, Netanyahu in 2024 ordered an invasion of Lebanon to counter Hezbollah, expanding regional tensions. Under his orders, the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in Gaza as well as in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu is a man on a mission. He has continuously rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hamas, drawing global condemnation, and defied even the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. A contentious legacy shaped by controversy Netanyahu is keen on political survival and is known for his resiliency. The polarising leader's military background, political manoeuvring, and wartime decision-making appear to put his own security and survival upfront, despite the lack of diplomatic consensus or domestic unity. His ability to do the strategic tight rope walk is informed by his military experience and personal involvement in Israel’s conflicts in the region. Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

One thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel.

Iran-Israel War: Benjamin Netanyahu's wartime leadership is shaped by his military career, survival instinct | A profile

US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the last two days, Reuters reported citing two US officials.&nbsp;&nbsp;The officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Israeli forces were planning to kill the Iranian leader, but Trump vetoed it.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership," a senior US administration official said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since the war began between Israel and Iran, Trump has been in constant contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Sunday, during an interview, Fox News host asked Israeli PM Netanyahu about the report, to which, he responded that he’s not going to get into that.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also said that Israel does what it needs to do, adding that the US knows what is good for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that. But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States,” the Israeli PM said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Netanyahu also said that the change of regime in Iran could be a result of Israel’s military strikes on Tehran.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also suggested that Israel has killed Iran's intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi in an aerial attack, as the arch-foes ramp up their conflict.&nbsp;"Moments ago, we also got the chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran," Netanyahu told Fox News, adding, "Our brave pilots are over the skies of Tehran, and we're targeting military sites, nuclear sites."&nbsp;During the interview, Netanyahu also claimed that Iran tried to assassinate US President Donald Trump twice, adding that he is their “number one enemy”.&nbsp;"Do you want these people to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to your cities?" the Israeli PM said. "Of course not. "So we're defending ourselves, but we're also defending the world."&nbsp;Further, he also said that Iran tried to kill him too, calling himself Trump’s junior partner.

The officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Israeli forces were planning to kill the Iranian leader, but Trump vetoed it.

US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the last two days, Reuters reported citing two US officials. The officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Israeli forces were planning to kill the Iranian leader, but Trump vetoed it. “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership," a senior US administration official said. Since the war began between Israel and Iran, Trump has been in constant contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday, during an interview, Fox News host asked Israeli PM Netanyahu about the report, to which, he responded that he’s not going to get into that. He also said that Israel does what it needs to do, adding that the US knows what is good for them. There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that. But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States,” the Israeli PM said. Netanyahu also said that the change of regime in Iran could be a result of Israel’s military strikes on Tehran. He also suggested that Israel has killed Iran's intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi in an aerial attack, as the arch-foes ramp up their conflict. "Moments ago, we also got the chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran," Netanyahu told Fox News, adding, "Our brave pilots are over the skies of Tehran, and we're targeting military sites, nuclear sites." During the interview, Netanyahu also claimed that Iran tried to assassinate US President Donald Trump twice, adding that he is their “number one enemy”. "Do you want these people to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to your cities?" the Israeli PM said. "Of course not. "So we're defending ourselves, but we're also defending the world." Further, he also said that Iran tried to kill him too, calling himself Trump’s junior partner.

The officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Israeli forces were planning to kill the Iranian leader, but Trump vetoed it.

Israel tried to kill Iranian leader, but Trump intervened - Here's what Netanyahu said about it

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 15) said that Iran tried to assassinate US President Donald Trump twice, adding that he is their “number one enemy”.&nbsp;&nbsp;During an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Netanyahu said that we are defending ourselves, but also defending the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;"These people who chant death to America tried to assassinate President Trump twice, killed 241 of your Marines in Beirut, killed and injured thousands of American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, tried to bomb a restaurant in Washington, D.C., chant death to America, burn the American flag," Netanyahu told the Fox News host on Sunday.&nbsp;"Do you want these people to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to your cities?" the Israeli PM said. "Of course not. "So we're defending ourselves, but we're also defending the world."&nbsp;The Fox News host then asked Netanyahu whether he had some intel that the assassination attempts on Trump were directly from Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;To this, the Israeli PM replied, “Through proxies, yes," Netanyahu insisted. "Through their intel, yes, they want to kill him. Look, he's enemy number one. He's a decisive leader."&nbsp;Further, he also said that Iran tried to kill him too, calling himself Trump’s junior partner.&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's been very forceful," he said about Trump. "Look, they also tried to kill me, but I'm his junior partner."&nbsp;Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the intelligence was “absolutely clear” that Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was absolutely clear, that they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium,” Netanyahu added.&nbsp;“They were marching very quickly. They would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months, and certainly less than a year,” he said.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the intelligence was “absolutely clear” that Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 15) said that Iran tried to assassinate US President Donald Trump twice, adding that he is their “number one enemy”. During an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Netanyahu said that we are defending ourselves, but also defending the world. "These people who chant death to America tried to assassinate President Trump twice, killed 241 of your Marines in Beirut, killed and injured thousands of American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, tried to bomb a restaurant in Washington, D.C., chant death to America, burn the American flag," Netanyahu told the Fox News host on Sunday. "Do you want these people to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to your cities?" the Israeli PM said. "Of course not. "So we're defending ourselves, but we're also defending the world." The Fox News host then asked Netanyahu whether he had some intel that the assassination attempts on Trump were directly from Iran. To this, the Israeli PM replied, “Through proxies, yes," Netanyahu insisted. "Through their intel, yes, they want to kill him. Look, he's enemy number one. He's a decisive leader." Further, he also said that Iran tried to kill him too, calling himself Trump’s junior partner. "He's been very forceful," he said about Trump. "Look, they also tried to kill me, but I'm his junior partner." Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the intelligence was “absolutely clear” that Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon. “The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was absolutely clear, that they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium,” Netanyahu added. “They were marching very quickly. They would achieve a test device and possibly an initial device within months, and certainly less than a year,” he said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the intelligence was “absolutely clear” that Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon.

'Trump is their ENEMY number 1': Netanyahu claims Iran tried to assassinate US president twice

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the recent airstrikes on Iran were carried out with the full backing of US President Donald Trump.In a video message addressed to Trump on his birthday, Netanyahu said, “Our enemy is your enemy… We’re dealing with something that will threaten all of us sooner or later. Our victory will be your victory.”He added, “This is what Israel is doing with the support, the clear support of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the American people and many others in the world.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-very-soon-iaf-jets-over-tehran-netanyahu-issues-fresh-warning-for-iran-says-will-hit-every-target-of-ayatollahs-regime-1749914693145">‘Very soon, IAF jets over Tehran’: Netanyahu issues fresh WARNING for Iran, says will hit every target of 'Ayatollahs’ regime'</a><h2>Israeli PM says Iranian leadership is in retreat</h2>Netanyahu also claimed that Iran’s leadership is under pressure as Israel intensifies its military operations. “Iranian leaders are packing their bags,” he said, referring to the air raids on Tehran.Explaining the reason behind the strikes, Netanyahu warned that Iran was planning to develop nuclear weapons for use by militant groups. “We had information that this unscrupulous regime was planning to give the nuclear weapons that they would develop to their terrorist proxies. That’s nuclear terrorism on steroids. That would threaten the entire world,” he stated.<h2>Israel hits Iran’s missile defence systems</h2>The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that its air force had attacked dozens of locations in and around Tehran. The targets included surface-to-air missile systems, which are part of Iran’s air defence network.“Overnight, the IAF struck dozens of targets… as part of the effort to damage the Iranian regime’s aerial defence capabilities in the area of Tehran,” the military said in a statement.<h2>Iran responds with more missile attacks</h2>In retaliation, Iran launched another round of missile attacks early on Saturday under the name “True Promise 3,” according to Iranian state media.Israel reported incoming missiles and activated its air defence systems. Emergency services said 34 people were injured in the Tel Aviv region, mostly with minor wounds. Police later confirmed that one person had died. By Saturday evening, reports said another casualty had occurred and 19 more people had been injured in a separate Iranian strike in central Israel.The latest round of hostilities began after an Israeli airstrike on 13 June targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. That attack killed four senior Iranian commanders, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Major General Hossein Salami.Iranian media reported that 78 civilians also died, including women, children, and six nuclear scientists. Dozens more were injured during the raids.

The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that its air force had attacked dozens of locations in and around Tehran. The targets included surface-to-air missile systems, which are part of Iran’s air defence network.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the recent airstrikes on Iran were carried out with the full backing of US President Donald Trump. In a video message addressed to Trump on his birthday, Netanyahu said, “Our enemy is your enemy… We’re dealing with something that will threaten all of us sooner or later. Our victory will be your victory.” He added, “This is what Israel is doing with the support, the clear support of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the American people and many others in the world.” Also read: ‘Very soon, IAF jets over Tehran’: Netanyahu issues fresh WARNING for Iran, says will hit every target of 'Ayatollahs’ regime' Israeli PM says Iranian leadership is in retreat Netanyahu also claimed that Iran’s leadership is under pressure as Israel intensifies its military operations. “Iranian leaders are packing their bags,” he said, referring to the air raids on Tehran. Explaining the reason behind the strikes, Netanyahu warned that Iran was planning to develop nuclear weapons for use by militant groups. “We had information that this unscrupulous regime was planning to give the nuclear weapons that they would develop to their terrorist proxies. That’s nuclear terrorism on steroids. That would threaten the entire world,” he stated. Israel hits Iran’s missile defence systems The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that its air force had attacked dozens of locations in and around Tehran. The targets included surface-to-air missile systems, which are part of Iran’s air defence network. “Overnight, the IAF struck dozens of targets… as part of the effort to damage the Iranian regime’s aerial defence capabilities in the area of Tehran,” the military said in a statement. Iran responds with more missile attacks In retaliation, Iran launched another round of missile attacks early on Saturday under the name “True Promise 3,” according to Iranian state media. Israel reported incoming missiles and activated its air defence systems. Emergency services said 34 people were injured in the Tel Aviv region, mostly with minor wounds. Police later confirmed that one person had died. By Saturday evening, reports said another casualty had occurred and 19 more people had been injured in a separate Iranian strike in central Israel. The latest round of hostilities began after an Israeli airstrike on 13 June targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. That attack killed four senior Iranian commanders, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Major General Hossein Salami. Iranian media reported that 78 civilians also died, including women, children, and six nuclear scientists. Dozens more were injured during the raids.

The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that its air force had attacked dozens of locations in and around Tehran. The targets included surface-to-air missile systems, which are part of Iran’s air defence network.

'Our enemy is your enemy': Netanyahu says Israel attacked Iran with 'clear support' from Trump - Here's what he said

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (June 14) that recent airstrikes on Iran have caused significant setbacks to the country’s nuclear ambitions and defence infrastructure.<h2>‘We hit the nuclear scientists too,’ says Netanyahu</h2>In a video message, Netanyahu said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had inflicted “serious damage” on Iran’s nuclear programme, claiming the strikes hit both facilities and senior personnel.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-iran-war-what-is-israel-s-aerial-freedom-of-action-tel-aviv-warns-tehran-is-no-longer-immune-to-strikes-1749913587249">What is Israel's ‘aerial freedom of action’? Tel Aviv warns 'Tehran is no longer immune to strikes'</a>“We also hit the team of senior scientists who are leading these projects,” he said, adding that the attacks had “delayed Iran’s nuclear program for several years.”The prime minister also warned that more attacks were coming. “Very soon, you will see IAF planes above Tehran’s skies. We will hit every target of the ayatollahs’ regime,” he said, describing the current strikes as “nothing compared to what will be experienced in the coming days.”<h2>‘Tehran will burn,’ warns Israeli defence minister</h2>Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a sharp warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the Iranian regime would face severe consequences if missile attacks on Israel continued.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-us-is-israel-s-biggest-supporter-iran-says-nuclear-talks-now-meaningless-after-barbaric-strikes-on-tehran-1749906954659">‘US is Israel’s biggest supporter’: Iran says nuclear talks now ‘meaningless’ after ‘barbaric’ strikes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tehran</a>“The Iranian dictator is taking the citizens of Iran hostage,” Katz said. “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.”Katz accused Iran of endangering its own civilians and added that Tehran’s residents would “pay a heavy price for the flagrant harm inflicted upon Israel’s citizens.”<h2>Israeli airstrikes target Tehran’s missile defences</h2>The Israeli military confirmed that its air force struck dozens of targets in Tehran overnight, including Iran’s surface-to-air missile infrastructure.These strikes were described as part of efforts to weaken Iran’s aerial defence capabilities. “Overnight, the IAF struck dozens of targets… as part of the effort to damage the Iranian regime’s aerial defence capabilities in the area of Tehran,” the military said in a statement.In response, Iran launched a new wave of missiles early on Saturday. State television reported the strikes under the banner of “Honest Promise 3”, a continuation of its military operation against Israel.The Israeli military reported incoming missiles and activated air defence systems. In the Tel Aviv area, 34 people were injured, most with minor wounds. Police later confirmed one fatality. On Saturday, reports emerged that another person had died and 19 more were injured after a direct Iranian strike in central Israel.<h2>Escalation follows deadly Israeli strike on Iran</h2>The back-and-forth attacks followed an Israeli strike on 13 June that hit multiple nuclear and military targets in Iran. Four senior Iranian military officers, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Major General Hossein Salami, were killed.Iranian media reported that 78 civilians, including women and children, were also killed. Among them were six nuclear scientists. Dozens more were wounded.

In a video message, Netanyahu said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had inflicted “serious damage” on Iran’s nuclear programme, claiming the strikes hit both facilities and senior personnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (June 14) that recent airstrikes on Iran have caused significant setbacks to the country’s nuclear ambitions and defence infrastructure. ‘We hit the nuclear scientists too,’ says Netanyahu In a video message, Netanyahu said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had inflicted “serious damage” on Iran’s nuclear programme, claiming the strikes hit both facilities and senior personnel. Also read: What is Israel's ‘aerial freedom of action’? Tel Aviv warns 'Tehran is no longer immune to strikes' “We also hit the team of senior scientists who are leading these projects,” he said, adding that the attacks had “delayed Iran’s nuclear program for several years.” The prime minister also warned that more attacks were coming. “Very soon, you will see IAF planes above Tehran’s skies. We will hit every target of the ayatollahs’ regime,” he said, describing the current strikes as “nothing compared to what will be experienced in the coming days.” ‘Tehran will burn,’ warns Israeli defence minister Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a sharp warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the Iranian regime would face severe consequences if missile attacks on Israel continued. Also read: ‘US is Israel’s biggest supporter’: Iran says nuclear talks now ‘meaningless’ after ‘barbaric’ strikes on Tehran “The Iranian dictator is taking the citizens of Iran hostage,” Katz said. “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.” Katz accused Iran of endangering its own civilians and added that Tehran’s residents would “pay a heavy price for the flagrant harm inflicted upon Israel’s citizens.” Israeli airstrikes target Tehran’s missile defences The Israeli military confirmed that its air force struck dozens of targets in Tehran overnight, including Iran’s surface-to-air missile infrastructure. These strikes were described as part of efforts to weaken Iran’s aerial defence capabilities. “Overnight, the IAF struck dozens of targets… as part of the effort to damage the Iranian regime’s aerial defence capabilities in the area of Tehran,” the military said in a statement. In response, Iran launched a new wave of missiles early on Saturday. State television reported the strikes under the banner of “Honest Promise 3”, a continuation of its military operation against Israel. The Israeli military reported incoming missiles and activated air defence systems. In the Tel Aviv area, 34 people were injured, most with minor wounds. Police later confirmed one fatality. On Saturday, reports emerged that another person had died and 19 more were injured after a direct Iranian strike in central Israel. Escalation follows deadly Israeli strike on Iran The back-and-forth attacks followed an Israeli strike on 13 June that hit multiple nuclear and military targets in Iran. Four senior Iranian military officers, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Major General Hossein Salami, were killed. Iranian media reported that 78 civilians, including women and children, were also killed. Among them were six nuclear scientists. Dozens more were wounded.

In a video message, Netanyahu said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had inflicted “serious damage” on Iran’s nuclear programme, claiming the strikes hit both facilities and senior personnel.

‘Very soon, IAF jets over Tehran’: Netanyahu issues fresh WARNING for Iran, says will hit every target of 'Ayatollahs’ regime'

Iran has said that ongoing nuclear talks with the United States are now in jeopardy, following deadly Israeli airstrikes that hit Tehran and killed several senior officials and civilians. After Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in retaliation to the air strikes by Tel Aviv on its nuclear sites, including Natanz nuke facility, Israel defence minister warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran fired more missiles. Click on the headlines for more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-us-is-israel-s-biggest-supporter-iran-says-nuclear-talks-now-meaningless-after-barbaric-strikes-on-tehran-1749906954659">‘US is Israel’s biggest supporter’: Iran says nuclear talks now ‘meaningless’ after ‘barbaric’ strikes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tehran</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749907113369.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="‘US is Israel’s biggest supporter’: Iran says nuclear talks now ‘meaningless’ after ‘barbaric’ strikes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tehran"></figure>Iran has said that ongoing nuclear talks with the United States are now in jeopardy, following deadly Israeli airstrikes that hit Tehran and killed several senior officials and civilians. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-tehran-will-burn-if-iran-israel-defence-minister-sends-out-warning-message-1749897229416">'Tehran will BURN' if Iran...: Israel defence minister sends out warning message</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749897825048.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'Tehran will BURN' if Iran...: Israel defence minister sends out warning message"></figure>After Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in retaliation to the air strikes by Tel Aviv on its nuclear sites, including Natanz nuke facility, Israel defence minister warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran fired more missiles. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-iran-war-what-is-israel-s-aerial-freedom-of-action-tel-aviv-warns-tehran-is-no-longer-immune-to-strikes-1749913587249">What is Israel's ‘aerial freedom of action’? Tel Aviv warns 'Tehran is no longer immune to strikes'</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749913713820.png?rect=(0,396,1440,1080)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="What is Israel's ‘aerial freedom of action’? Tel Aviv warns 'Tehran is no longer immune to strikes'"></figure>Israel claims it now has full aerial freedom from western Iran to Tehran. Here’s what that means and why it matters.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-civil-aviation-ministry-holds-press-briefing-on-ahmedabad-crash-1749891034820">All Boeing 787 aircraft to be inspected; 8 have already been done: Aviation Ministry after Ahmedabad crash</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749891269134.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="All Boeing 787 aircraft to be inspected; 8 have already been done: Aviation Ministry after Ahmedabad crash"></figure>The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry briefed the media on the passenger aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12). The Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu expressed his grief on the incident.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-exclusive-was-it-a-data-error-miscommunication-or-malfunction-former-pilot-and-training-captain-weighs-in-on-possible-reasons-1749873458197">WION Exclusive | Was it a data error, miscommunication, or malfunction? Former pilot and training captain weighs in on possible reasons</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749874838657.png?rect=(0,160,960,720)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="WION Exclusive | Was it a data error, miscommunication, or malfunction? Former pilot and training captain weighs in on possible reasons"></figure>It was meant to be a routine flight. Instead, it became one of the most haunting tragedies in recent Indian aviation memory. Shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, Air India flight AI171 plunged from the skies, leaving behind wreckage, grief—and a trail of unanswered questions. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-iran-s-warning-baghdad-asks-tehran-to-avoid-strikes-on-us-targets-in-iraq-1749910758209">After Iran's WARNING, Baghdad asks Tehran to avoid strikes on US targets in Iraq</a><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749911544260.jpg?rect=(0,29,454,341)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="After Iran's WARNING, Baghdad asks Tehran to avoid strikes on US targets in Iraq">Baghdad has appealed to Tehran not to attack US interests in Iraq, a top security official said on Saturday (June 14), as Washington's Israeli ally and Iran exchanged blows, fueling tensions throughout the region. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dubai-marina-massive-fire-updates-video-1749902011181">'764 apartments, 3,820 people': Massive fire erupts in 67-storey building in Dubai Marina - WATCH</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749903470657.jpg?rect=(370,0,720,540)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'764 apartments, 3,820 people': Massive fire erupts in 67-storey building in Dubai Marina - WATCH"></figure>A major fire erupted late Friday (June 13) night in a 67-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina. Dubai Civil Defence teams managed to fully extinguish the blaze after nearly six hours, bringing it under control by early Saturday morning. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-distances-itself-from-sco-statement-that-condemned-israeli-strikes-on-iran-mea-explains-why-1749905229847">India distances itself from SCO statement that condemned Israeli strikes on Iran, MEA explains why</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749905912116.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="India distances itself from SCO statement that condemned Israeli strikes on Iran, MEA explains why"></figure>India on Saturday (Jun 14) said that it did not participate in the discussions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) over Israel and Iran and clarified its position on the matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kannappa-the-first-action-packed-trailer-for-the-upcoming-telugu-multi-starrer-is-here-watch-1749907273402">Kannappa: The first action-packed trailer for the upcoming Telugu multi-starrer is here | Watch</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749907379975.png?rect=(0,207,1268,951)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Kannappa: The first action-packed trailer for the upcoming Telugu multi-starrer is here | Watch"></figure>The first trailer for Vishnu Manchu's mythological film Kannappa is here, and it is action-packed. The trailer offers glimpses of an intense battle between warring clans, shot against the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-2025-aus-vs-sa-lords-south-africa-beat-australia-to-clinch-first-icc-trophy-since-1998-1749899764038">WTC Final 2025: South Africa beat Australia to clinch first ICC trophy since 1998</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250614/image-1749899946393.jpg?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;w=752&amp;h=564&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="WTC Final 2025: South Africa beat Australia to clinch first ICC trophy since 1998"></figure>The wait for an ICC trophy ended with the maiden World Test Championship (WTC) crown for South Africa, as they beat the defending champions Australia in a four-day classic at Lord’s by five wickets.

Top 10 world news: Israel sends out warning message for Iran; Iran says no to nuclear talks with US, and more

Iran has said that ongoing nuclear talks with the United States are now in jeopardy, following deadly Israeli airstrikes that hit Tehran and killed several senior officials and civilians. After Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in retaliation to the air strikes by Tel Aviv on its nuclear sites, including Natanz nuke facility, Israel defence minister warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran fired more missiles. Click on the headlines for more ‘US is Israel’s biggest supporter’: Iran says nuclear talks now ‘meaningless’ after ‘barbaric’ strikes on Tehran Iran has said that ongoing nuclear talks with the United States are now in jeopardy, following deadly Israeli airstrikes that hit Tehran and killed several senior officials and civilians. 'Tehran will BURN' if Iran...: Israel defence minister sends out warning message After Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in retaliation to the air strikes by Tel Aviv on its nuclear sites, including Natanz nuke facility, Israel defence minister warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran fired more missiles. What is Israel's ‘aerial freedom of action’? Tel Aviv warns 'Tehran is no longer immune to strikes' Israel claims it now has full aerial freedom from western Iran to Tehran. Here’s what that means and why it matters. All Boeing 787 aircraft to be inspected; 8 have already been done: Aviation Ministry after Ahmedabad crash The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry briefed the media on the passenger aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12). The Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu expressed his grief on the incident. WION Exclusive | Was it a data error, miscommunication, or malfunction? Former pilot and training captain weighs in on possible reasons It was meant to be a routine flight. Instead, it became one of the most haunting tragedies in recent Indian aviation memory. Shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, Air India flight AI171 plunged from the skies, leaving behind wreckage, grief—and a trail of unanswered questions. After Iran's WARNING, Baghdad asks Tehran to avoid strikes on US targets in Iraq Baghdad has appealed to Tehran not to attack US interests in Iraq, a top security official said on Saturday (June 14), as Washington's Israeli ally and Iran exchanged blows, fueling tensions throughout the region. '764 apartments, 3,820 people': Massive fire erupts in 67-storey building in Dubai Marina - WATCH A major fire erupted late Friday (June 13) night in a 67-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina. Dubai Civil Defence teams managed to fully extinguish the blaze after nearly six hours, bringing it under control by early Saturday morning. India distances itself from SCO statement that condemned Israeli strikes on Iran, MEA explains why India on Saturday (Jun 14) said that it did not participate in the discussions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) over Israel and Iran and clarified its position on the matter. Kannappa: The first action-packed trailer for the upcoming Telugu multi-starrer is here | Watch The first trailer for Vishnu Manchu's mythological film Kannappa is here, and it is action-packed. The trailer offers glimpses of an intense battle between warring clans, shot against the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. WTC Final 2025: South Africa beat Australia to clinch first ICC trophy since 1998 The wait for an ICC trophy ended with the maiden World Test Championship (WTC) crown for South Africa, as they beat the defending champions Australia in a four-day classic at Lord’s by five wickets.

Here are the top 10 stories from across the world

China's UN envoy Fu Cong on Saturday (June 14) while speaking to the media said that Israel crossed the ‘red line’ when it hit Iran's nuclear facilities.&nbsp;On being asked about the situation unfolding in Iran and Israel, he said, “We strongly condemn Israelis attack on Iran. This is a violation of Iran's sovereign internal integrity and we are particularly concerned that they are attacking nuclear facilities, which is another red line that Israel has crossed.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/out-of-earth-defence-israel-intercepts-iranian-ballistic-missile-in-space-what-is-exoatmospheric-interception-watch-1749879539246">Out of Earth defence: Israel intercepts Iranian ballistic missile in space - What is exoatmospheric interception? WATCH</a>&nbsp;Earlier, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they launched an attack on dozens of targets in Israel after its large scale attack on the Islamic republic.&nbsp;"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... has executed its decisive and precise response against tens of targets, military centres and airbases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories," the Guards said in a statement carried by state media.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said less than 100 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran at Israel in the two barrages. He says most of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses or fell short before reaching the country. “There are a limited number of impacts on buildings, some were caused by interception fragments,” he says.&nbsp;On Friday (June 13), Israel launched a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin in a press conference said that over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved in the opening strikes on Iran early this morning.&nbsp;He says fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets in the strikes. Defrin also confirms that Israel killed several top Iranian officials in the strikes, including Iran’s military commander Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC chief Hossein Salami, and head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Gholam Ali Rashid.

Bibi crossed red line when it struck Iran nuclear facilities says Chinas UN envoy amid Israel Iran war

China's UN envoy Fu Cong on Saturday (June 14) while speaking to the media said that Israel crossed the ‘red line’ when it hit Iran's nuclear facilities. On being asked about the situation unfolding in Iran and Israel, he said, “We strongly condemn Israelis attack on Iran. This is a violation of Iran's sovereign internal integrity and we are particularly concerned that they are attacking nuclear facilities, which is another red line that Israel has crossed.” Also Read: Out of Earth defence: Israel intercepts Iranian ballistic missile in space - What is exoatmospheric interception? WATCH Earlier, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they launched an attack on dozens of targets in Israel after its large scale attack on the Islamic republic. "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... has executed its decisive and precise response against tens of targets, military centres and airbases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories," the Guards said in a statement carried by state media. Meanwhile, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said less than 100 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran at Israel in the two barrages. He says most of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses or fell short before reaching the country. “There are a limited number of impacts on buildings, some were caused by interception fragments,” he says. On Friday (June 13), Israel launched a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin in a press conference said that over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved in the opening strikes on Iran early this morning. He says fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets in the strikes. Defrin also confirms that Israel killed several top Iranian officials in the strikes, including Iran’s military commander Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC chief Hossein Salami, and head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Gholam Ali Rashid.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they launched an attack on dozens of targets in Israel after its large scale attack on the Islamic republic

'Bibi crossed 'red line' when it struck Iran nuclear facilities', says China's UN envoy amid Israel-Iran war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (June 12) placed a note in the Western Wall, a day before Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities as it launched Operation Rising Lion.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed a note in the Western Wall yesterday with the verse, "A people that rises up as a lioness, and as a lion lifts himself up."The Israeli prime minister's office shared the photo of Netanyahu placing the note, with the verse written on it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed a note in the Western Wall yesterday with the verse: &#39;A people that rises up as a lioness, and as a lion lifts himself up&#39;. Photos: Ziv Koren <a href="https://t.co/iRUIKEVKBg">pic.twitter.com/iRUIKEVKBg</a>&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1933383484745416947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What does it mean and why does it matter?</h2>The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, is a Jewish religious site, located in the Old City of Jerusalem.The Wall holds religious significance for Jews as it is a place of prayer and remembrance. The place is popular as people place notes in the cracks of the wall as a tradition, believing that the divine presence resides there and prayers are carried directly to God.Moreover, it is the only remaining part of the Second Temple, a sacred building that was destroyed in 70 CE.Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion" on Friday (June 13), hitting Iran's nuclear facilities and also attacking senior military officials.IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin in a press conference said that over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved in the opening strikes on Iran early this morning.He says fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets in the strikes.Defrin also confirms that Israel killed several top Iranian officials in the strikes, including Iran’s military commander Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC chief Hossein Salami, and the head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Gholam Ali Rashid.Meanwhile, Iranian supreme leader Khamenei has vowed ‘harsh punishment’ for Israel after Friday's attack killed several Iranian top commanders and scientists.Khamenei confirmed that "several commanders and scientists were martyred" in the attacks, saying their successors would "immediately continue their duties."

The Israeli prime minister's office shared the photo of Netanyahu placing the note, with the verse written on it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (June 12) placed a note in the Western Wall, a day before Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities as it launched Operation Rising Lion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed a note in the Western Wall yesterday with the verse, "A people that rises up as a lioness, and as a lion lifts himself up." The Israeli prime minister's office shared the photo of Netanyahu placing the note, with the verse written on it.

The Israeli prime minister's office shared the photo of Netanyahu placing the note, with the verse written on it.

'As a lion lifts himself up...': Netanyahu leaves note at Western Wall before launching Operation Rising Lion - Here's what it means

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday (June 13) said that Israel is at a decisive point in its history, adding that the operation will continue as long as is needed until the mission is completed.Netanyahu commended the pilots, saying “Our brave pilots are attacking a large number of targets across Iran."<h2>Goal of operation</h2>The Israeli PM stressed that the goal of the operation is to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities.The goal of the operation is "to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Iran’s ballistic missile factories, and Iran’s military capabilities.”He warned that Iran “has significant capabilities to harm us. We prepared for that as well."Netanyahu added that Iran has enriched enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs, saying that in recent months it took unprecedented steps toward weaponization.Iran has also built “a massive store” of ballistic missiles, he said, adding, “These missiles reach Israel from Iran within minutes. Each one carries a ton of explosives.”Iran planned to produce 20,000 such missiles within six years, Netanyahu stressed. “Therefore we are operating to remove [them] as well."“We can’t leave these threats for the next generation,” he continued. “Because if we don’t act now, there will not be another generation. If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here.”Netanyahu said that we have internalised the lessons of history, adding, “When an enemy says he intends to destroy you — believe him. When the enemy develops the capabilities to destroy you — stop him.”<h2>Netanyahu thanks Trump</h2>The Israeli PM thanked US President Donald Trump for "his steadfast stance". “Time and again, he made it clear: Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in his video statement.“I thank him for his consistent support of our country throughout all the years of his presidency.”While addressing the Iranian people, he said, "We do not hate you. You are not our enemies. We have a common enemy: a tyrannical regime that tramples you.”He stressed that the regime has "robbed you of the chance for a good life," further arguing that Israel is defending the Middle East and Israel's regional partners.“We are defending the free world from the terrorism and barbarism that Iran fosters and exports across the globe,” he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Israeli PM stressed that the goal of the operation is to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday (June 13) said that Israel is at a decisive point in its history, adding that the operation will continue as long as is needed until the mission is completed. Netanyahu commended the pilots, saying “Our brave pilots are attacking a large number of targets across Iran." Goal of operation The Israeli PM stressed that the goal of the operation is to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities. The goal of the operation is "to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Iran’s ballistic missile factories, and Iran’s military capabilities.” He warned that Iran “has significant capabilities to harm us. We prepared for that as well." Netanyahu added that Iran has enriched enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs, saying that in recent months it took unprecedented steps toward weaponization. Iran has also built “a massive store” of ballistic missiles, he said, adding, “These missiles reach Israel from Iran within minutes. Each one carries a ton of explosives.” Iran planned to produce 20,000 such missiles within six years, Netanyahu stressed. “Therefore we are operating to remove [them] as well." “We can’t leave these threats for the next generation,” he continued. “Because if we don’t act now, there will not be another generation. If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here.” Netanyahu said that we have internalised the lessons of history, adding, “When an enemy says he intends to destroy you — believe him. When the enemy develops the capabilities to destroy you — stop him.” Netanyahu thanks Trump The Israeli PM thanked US President Donald Trump for "his steadfast stance". “Time and again, he made it clear: Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in his video statement. “I thank him for his consistent support of our country throughout all the years of his presidency.” While addressing the Iranian people, he said, "We do not hate you. You are not our enemies. We have a common enemy: a tyrannical regime that tramples you.” He stressed that the regime has "robbed you of the chance for a good life," further arguing that Israel is defending the Middle East and Israel's regional partners. “We are defending the free world from the terrorism and barbarism that Iran fosters and exports across the globe,” he said.

The Israeli PM stressed that the goal of the operation is to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities.

'Until MISSION is completed': Netanyahu warns Israeli operation will continue in Iran after it hits nuclear facilities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government narrowly survived as the motion to dissolve the Knesset was defeated by a margin of 61 to 53 on Thursday morning. However, political gridlock continues as some of his coalition members backed the opposition's motion.&nbsp;This was an intense moment in Israeli politics as the vote came in between growing infighting in the coalition. Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, called Netanyahu ‘unfit to rule’. The major infighting surrounding a decade-old rule which exempted Ultra-radical right groups engaged in religious studies from compulsory military service.The United Torah Judaism and Shas parties were engaged in a slugfest with Likud over the draft proposal to enlist ultra-right radicals into the armed forces. The bill was gaining momentum in the pretext of Israel's war following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. Israel has suffered its highest battlefield casualties and requires more troops.But a last-minute deal within Netanyahu’s government has preserved unity between the coalition. If the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties had voted unisonly, then the dissolution bill would have passed."I am pleased to announce that after long discussions we have reached agreements on the principles on which the draft law will be based", said Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Yuli Edelstein.A preliminary vote to dissolve the Knesset must pass before the process for new elections can begin. With this motion failing, no new dissolution vote can be brought for six months, barring extraordinary developments.Knesset’s full term ends in October 2026. Out of the 120 seats, a majority of 61 is needed for the dissolution. Even though Netanyahu survived the difference is rajor thin and there had been growing discontent among the coalition over the draft bill. The political turmoil in Israel is far from over. Externally, Netanyahu and his ministers face charges of war crimes and have been indicted by the International Court of Justice. Netanyahu has dodged this attempt to unseat him with sheer resilience and wit that allowed him to call the bluff of United Torah Judaism and the Shas party, which were just trying to stir up a controversy to escape mandatory military service.Their constituencies have been given a lot of financial support and other privileges, and have very little to gain from a new election.

A motion to dissolve the Israeli parliament fell short on June 12, signalling continued political gridlock and growing public unease.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government narrowly survived as the motion to dissolve the Knesset was defeated by a margin of 61 to 53 on Thursday morning. However, political gridlock continues as some of his coalition members backed the opposition's motion. This was an intense moment in Israeli politics as the vote came in between growing infighting in the coalition. Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, called Netanyahu ‘unfit to rule’. The major infighting surrounding a decade-old rule which exempted Ultra-radical right groups engaged in religious studies from compulsory military service. The United Torah Judaism and Shas parties were engaged in a slugfest with Likud over the draft proposal to enlist ultra-right radicals into the armed forces. The bill was gaining momentum in the pretext of Israel's war following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. Israel has suffered its highest battlefield casualties and requires more troops. But a last-minute deal within Netanyahu’s government has preserved unity between the coalition. If the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties had voted unisonly, then the dissolution bill would have passed. "I am pleased to announce that after long discussions we have reached agreements on the principles on which the draft law will be based", said Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Yuli Edelstein. A preliminary vote to dissolve the Knesset must pass before the process for new elections can begin. With this motion failing, no new dissolution vote can be brought for six months, barring extraordinary developments. Knesset’s full term ends in October 2026. Out of the 120 seats, a majority of 61 is needed for the dissolution. Even though Netanyahu survived the difference is rajor thin and there had been growing discontent among the coalition over the draft bill. The political turmoil in Israel is far from over. Externally, Netanyahu and his ministers face charges of war crimes and have been indicted by the International Court of Justice. Netanyahu has dodged this attempt to unseat him with sheer resilience and wit that allowed him to call the bluff of United Torah Judaism and the Shas party, which were just trying to stir up a controversy to escape mandatory military service. Their constituencies have been given a lot of financial support and other privileges, and have very little to gain from a new election.

A motion to dissolve the Israeli parliament fell short on June 12, signalling continued political gridlock and growing public unease.

Netanyahu survives for now: Opposition’s push to dissolve Knesset fails in key vote

US President Donald Trump held a press conference on Friday (May 30) in the Oval Office for Elon Musk as a farewell for his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This after Musk spent 130 days in Trump administration firing &nbsp;tens of thousands of civil servants and sparking dozens of lawsuits over potential misuse of Americans’ personal data.&nbsp;Addressing the press, the US president called the Tesla CEO “one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced”. The US president hailed Musk for leading “the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.”&nbsp;“Elon gave an incredible service. There’s nobody like him, and he had to go through the slings and the arrows, which is a shame, because he's an incredible patriot. The good news is that 90% of the country knows that, and they appreciate it, and they really appreciate what he did,” Trump said.&nbsp;Apart from tons of praising words, the US president gifted the Tesla CEO a golden key. The large key was in a wooden box and the key dated back to Trump’s previous term as the 45th President of the United States: A “Key to the White House.”But was the only person who received the “special” key from Trump? Nope.&nbsp;'First key I’m giving to anyone'&nbsp;In a 2022 book named Breaking History, Trump’s son-in-law and ex-senior adviser Jared Kushner recounted how he’d “whipped out” the same key for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020. While giving the key to him, Trump told Netanyahu that the key was “a special token of affection, given by myself and the First Lady to the Prime Minister and the First Lady of Israel.”“And it’s a key, we call it a key to the White House. And it’s a key to our country and to our hearts,” Trump said &nbsp;while handing the special gift to Netanyahu.&nbsp;The book claimed that Trump told the Israeli PM that it was “the first key I’m giving to anyone.” He said that the key would let Netanyahu enter the White House even Trump is not the president.&nbsp;Trump told Musk that the key was “a little special something” that he gives to “very special people” as “a presentation from our country.”&nbsp;

'Key to White House': Trump gifts 'special' golden key to Musk. What is it and how many people have it? WION Explains 

US President Donald Trump held a press conference on Friday (May 30) in the Oval Office for Elon Musk as a farewell for his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This after Musk spent 130 days in Trump administration firing tens of thousands of civil servants and sparking dozens of lawsuits over potential misuse of Americans’ personal data. Addressing the press, the US president called the Tesla CEO “one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced”. The US president hailed Musk for leading “the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.” “Elon gave an incredible service. There’s nobody like him, and he had to go through the slings and the arrows, which is a shame, because he's an incredible patriot. The good news is that 90% of the country knows that, and they appreciate it, and they really appreciate what he did,” Trump said. Apart from tons of praising words, the US president gifted the Tesla CEO a golden key. The large key was in a wooden box and the key dated back to Trump’s previous term as the 45th President of the United States: A “Key to the White House.” But was the only person who received the “special” key from Trump? Nope. 'First key I’m giving to anyone' In a 2022 book named Breaking History, Trump’s son-in-law and ex-senior adviser Jared Kushner recounted how he’d “whipped out” the same key for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020. While giving the key to him, Trump told Netanyahu that the key was “a special token of affection, given by myself and the First Lady to the Prime Minister and the First Lady of Israel.” “And it’s a key, we call it a key to the White House. And it’s a key to our country and to our hearts,” Trump said while handing the special gift to Netanyahu. The book claimed that Trump told the Israeli PM that it was “the first key I’m giving to anyone.” He said that the key would let Netanyahu enter the White House even Trump is not the president. Trump told Musk that the key was “a little special something” that he gives to “very special people” as “a presentation from our country.”

US President Donald Trump held a press conference on Friday (May 30) in the Oval Office for Elon Musk as a farewell for his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

'Key to White House': Trump gifts 'special' golden key to Musk. What is it and how many people have it? WION Explains

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (May 04) promised Israel would strike back at both Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi rebels and their Iranian backers after a missile landed near Tel Aviv&rsquo;s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people.
&ldquo;Israel will respond to the Huthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,&rdquo; Netanyahu wrote on X, reposting a comment by President Donald Trump. &ldquo;It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-netanyahu-vows-action-against-yemen-houthis-after-missile-attack-at-tel-aviv-airport-9032485" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'There will be bangs': Israel's Netanyahu vows action against Houthis after missile attack at Tel Aviv airport</a>
Earlier in March, US President Donald Trump also blamed Iran for Houthi Strikes saying, "Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate&nbsp;from,&nbsp;and are created&nbsp;by,&nbsp;IRAN."
<h2>Defence chief warns of sevenfold retaliation</h2>
Defence Minister Israel Katz said, &ldquo;Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.&rdquo; 
The Israeli military confirmed the missile was fired from Yemen and evaded &ldquo;several attempts&hellip; to intercept&rdquo; it before creating a large crater by the airport&rsquo;s Terminal 3 car park. Following Sunday&rsquo;s strike, airlines including Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least 6 May.
Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-israeli-pm-netanyahu-says-qatar-must-stop-playing-both-sides-9030915" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war: Israeli PM Netanyahu says, 'Qatar must stop playing both sides'</a>
<h2>Houthis claim solidarity with Gaza</h2>
Houthi spokesperson Yehya Saree said their fighters had &ldquo;successfully hit&rdquo; Ben Gurion with a hypersonic missile to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. 
Saree added that more attacks would follow, declaring they would continue supporting Palestinians "whatever the consequences" until the war in Gaza comes to an end.
The attack is the fourth Houthi strike on Israel in just three days. Although Israel has intercepted most of the missiles fired by the group since the war in Gaza began, Sunday&rsquo;s strike caused damage and injuries.
Following the explosion, Ben Gurion Airport temporarily suspended all departures and arrivals. Air India and several other airlines halted flights to and from Tel Aviv. Lufthansa also announced it would not resume flights until at least 6 May.

World: “Israel will respond to the Huthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (May 04) promised Israel would strike back at both Yemen’s Houthi rebels and their Iranian backers after a missile landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people. “Israel will respond to the Huthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu wrote on X, reposting a comment by President Donald Trump. “It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs,” he added. Also read: 'There will be bangs': Israel's Netanyahu vows action against Houthis after missile attack at Tel Aviv airport Earlier in March, US President Donald Trump also blamed Iran for Houthi Strikes saying, "Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN." Defence chief warns of sevenfold retaliation Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.” The Israeli military confirmed the missile was fired from Yemen and evaded “several attempts… to intercept” it before creating a large crater by the airport’s Terminal 3 car park. Following Sunday’s strike, airlines including Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least 6 May. Watch: Israel-Hamas war: Israeli PM Netanyahu says, 'Qatar must stop playing both sides' Houthis claim solidarity with Gaza Houthi spokesperson Yehya Saree said their fighters had “successfully hit” Ben Gurion with a hypersonic missile to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. Saree added that more attacks would follow, declaring they would continue supporting Palestinians "whatever the consequences" until the war in Gaza comes to an end. The attack is the fourth Houthi strike on Israel in just three days. Although Israel has intercepted most of the missiles fired by the group since the war in Gaza began, Sunday’s strike caused damage and injuries. Following the explosion, Ben Gurion Airport temporarily suspended all departures and arrivals. Air India and several other airlines halted flights to and from Tel Aviv. Lufthansa also announced it would not resume flights until at least 6 May.

‘At a time and place of our choosing’: Netanyahu echoes Trump after Houthi attack, vows response against ‘Iranian terror masters’

Israel&rsquo;s Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/incomplete-independence-freed-hostages-call-for-release-of-those-still-held-by-hamas-9031940" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Netanyahu</a> has pledged further action against Yemen's Houthi rebels after a missile fired from Yemen landed near Tel Aviv&rsquo;s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday morning. According to Israeli authorities, four people were injured in the blast, with two more hurt while trying to reach a shelter.
The missile struck close to Terminal 3&rsquo;s parking area, causing disruption to air travel and sparking concerns over safety at one of the country's busiest transport hubs.
<h2>Netanyahu: &lsquo;There will be bangs&rsquo;</h2>
Speaking after the attack, Netanyahu confirmed Israel would continue its operations against the Houthis.
&ldquo;We operated against them in the past and we will operate in the future,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not &lsquo;bang &mdash; that&rsquo;s it,&rsquo; but there will be bangs.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-indias-delhi-to-tel-aviv-flight-diverted-to-abu-dhabi-following-missile-attack-near-israeli-airport-9032104" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Air India&rsquo;s Delhi to Tel Aviv flight diverted to Abu Dhabi following missile attack near Israeli airport</a>
Israel&rsquo;s Defence Minister Israel Katz also issued a strong warning: &ldquo;Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.&rdquo;
<h2>Houthi group says missile 'hit its target'</h2>
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the strike. Their military spokesperson Yehya Saree stated the group had launched a ballistic missile at the airport and that it had "successfully hit its target."
Saree added that more attacks would follow, declaring they would continue supporting Palestinians "whatever the consequences" until the war in Gaza comes to an end.
Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/yemen-attacks-tel-aviv-with-projectile-confirms-israel-army-sirens-sound-over-tel-aviv-i-originals-8975957" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Yemen attacks Tel Aviv with projectile confirms Israel army | Sirens sound over Tel Aviv I Originals</a>
<h2>Flights suspended as missile sparks panic</h2>
Following the explosion, Ben Gurion airport temporarily suspended all departures and arrivals. Air India and several other airlines halted flights to and from Tel Aviv. Lufthansa also announced it would not resume flights until at least 6 May.
Unverified videos shared online appeared to show motorists pulling over and taking cover as a loud blast occurred, sending a column of black smoke into the air near the airport.
<h2>&lsquo;Tens of metres deep&rsquo;: Police show missile crater</h2>
Israeli military officials said air defences had attempted to intercept the missile, but it still landed near the airport. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said warning sirens had sounded in several areas and that &ldquo;several interception attempts were made against a missile launched from Yemen.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-defense-forces-probe-reveals-massive-failure-as-troops-abandoned-civilians-at-zikim-beach-on-oct-7-9032123" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Israel Defense Forces probe reveals &lsquo;massive failure&rsquo; as troops abandoned civilians at Zikim Beach on Oct 7</a>
Yair Hetzroni, a senior Israeli police commander, showed reporters the crater at the scene.
&ldquo;You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of metres and also tens of metres deep,&rdquo; he said, noting that no major damage was caused.

World: Speaking after the attack, Netanyahu confirmed Israel would continue its operations against the Houthis. “We operated against them in the past and we will operate in the future,” he said. “It’s not ‘bang — that’s it,’ but there will be bangs.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged further action against Yemen's Houthi rebels after a missile fired from Yemen landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday morning. According to Israeli authorities, four people were injured in the blast, with two more hurt while trying to reach a shelter. The missile struck close to Terminal 3’s parking area, causing disruption to air travel and sparking concerns over safety at one of the country's busiest transport hubs. Netanyahu: ‘There will be bangs’ Speaking after the attack, Netanyahu confirmed Israel would continue its operations against the Houthis. “We operated against them in the past and we will operate in the future,” he said. “It’s not ‘bang — that’s it,’ but there will be bangs.” Also read: Air India’s Delhi to Tel Aviv flight diverted to Abu Dhabi following missile attack near Israeli airport Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz also issued a strong warning: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.” Houthi group says missile 'hit its target' The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the strike. Their military spokesperson Yehya Saree stated the group had launched a ballistic missile at the airport and that it had "successfully hit its target." Saree added that more attacks would follow, declaring they would continue supporting Palestinians "whatever the consequences" until the war in Gaza comes to an end. Watch: Yemen attacks Tel Aviv with projectile confirms Israel army | Sirens sound over Tel Aviv I Originals Flights suspended as missile sparks panic Following the explosion, Ben Gurion airport temporarily suspended all departures and arrivals. Air India and several other airlines halted flights to and from Tel Aviv. Lufthansa also announced it would not resume flights until at least 6 May. Unverified videos shared online appeared to show motorists pulling over and taking cover as a loud blast occurred, sending a column of black smoke into the air near the airport. ‘Tens of metres deep’: Police show missile crater Israeli military officials said air defences had attempted to intercept the missile, but it still landed near the airport. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said warning sirens had sounded in several areas and that “several interception attempts were made against a missile launched from Yemen.” Also read: Israel Defense Forces probe reveals ‘massive failure’ as troops abandoned civilians at Zikim Beach on Oct 7 Yair Hetzroni, a senior Israeli police commander, showed reporters the crater at the scene. “You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of metres and also tens of metres deep,” he said, noting that no major damage was caused.

'There will be bangs': Israel's Netanyahu vows action against Houthis after missile attack at Tel Aviv airport

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's elder son, Yair Netanyahu, is once again in the headlines, this time for lashing out at French President Emmanuel Macron for his statement that Paris could recognise a Palestinian state within months.&nbsp;
"Screw you!" Benjamin Netanyahu's son wrote in English on the social media platform X late on Saturday (April 12).&nbsp;
"Yes to independence of New Caledonia! Yes to independence for French Polynesia! Yes to the independence of Corsica! Yes to independence of the Basque Country! Yes to independence of French Guinea!" he added.&nbsp;
After this, the Israeli PM took to X and said that his son's comments to Macron were "unacceptable".
"I love my son Yair, a true Zionist who cares about the future of the country. Like every citizen, he is entitled to his personal opinion, although the style of his response to President Macron's tweet calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state is unacceptable to me," Netanyahu said in the X post.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9i6zgyv-ntonwprj-vcgiwrlh">
אני אוהב את בני יאיר, ציוני אמיתי שדואג לעתיד המדינה. כמו כל אזרח, גם הוא זכאי לדעתו האישית, הגם שסגנון תגובתו לציוצו של הנשיא מקרון שקרא להקמת מדינה פלסטינית, אינו מקובל עלי. הנשיא מקרון טועה קשות, כאשר הוא ממשיך לקדם את רעיון המדינה הפלסטינית בלב ארצנו, שכל שאיפתה היא השמדת&hellip;
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1911475839104921896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/screw-you-netanyahus-son-yair-slams-macron-on-palestinian-statehood-8956340">&lsquo;Screw you!&rsquo;: Netanyahu&rsquo;s son Yair slams Macron on Palestinian statehood</a>
But, it's not the first time Netanyahu has had to come to the defence of his son after Yair's not-so-proud acts. The elder son of the Israeli PM has always been in controversy.&nbsp;
<h2>Who is Yair Netanyahu?&nbsp;</h2>
Born in 1991, Yair is the eldest son and the first child of the Israeli PM with his second wife, Sara Netanyahu. Although he has no political position, Yair has often shared his controversial and extremist opinions online.&nbsp;
Graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in international relations, Yair now works as a Podcaster and claims himself a political analyst.&nbsp;
<h2>The George Soros meme scandal - 2017&nbsp;</h2>
In 2017, Yair had posted a controversial meme on the social media platform Facebook. He claimed that there was a conspiracy being led by George Soros to topple his father's government in Israel.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-war-with-iran-inevitable-if-nuclear-talks-stall-donald-trump-8940638">'Blow up Iran's facilities': Netanyahu says war with Tehran 'inevitable' if nuclear talks stall</a>
The meme showed Soros as a puppet master controlling world events. Even though Soros is Jewish, he is often the target of far-right conspiracy theories. &nbsp;
Yair's post was heavily slammed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which called it &ldquo;dangerous&rdquo; and &ldquo;anti-Semitic", along with other political groups. After the criticism, Yair deleted the post.&nbsp;
<h2>The strip club video - 2017</h2>
An Israeli news channel aired a secret video clip in which Yair was seen drunk outside a strip club and bragging about his political powers while being accompanied by the government-funded bodyguards. The then 24-year-old was seen bragging about how his father helped a friend secure a giant gas deal.&nbsp;
He was further seen making derogatory comments about women outside the strip club. Yair received massive backlash from Israelis for using taxpayers' money to fund his late-night debauchery.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/criminal-investigation-launches-against-sara-netanyahu-for-witness-tampering-8684712">Criminal investigation against Sara Netanyahu for 'witness tampering'</a>
After the backlash, Yair publicly apologised for his "nonsense" comments, saying that he was drunk and not in his senses.&nbsp;
<h2>'Muslims Should Leave Israel' - 2020&nbsp;</h2>
Yair was in the middle of a debate on X about the Temple Mount and Muslim prayer rights when he wrote: &ldquo;all Muslims should leave the land of Israel.&rdquo;
The comments drew massive outrage for being Islamophobic. Some of the major supporters of Netanyahu distanced themselves after Yair's comment. They were concerned that it could lead to regional tension in Israel.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fraud-trial-of-israel-pms-wife-sara-netanyahu-postponed-court-150254">Fraud trial of Israel PM's wife Sara Netanyahu postponed: Court</a>
Again, the post was deleted, BUT couldn't fix the damage already done.&nbsp;
<h2>Other controversies&nbsp;</h2>
Apart from all this, Yair has been accused of being involved in multiple defamation cases as well.&nbsp;He has also clashed with the Israeli media and even called them "fake news" and "traitors". &nbsp;

TRENDING | World | Graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in international relations, Yair now works as a Podcaster and claims himself a political analyst.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's elder son, Yair Netanyahu, is once again in the headlines, this time for lashing out at French President Emmanuel Macron for his statement that Paris could recognise a Palestinian state within months. "Screw you!" Benjamin Netanyahu's son wrote in English on the social media platform X late on Saturday (April 12). "Yes to independence of New Caledonia! Yes to independence for French Polynesia! Yes to the independence of Corsica! Yes to independence of the Basque Country! Yes to independence of French Guinea!" he added. After this, the Israeli PM took to X and said that his son's comments to Macron were "unacceptable". "I love my son Yair, a true Zionist who cares about the future of the country. Like every citizen, he is entitled to his personal opinion, although the style of his response to President Macron's tweet calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state is unacceptable to me," Netanyahu said in the X post. אני אוהב את בני יאיר, ציוני אמיתי שדואג לעתיד המדינה. כמו כל אזרח, גם הוא זכאי לדעתו האישית, הגם שסגנון תגובתו לציוצו של הנשיא מקרון שקרא להקמת מדינה פלסטינית, אינו מקובל עלי. הנשיא מקרון טועה קשות, כאשר הוא ממשיך לקדם את רעיון המדינה הפלסטינית בלב ארצנו, שכל שאיפתה היא השמדת… — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 13, 2025 Also read: ‘Screw you!’: Netanyahu’s son Yair slams Macron on Palestinian statehood But, it's not the first time Netanyahu has had to come to the defence of his son after Yair's not-so-proud acts. The elder son of the Israeli PM has always been in controversy. Who is Yair Netanyahu? Born in 1991, Yair is the eldest son and the first child of the Israeli PM with his second wife, Sara Netanyahu. Although he has no political position, Yair has often shared his controversial and extremist opinions online. Graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in international relations, Yair now works as a Podcaster and claims himself a political analyst. The George Soros meme scandal - 2017 In 2017, Yair had posted a controversial meme on the social media platform Facebook. He claimed that there was a conspiracy being led by George Soros to topple his father's government in Israel. Also read: 'Blow up Iran's facilities': Netanyahu says war with Tehran 'inevitable' if nuclear talks stall The meme showed Soros as a puppet master controlling world events. Even though Soros is Jewish, he is often the target of far-right conspiracy theories. Yair's post was heavily slammed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which called it “dangerous” and “anti-Semitic", along with other political groups. After the criticism, Yair deleted the post. The strip club video - 2017 An Israeli news channel aired a secret video clip in which Yair was seen drunk outside a strip club and bragging about his political powers while being accompanied by the government-funded bodyguards. The then 24-year-old was seen bragging about how his father helped a friend secure a giant gas deal. He was further seen making derogatory comments about women outside the strip club. Yair received massive backlash from Israelis for using taxpayers' money to fund his late-night debauchery. Also read: Criminal investigation against Sara Netanyahu for 'witness tampering' After the backlash, Yair publicly apologised for his "nonsense" comments, saying that he was drunk and not in his senses. 'Muslims Should Leave Israel' - 2020 Yair was in the middle of a debate on X about the Temple Mount and Muslim prayer rights when he wrote: “all Muslims should leave the land of Israel.” The comments drew massive outrage for being Islamophobic. Some of the major supporters of Netanyahu distanced themselves after Yair's comment. They were concerned that it could lead to regional tension in Israel. Also read: Fraud trial of Israel PM's wife Sara Netanyahu postponed: Court Again, the post was deleted, BUT couldn't fix the damage already done. Other controversies Apart from all this, Yair has been accused of being involved in multiple defamation cases as well. He has also clashed with the Israeli media and even called them "fake news" and "traitors".

From 'Screw you' Macron to strip club scandal: 6 times Yair Netanyahu landed up in controversy

Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-cancels-trump-netanyahu-press-conference-before-israeli-pms-arrival-8936890">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> has warned that military action against Iran could become unavoidable if ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail to produce results.
In a video statement released on Tuesday after meeting with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said, &ldquo;We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. This can be done in an agreement, but only if... they go in, blow up (Iran's) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;If talks drag on, then the military option becomes inevitable.&rdquo;
<h2>Trump confirms direct talks with Iran</h2>
Earlier on Monday, President Trump revealed that the US and Iran would hold direct negotiations on Saturday over a possible new nuclear agreement. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re having direct talks with Iran and they&rsquo;ve started, it'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting and we&rsquo;ll see what can happen,&rdquo; Trump said from the Oval Office.
Trump, during his first presidency, withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term, described the upcoming talks as being at a &ldquo;very high level&rdquo;. He added, &ldquo;Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren&rsquo;t successful, I actually think it'll be a very bad day for Iran.&rdquo;
<h2>Iran says talks will be indirect</h2>
Following Trump's announcement, Iran&rsquo;s foreign minister said that the negotiations set to take place in Oman would be &ldquo;indirect&rdquo;, but admitted that they could present &ldquo;as much an opportunity as... a test&rdquo;.
Iran has long claimed that its nuclear programme is peaceful. However, it has steadily increased its uranium enrichment since the US reinstated sanctions seven years ago. The country is now believed to have enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons, according to recent assessments.
Netanyahu&rsquo;s comments follow his meeting with Trump at the White House, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Netanyahu has previously threatened military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump said, &ldquo;I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it.&rdquo;
He added, &ldquo;But it's getting to be very dangerous territory, and hopefully those talks will be successful.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Earlier on Monday, President Trump revealed that the US and Iran would hold direct negotiations on Saturday over a possible new nuclear agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that military action against Iran could become unavoidable if ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail to produce results. In a video statement released on Tuesday after meeting with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said, “We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. This can be done in an agreement, but only if... they go in, blow up (Iran's) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision.” He added, “If talks drag on, then the military option becomes inevitable.” Trump confirms direct talks with Iran Earlier on Monday, President Trump revealed that the US and Iran would hold direct negotiations on Saturday over a possible new nuclear agreement. “We’re having direct talks with Iran and they’ve started, it'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting and we’ll see what can happen,” Trump said from the Oval Office. Trump, during his first presidency, withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term, described the upcoming talks as being at a “very high level”. He added, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren’t successful, I actually think it'll be a very bad day for Iran.” Iran says talks will be indirect Following Trump's announcement, Iran’s foreign minister said that the negotiations set to take place in Oman would be “indirect”, but admitted that they could present “as much an opportunity as... a test”. Iran has long claimed that its nuclear programme is peaceful. However, it has steadily increased its uranium enrichment since the US reinstated sanctions seven years ago. The country is now believed to have enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons, according to recent assessments. Netanyahu’s comments follow his meeting with Trump at the White House, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Netanyahu has previously threatened military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Trump said, “I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it.” He added, “But it's getting to be very dangerous territory, and hopefully those talks will be successful.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Blow up Iran's facilities': Netanyahu says war with Tehran 'inevitable' if nuclear talks stall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strike-hits-beirut-for-first-time-in-months-lebanon-hunts-those-behind-rocket-attack-on-israel-8900732">Netanyahu</a> on Friday (March 28) issued a strong warning, saying Israel would "strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat", following the first air strike on south Beirut since a ceasefire with Hezbollah began in November.
"The equation has changed... we will not allow any fire on our communities," Netanyahu said in a statement. 
"We will continue to enforce the ceasefire with force, strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat to the State of Israel, and ensure that all our residents in the north return safely to their homes," he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strike-hits-beirut-for-first-time-in-months-lebanon-hunts-those-behind-rocket-attack-on-israel-8900732">Israeli strike hits Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire; Lebanon hunts those behind rocket attack on Israel</a>
The air strike on Friday came after rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israel. Israel responded by targeting an area in southern Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
<h2>'Dangerous escalation'</h2>
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack, calling it "a dangerous escalation" and criticising what he described as "Israeli attacks that target civilians and safe residential areas where schools and universities are located," according to a statement from his office.
The Lebanese army later reported it had located the rocket launch site, situated north of the Litani River, and said efforts were underway to identify those responsible.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-start-meeting-candidates-to-replace-internal-intelligence-agency-chief-ronen-bar-8890568">Netanyahu to start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar</a>
Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a warning of his own. He said any future attacks on northern Israel would be met with strikes on Hezbollah&rsquo;s Dahieh stronghold in Beirut.
"Any attempt to harm the Galilee communities, the rooftops of the houses in the Dahieh neighbourhood in Beirut will tremble," Katz said in a video message. Addressing Lebanon&rsquo;s leadership directly, he added, "If you do not enforce the ceasefire agreement, we will enforce it."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-warns-of-new-war-after-israels-retaliatory-attacks-that-killed-two-8880073">Lebanon warns of &lsquo;new war&rsquo; after Israel&rsquo;s retaliatory attacks kill two</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday issued a strong warning, saying Israel would "strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat." middle east

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday (March 28) issued a strong warning, saying Israel would "strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat", following the first air strike on south Beirut since a ceasefire with Hezbollah began in November. "The equation has changed... we will not allow any fire on our communities," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We will continue to enforce the ceasefire with force, strike everywhere in Lebanon against any threat to the State of Israel, and ensure that all our residents in the north return safely to their homes," he added. Also read: Israeli strike hits Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire; Lebanon hunts those behind rocket attack on Israel The air strike on Friday came after rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israel. Israel responded by targeting an area in southern Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold. 'Dangerous escalation' Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack, calling it "a dangerous escalation" and criticising what he described as "Israeli attacks that target civilians and safe residential areas where schools and universities are located," according to a statement from his office. The Lebanese army later reported it had located the rocket launch site, situated north of the Litani River, and said efforts were underway to identify those responsible. Also read: Netanyahu to start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a warning of his own. He said any future attacks on northern Israel would be met with strikes on Hezbollah’s Dahieh stronghold in Beirut. "Any attempt to harm the Galilee communities, the rooftops of the houses in the Dahieh neighbourhood in Beirut will tremble," Katz said in a video message. Addressing Lebanon’s leadership directly, he added, "If you do not enforce the ceasefire agreement, we will enforce it." Also read: Lebanon warns of ‘new war’ after Israel’s retaliatory attacks kill two (With inputs from agencies)

‘Won’t allow any fire’: Netanyahu warns of strikes ‘everywhere in Lebanon’ after hitting Beirut

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that he would start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar, whose sacking brought thousands of Israelis out on the streets last week.
"After the Supreme Court rejected the government's legal advisor's attempt to prevent the start of the process to appoint a new Shin Bet chief, the Prime Minister will begin interviewing candidates for the position as early as tomorrow," Netanyahu spokesman Omer Dostri said in a statement.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that he would start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar. Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that he would start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar, whose sacking brought thousands of Israelis out on the streets last week. "After the Supreme Court rejected the government's legal advisor's attempt to prevent the start of the process to appoint a new Shin Bet chief, the Prime Minister will begin interviewing candidates for the position as early as tomorrow," Netanyahu spokesman Omer Dostri said in a statement. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Netanyahu to start meeting candidates to replace internal intelligence agency chief Ronen Bar

Israel's cabinet passed a vote of no confidence on Sunday in the attorney general, the justice minister said, moving against a vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision came two days after the government fired the head of the country's internal security agency, a decision subsequently frozen by Israel's Supreme Court and which triggered anti-government demonstrations.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: The decision came two days after the government fired the head of the country's internal security agency, a decision subsequently frozen by Israel's Supreme Court.

Israel's cabinet passed a vote of no confidence on Sunday in the attorney general, the justice minister said, moving against a vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came two days after the government fired the head of the country's internal security agency, a decision subsequently frozen by Israel's Supreme Court and which triggered anti-government demonstrations. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israel’s cabinet turns on attorney general in no-confidence vote amid political turmoil

The United States and Israel are planning to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Africa as they reportedly reached out to at least three East African governments to discuss if they can use African territories for the same.&nbsp;
A report by the Associate Press (AP) claimed that American and Israeli officials told about Donald Trump's postwar plan to resettle Gazans.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-respond-accordingly-white-house-accuses-hamas-of-making-very-bad-bet-on-gaza-talks-8854373">'Will respond accordingly': White House accuses Hamas of making 'very bad bet' on Gaza talks</a>
The two nations contacted Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, AP claimed. As all the three regions are poor and somewhat wracked by violence, the reported move raises questions on the US President's statement that he is planning to resettle Gazans in a "beautiful area".&nbsp;
Sudan officials said they have rejected the discussion with Trump, but Somalia and Somaliland told AP that they were not contacted by either of the countries (US, Israel).&nbsp;
&ldquo;This suggestion was immediately rebuffed,&rdquo; said one Sudanese official. &ldquo;No one opened this matter again," they added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-israel-circus-known-as-un-human-rights-council-netanyahu-rejects-un-finding-on-gaza-genocidal-acts-8851221">'Anti-Israel circus known as UN Human Rights Council': Netanyahu rejects UN finding on Gaza 'genocidal acts'</a>
Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said his country would categorically reject "any proposal or initiative, from any party, that would undermine the Palestinian people&rsquo;s right to live peacefully on their ancestral land", Reuters reported.&nbsp;
<h2>A 'bold decision'&nbsp;</h2>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-for-the-first-time-accepts-reasonable-suspicion-over-idfs-use-of-palestinians-as-human-shields-in-gaza-israeli-soldiers-gaza-war-israel-hamas-war-8848669">Israel, for the first time, 'accepts' use of Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, probe on: Report</a>
After Trump presented the idea of mass transfer of Palestinians in the White House last month, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it a "bold decision". Since then, the decision has sparked outrage and criticism from various nations. Rights groups have said forcing or pressuring the Palestinians to leave could be a potential war crime.
Despite, the White House says Trump "stands by his vision".&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beaten-spit-on-held-in-one-sq-metre-cell-israeli-hostages-painful-ordeal-reveals-they-knew-when-gaza-truce-failed-8847768">'Beaten, spat on, held in a sq metre cell': Hostage's painful ordeal reveals 'he knew' when Gaza truce failed</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

WORLD | A report by the Associate Press (AP) claimed that American and Israeli officials told about Donald Trump's postwar plan to resettle Gazans.

The United States and Israel are planning to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Africa as they reportedly reached out to at least three East African governments to discuss if they can use African territories for the same. A report by the Associate Press (AP) claimed that American and Israeli officials told about Donald Trump's postwar plan to resettle Gazans. Also read: 'Will respond accordingly': White House accuses Hamas of making 'very bad bet' on Gaza talks The two nations contacted Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, AP claimed. As all the three regions are poor and somewhat wracked by violence, the reported move raises questions on the US President's statement that he is planning to resettle Gazans in a "beautiful area". Sudan officials said they have rejected the discussion with Trump, but Somalia and Somaliland told AP that they were not contacted by either of the countries (US, Israel). “This suggestion was immediately rebuffed,” said one Sudanese official. “No one opened this matter again," they added. Also read: 'Anti-Israel circus known as UN Human Rights Council': Netanyahu rejects UN finding on Gaza 'genocidal acts' Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said his country would categorically reject "any proposal or initiative, from any party, that would undermine the Palestinian people’s right to live peacefully on their ancestral land", Reuters reported. A 'bold decision' Also read: Israel, for the first time, 'accepts' use of Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, probe on: Report After Trump presented the idea of mass transfer of Palestinians in the White House last month, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it a "bold decision". Since then, the decision has sparked outrage and criticism from various nations. Rights groups have said forcing or pressuring the Palestinians to leave could be a potential war crime. Despite, the White House says Trump "stands by his vision". Also read: 'Beaten, spat on, held in a sq metre cell': Hostage's painful ordeal reveals 'he knew' when Gaza truce failed (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's 'beautiful area' for Gazans? US, Israel eyeing three 'poor' African nations to resettle Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas on Monday (March 3) of severe consequences if the Palestinian militant group does not release the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
&ldquo;I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine,&rdquo; Netanyahu said during a speech in the Israeli parliament.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-hes-the-only-us-president-who-didnt-surrender-ukraines-land-to-putin-russia-zelensky-8775264" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump claims he&rsquo;s the only US prez who didn&rsquo;t &lsquo;surrender&rsquo; Ukraine&rsquo;s land to Putin, but history says otherwise</a>
As he delivered his speech, families of the hostages gathered outside the Knesset in protest, urging action to bring their loved ones home.
Netanyahu referred to an agreement from the previous US administration, backed by President Donald Trump, which grants Israel the right to withdraw from negotiations and resume military operations if talks become futile.
&ldquo;According to the side letter that accompanied the agreement from the previous [US] administration, backed by the Trump administration, we have the right at any moment from Day 42 to drop out of the negotiations and return to fighting if we are under the impression that the talks are pointless,&rdquo; he said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oscars-host-conan-obrien-mocks-us-president-trump-over-ugly-spat-with-zelensky-anora-8775068" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Stand up to a powerful Russian&rsquo;: Oscars host Conan O&rsquo;Brien mocks Trump over ugly spat with Zelensky | Watch</a>
Addressing concerns raised by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu admitted that the gap between the negotiating sides is too big and poses a risk to the talks. &ldquo;There is a proposal in front of us. We are still in the agreement, we are not violating the agreement, but we are not returning immediately to war,&rdquo; he said.
However, he warned that military action might still be necessary. &ldquo;Who knows, we might need to. [Witkoff] offers a way to return all the hostages, in two releases,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-fully-coordinated-with-trump-to-extend-phase-one-of-gaza-ceasefire-for-50-days-says-netanyahu-8771452">Israel &lsquo;fully coordinated&rsquo; with Trump to extend phase one of Gaza ceasefire for 50 days, says Netanyahu</a>
Netanyahu also voiced support for former US President Trump&rsquo;s proposal to encourage emigration from Gaza, calling it a &ldquo;brave and innovative&rdquo; idea.
&ldquo;We must support it. We support it fully,&rdquo; he said, claiming that many wealthy Gazans had managed to bribe their way out of the territory. &ldquo;The time has come to give them the freedom to leave. The time has come to give them the freedom to choose,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>Hamas has 'enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic': Israel</h2>
Meanwhile, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accused Hamas of hoarding supplies while the civilian population suffered. His comments came a day after Israel blocked aid deliveries, citing a deadlock in ceasefire talks.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-announces-suspension-of-aid-into-gaza-over-hamas-refusal-to-extend-ceasefires-1st-phase-threatens-consequences-8770552">Warnings of famine risk in Gaza &lsquo;a lie&rsquo;, says Israel as it suspends aid into Gaza over ceasefire extension</a>
Mencer told reporters that Hamas has stockpiled supplies for its operatives &ldquo;for months and months&rdquo; and has &ldquo;enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic.&rdquo;
&ldquo;No one is going hungry in Hamas,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The supplies are there, but Hamas don&rsquo;t share.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine,” Netanyahu said during a speech in the Israeli parliament. Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas on Monday (March 3) of severe consequences if the Palestinian militant group does not release the remaining hostages held in Gaza. “I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine,” Netanyahu said during a speech in the Israeli parliament. Also read: Trump claims he’s the only US prez who didn’t ‘surrender’ Ukraine’s land to Putin, but history says otherwise As he delivered his speech, families of the hostages gathered outside the Knesset in protest, urging action to bring their loved ones home. Netanyahu referred to an agreement from the previous US administration, backed by President Donald Trump, which grants Israel the right to withdraw from negotiations and resume military operations if talks become futile. “According to the side letter that accompanied the agreement from the previous [US] administration, backed by the Trump administration, we have the right at any moment from Day 42 to drop out of the negotiations and return to fighting if we are under the impression that the talks are pointless,” he said. Also read: ‘Stand up to a powerful Russian’: Oscars host Conan O’Brien mocks Trump over ugly spat with Zelensky | Watch Addressing concerns raised by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu admitted that the gap between the negotiating sides is too big and poses a risk to the talks. “There is a proposal in front of us. We are still in the agreement, we are not violating the agreement, but we are not returning immediately to war,” he said. However, he warned that military action might still be necessary. “Who knows, we might need to. [Witkoff] offers a way to return all the hostages, in two releases,” he added. Also read: Israel ‘fully coordinated’ with Trump to extend phase one of Gaza ceasefire for 50 days, says Netanyahu Netanyahu also voiced support for former US President Trump’s proposal to encourage emigration from Gaza, calling it a “brave and innovative” idea. “We must support it. We support it fully,” he said, claiming that many wealthy Gazans had managed to bribe their way out of the territory. “The time has come to give them the freedom to leave. The time has come to give them the freedom to choose,” he added. Hamas has 'enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic': Israel Meanwhile, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accused Hamas of hoarding supplies while the civilian population suffered. His comments came a day after Israel blocked aid deliveries, citing a deadlock in ceasefire talks. Also read: Warnings of famine risk in Gaza ‘a lie’, says Israel as it suspends aid into Gaza over ceasefire extension Mencer told reporters that Hamas has stockpiled supplies for its operatives “for months and months” and has “enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic.” “No one is going hungry in Hamas,” he said. “The supplies are there, but Hamas don’t share.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘Might return to war’: Netanyahu warns Hamas of ‘unimaginable consequences’ if they don't return hostages

Israel has no plans to pull out from the Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza, despite the terms of the ceasefire agreement, an official told CNN on Thursday (Feb 27).
&ldquo;We will not exit the Philadelphi Corridor. We will not allow Hamas murderers to roam again with trucks and rifles on our borders, and we will not let them strengthen themselves again through smuggling,&rdquo; the source told CNN.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-says-israel-has-no-choice-but-to-start-ceasefire-2nd-phase-negotiations-8760350">Hamas says Israel has 'no choice but to start' ceasefire 2nd phase negotiations</a>
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was expected to start withdrawing from the corridor on Saturday, the final day of the first phase, and complete the process within eight days.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to work "relentlessly" to bring back all the hostages held in Gaza.
"To the dear families, we share in your pain. I pledge that we will continue to act relentlessly until we bring everyone back. Until we return all our sons and daughters home," Netanyahu said in a statement.
This announcement comes shortly after Hamas handed over the remains of four hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners. That exchange marked the final planned swap in the first phase of the ceasefire, which is set to conclude this weekend.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-to-hand-over-bodies-of-four-slain-israeli-hostages-tonight-without-public-ceremony-confirms-netanyahu-8759720">Hamas to hand over bodies of four slain Israeli hostages 'tonight' without public ceremony, confirms Netanyahu</a>
<h2>Negotiations for second phase under wraps</h2>
Negotiations for the second phase of the 42-day ceasefire were supposed to start more than three weeks ago, but it remains unclear whether they have.
After delivering the mortal remains of four deceased hostages overnight into Thursday, Hamas said that it is willing to engage in talks for the next stage.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-ukraines-military-spy-suggests-ceasefire-with-russia-could-happen-this-year-8740476">'How long, how effective?' Ukraine&rsquo;s military spy suggests ceasefire with Russia could happen this year</a>
&ldquo;Any attempts by Netanyahu and his government to backtrack on the agreement and obstruct it will only lead to more suffering for the prisoners and their families,&rdquo; Hamas said, referring to the hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold security discussions on Thursday, after which, according to an Israeli source, a decision will be made on whether to send a delegation to continue negotiations and what terms they would follow.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bibas-family-tells-netanyahu-to-shut-up-as-he-describes-murders-of-shiri-ariel-and-kfir-8759150">Bibas family tells Netanyahu to &lsquo;shut up&rsquo; as he describes murders of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir</a>
A separate Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday that Netanyahu would prefer to extend the first phase of the ceasefire instead of withdrawing from Gaza, aiming to secure the release of more hostages without making further concessions. The government is trying to prolong this phase &ldquo;by as much as possible&rdquo; to achieve that goal, the source added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was expected to start withdrawing from the corridor on Saturday, the final day of the first phase, and complete the process within eight days. Middle East

Israel has no plans to pull out from the Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza, despite the terms of the ceasefire agreement, an official told CNN on Thursday (Feb 27). “We will not exit the Philadelphi Corridor. We will not allow Hamas murderers to roam again with trucks and rifles on our borders, and we will not let them strengthen themselves again through smuggling,” the source told CNN. Also read: Hamas says Israel has 'no choice but to start' ceasefire 2nd phase negotiations Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was expected to start withdrawing from the corridor on Saturday, the final day of the first phase, and complete the process within eight days. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to work "relentlessly" to bring back all the hostages held in Gaza. "To the dear families, we share in your pain. I pledge that we will continue to act relentlessly until we bring everyone back. Until we return all our sons and daughters home," Netanyahu said in a statement. This announcement comes shortly after Hamas handed over the remains of four hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners. That exchange marked the final planned swap in the first phase of the ceasefire, which is set to conclude this weekend. Also read: Hamas to hand over bodies of four slain Israeli hostages 'tonight' without public ceremony, confirms Netanyahu Negotiations for second phase under wraps Negotiations for the second phase of the 42-day ceasefire were supposed to start more than three weeks ago, but it remains unclear whether they have. After delivering the mortal remains of four deceased hostages overnight into Thursday, Hamas said that it is willing to engage in talks for the next stage. Also read: 'How long, how effective?' Ukraine’s military spy suggests ceasefire with Russia could happen this year “Any attempts by Netanyahu and his government to backtrack on the agreement and obstruct it will only lead to more suffering for the prisoners and their families,” Hamas said, referring to the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold security discussions on Thursday, after which, according to an Israeli source, a decision will be made on whether to send a delegation to continue negotiations and what terms they would follow. Also read: Bibas family tells Netanyahu to ‘shut up’ as he describes murders of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir A separate Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday that Netanyahu would prefer to extend the first phase of the ceasefire instead of withdrawing from Gaza, aiming to secure the release of more hostages without making further concessions. The government is trying to prolong this phase “by as much as possible” to achieve that goal, the source added. (With inputs from agencies)

Days before ceasefire ends, Israel says it won’t withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza

Hamas handed over a body it claimed belonged to Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas late at&nbsp;night on Friday (Feb 21) after a misidentification nearly disrupted the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement. The Red Cross says it has given the remains to Israel and medical authorities are now conducting forensic tests to confirm the identity.
As per Israel's army radio report, the body was identified overnight by forensic specialists as Shiri Bibas.
The Palestinian militant group had agreed to hand over the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, and another hostage, Oded Lifshitz, under the ongoing ceasefire deal. While the identity of the bodies of the Bibas boys and Lifshitz was confirmed, the fourth body was found to be an unidentified Gazan woman, not Shiri Bibas.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/evil-violation-of-truce-amid-outrage-hamas-says-shiri-bibass-remains-mixed-in-rubble-of-israeli-strike-8743938" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Evil violation&nbsp;of&nbsp;truce': Amid outrage, Hamas says Shiri Bibas's remains 'mixed in rubble'&nbsp;of Israeli strike</a>
<h2>Hamas admits &lsquo;mistake&rsquo; in handover</h2>
Hamas official Basem Naim accepted the error, blaming the ongoing war for making proper identification difficult.
"Unfortunate mistakes can happen, especially with Israeli bombing mixing the bodies of hostages and Palestinians, thousands of whom remain buried in the rubble," he said. He added that Hamas had no interest in withholding bodies or violating agreements.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-accuses-hamas-of-murdering-months-old-kfir-bibas-and-4-year-old-ariel-bibas-says-body-of-their-mother-not-returned-as-promised-8741958" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hamas murdered youngest hostages Ariel and Kfir Bibas, says Israel, mother's body missing</a>
<h2>Netanyahu condemns Hamas for &lsquo;cruel violation&rsquo;</h2>
The failure to hand over the correct body and the public display of four coffins by Hamas on Thursday sparked a backlash in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation.
&ldquo;We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages, both living and dead, and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement,&rdquo; he said in a video statement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-cult-netanyahu-vows-vengeance-against-hamas-after-it-parades-dead-bodies-of-israeli-hostages-8741079">&lsquo;Death cult&rsquo;: Netanyahu vows vengeance against Hamas after it &lsquo;parades dead bodies&rsquo; of Israeli hostages</a>
Netanyahu also denounced the group for its actions saying, &ldquo;Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them? Monsters. That&rsquo;s who. I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice.&rdquo;
<h2>Dispute over how Bibas family died</h2>
Hamas has claimed since November 2023 that Shiri Bibas and her two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas-run Gaza government media director Ismail Al-Thawabta placed full blame on Netanyahu. However, the Israeli military disputes this, saying intelligence and forensic analysis suggest the Bibas children were deliberately killed by their captors.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-hands-over-bodies-of-four-israeli-hostages-including-mother-and-young-sons-8739430">'Our hearts lie in tatters': Israel mourns after receiving bodies of dead Gaza hostages</a>
Despite tensions over the botched body transfer, Hamas is set to release six living hostages on Saturday in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin in the coming days.
&ldquo;Hamas must return the hostages as agreed in the ceasefire, the living and the deceased. They have to bring Shiri back, and they have to release the six living hostages expected tomorrow,&rdquo; Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said on X. 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Hamas claims that Shiri Bibas and her two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military disputes this, saying intelligence and forensic analysis suggest the Bibas children were deliberately killed by their captors. Middle East

Hamas handed over a body it claimed belonged to Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas late at night on Friday (Feb 21) after a misidentification nearly disrupted the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement. The Red Cross says it has given the remains to Israel and medical authorities are now conducting forensic tests to confirm the identity. As per Israel's army radio report, the body was identified overnight by forensic specialists as Shiri Bibas. The Palestinian militant group had agreed to hand over the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, and another hostage, Oded Lifshitz, under the ongoing ceasefire deal. While the identity of the bodies of the Bibas boys and Lifshitz was confirmed, the fourth body was found to be an unidentified Gazan woman, not Shiri Bibas. Also read: 'Evil violation of truce': Amid outrage, Hamas says Shiri Bibas's remains 'mixed in rubble' of Israeli strike Hamas admits ‘mistake’ in handover Hamas official Basem Naim accepted the error, blaming the ongoing war for making proper identification difficult. "Unfortunate mistakes can happen, especially with Israeli bombing mixing the bodies of hostages and Palestinians, thousands of whom remain buried in the rubble," he said. He added that Hamas had no interest in withholding bodies or violating agreements. Also read: Hamas murdered youngest hostages Ariel and Kfir Bibas, says Israel, mother's body missing Netanyahu condemns Hamas for ‘cruel violation’ The failure to hand over the correct body and the public display of four coffins by Hamas on Thursday sparked a backlash in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation. “We will act with determination to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages, both living and dead, and ensure Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement,” he said in a video statement. Also read: ‘Death cult’: Netanyahu vows vengeance against Hamas after it ‘parades dead bodies’ of Israeli hostages Netanyahu also denounced the group for its actions saying, “Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them? Monsters. That’s who. I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice.” Dispute over how Bibas family died Hamas has claimed since November 2023 that Shiri Bibas and her two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas-run Gaza government media director Ismail Al-Thawabta placed full blame on Netanyahu. However, the Israeli military disputes this, saying intelligence and forensic analysis suggest the Bibas children were deliberately killed by their captors. Also read: 'Our hearts lie in tatters': Israel mourns after receiving bodies of dead Gaza hostages Despite tensions over the botched body transfer, Hamas is set to release six living hostages on Saturday in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin in the coming days. “Hamas must return the hostages as agreed in the ceasefire, the living and the deceased. They have to bring Shiri back, and they have to release the six living hostages expected tomorrow,” Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel confirms receiving Shiri Bibas’ remains in overnight handover by Hamas

Palestinian group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday (Feb 8). The three Israeli captives were released as part of the fifth hostage-prisoner swap under an ongoing ceasefire with Israel. In exchange, 183 Palestinian prisoners were freed. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the Hamas militants as "monsters" after the handover of the three hostages in extremely frail health.
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Three male Israelis, Eli Sharabi (52), Or Levy (34) and Ohad Ben Ami (56), were released. But their health appeared to be in a poor state. Their families celebrated but also raised major concerns over their health. They looked gaunt, weak, and pale. The difference in appearance was visible when Israel shared their before and after images.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6x9ge2p-wxtnsxk7-881ml9yd">
There are no words. <a href="https://t.co/y8Osk7jPp5">pic.twitter.com/y8Osk7jPp5</a>
&mdash; Israel ישראל (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1888275121489469484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
The three Israeli hostages were kidnapped in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. They were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Hamas in Deir al-Balah city of the Gaza Strip.
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As quoted by CNN, a group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza said it was &ldquo;horrified by the visible physical and mental condition&rdquo; of the three.&nbsp;
While speaking to Channel 13 News, Ohad Ben Ami's mother-in-law, Michal Cohen, said that "he looked like a skeleton, it was awful to see."&nbsp;
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The hostages were taken to the hospital for medical assessment. Gil Fire, who is the deputy director at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, said, "In the initial medical assessment conducted, it is evident that Ohad returned in a severe nutritional state and had lost a significant amount of his body weight."&nbsp;
Yael Frenkel Nir, the director of Sheba Hospital, told reporters, "The consequences of 491 long days in captivity are evident on the two returnees who arrived today, and their medical condition is poor. This is the fourth time in the current framework that we have received returnees, and the situation is more serious this time."&nbsp;
Amid concerns, the demand to release all the remaining hostages has gained momentum. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, welcomed the release and added that US President Donald Trump "was clear&mdash;Hamasmiddle&nbsp; MUST release ALL hostages NOW!"&nbsp;
"After 490 harrowing days in captivity, Eli, Or, and Ohad are finally home in Israel," Rubio wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;
<h2>Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas&nbsp;</h2>
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas and bring home all captives held by the Palestinian militant group. "We will eliminate Hamas, and we will return our hostages," Netanyahu said in a video statement. He denounced the militants as "monsters" after the handover of three hostages.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World News Middle East: Explore the grave concerns raised by families and medical experts about the severe health condition of the released hostages, highlighting their alarming weight loss.

Palestinian group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday (Feb 8). The three Israeli captives were released as part of the fifth hostage-prisoner swap under an ongoing ceasefire with Israel. In exchange, 183 Palestinian prisoners were freed. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the Hamas militants as "monsters" after the handover of the three hostages in extremely frail health. Also read: Trump talks to Putin, says Russian president ‘wants to see people stop dying’ in Ukraine war: Report Three male Israelis, Eli Sharabi (52), Or Levy (34) and Ohad Ben Ami (56), were released. But their health appeared to be in a poor state. Their families celebrated but also raised major concerns over their health. They looked gaunt, weak, and pale. The difference in appearance was visible when Israel shared their before and after images. Also read: The great American guessing game: who runs the country, Trump or Musk? There are no words. pic.twitter.com/y8Osk7jPp5 — Israel ישראל (@Israel) February 8, 2025 The three Israeli hostages were kidnapped in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. They were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Hamas in Deir al-Balah city of the Gaza Strip. Also read: ‘I'll leave him alone’: Donald Trump on why he won’t deport Prince Harry As quoted by CNN, a group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza said it was “horrified by the visible physical and mental condition” of the three. While speaking to Channel 13 News, Ohad Ben Ami's mother-in-law, Michal Cohen, said that "he looked like a skeleton, it was awful to see." Also read: Bus collides with truck leaving 41 dead in southern Mexico The hostages were taken to the hospital for medical assessment. Gil Fire, who is the deputy director at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, said, "In the initial medical assessment conducted, it is evident that Ohad returned in a severe nutritional state and had lost a significant amount of his body weight." Yael Frenkel Nir, the director of Sheba Hospital, told reporters, "The consequences of 491 long days in captivity are evident on the two returnees who arrived today, and their medical condition is poor. This is the fourth time in the current framework that we have received returnees, and the situation is more serious this time." Amid concerns, the demand to release all the remaining hostages has gained momentum. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, welcomed the release and added that US President Donald Trump "was clear—Hamasmiddle MUST release ALL hostages NOW!" "After 490 harrowing days in captivity, Eli, Or, and Ohad are finally home in Israel," Rubio wrote in a post on X. Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas and bring home all captives held by the Palestinian militant group. "We will eliminate Hamas, and we will return our hostages," Netanyahu said in a video statement. He denounced the militants as "monsters" after the handover of three hostages. (With inputs from agencies)

‘There are no words’: Before and after pics of pale, gaunt Israeli hostages raise concerns

Israel's former defence minister Yoav Gallant in an interview aired on Thursday (Feb 6) slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being overly hesitant in using force against militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The general-turned-lawmaker also claimed that Israel could've wiped Iran-backed Hezbollah from existence in October 2023, as the "beeper operation" that saw thousands of Hezbollah pagers explode was ready long before the militants launched their attack.
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<h2>'A missed opportunity' against Hezbollah</h2>
In his first televised interview since being dismissed in November, Gallant disclosed details of the "beeper operation," which he said was a long-prepared strategy designed to dismantle Hezbollah's military capabilities.&nbsp;
The operation, which involved detonating explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives, was carried out on September 16-17. However, as per Gallant, if executed earlier, it could have dealt a crippling blow to the group in October 2023. &nbsp;
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"Hezbollah as a military organization would have ceased to exist &mdash; no leadership, no missiles or rockets, most of its operatives killed in the field," he said, as quoted by Times of Israel.
Gallant claimed the plan was ready years prior, but was delayed due to Netanyahu's insistence on consulting the US.&nbsp;
"In accordance with his (PM Benjamin Netanyahu) request, I spoke with [US National Security Adviser] Jake Sullivan. After a few minutes, [Strategic Affairs Minister] Ron Dermer joined the conversation, and I received an absolute 'no,'" he recalled.
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Netanyahu, he said, feared the repercussions of launching a two-front war with Hezbollah while still reeling from Hamas's October 7 attacks.
"I went back to the prime minister, and I told him, 'We have to do this.' He (Netanyahu) pointed out the window at all the buildings, and told me: 'You see these buildings? All of this will be destroyed by Hezbollah's leftover capacity. After we hit them, they&rsquo;ll destroy everything you see'," claimed Gallant.
<h2>Netanyahu hits back</h2>
In conversation with Channel 14, Netanyahu defended his decision, arguing that it would have been a "horrible mistake" and that Hezbollah's residual firepower could have devastated Israeli cities. The prime minister also claimed that only 150 booby-trapped pagers were in Hezbollah's possession in October 2023, "as opposed to thousands that we accumulated" by the September 2024 operation.
Watch | Yoav Gallant Vs Netanyahu: Fired Defence Minister accuses Netanyahu of being overly hesitant
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/0702_wion_YOAV_11AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/0702_wion_YOAV_11AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=115&amp;tags=wion, wion news, world news, world news latest, viral" title="Yoav Gallant Vs Netanyahu: Fired Defence Minister accuses Netanyahu of being overly hesitant" id="PL_iframe_block-m6ugsat8-8km4gu68-5ykfj4er"></iframe>
Gallant quickly refuted this, stating the pagers were widely distributed among Hezbollah operatives by October 2023. "The pager operation was prepared years before the war and was ready for activation on October 11," he wrote on X.
"Contrary to what was said, thousands of pagers were in the hands of the terrorists by the time I suggested attacking Hezbollah," he added, arguing that the delay allowed Hezbollah to reduce the eventual operation's impact
He said that by September 2024, "the vast majority of walkie-talkies were in warehouses, and their explosion caused no damage." This, he said, happened because by that time Hezbollah had become suspicious that something was wrong with the devices.
(With inputs from agencies)

World News | Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant criticizes Netanyahu for hesitating to strike Hezbollah, claiming a missed chance to dismantle the group in October 2023.

Israel's former defence minister Yoav Gallant in an interview aired on Thursday (Feb 6) slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being overly hesitant in using force against militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The general-turned-lawmaker also claimed that Israel could've wiped Iran-backed Hezbollah from existence in October 2023, as the "beeper operation" that saw thousands of Hezbollah pagers explode was ready long before the militants launched their attack. Also read | Israel backs Trump plan, orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza 'A missed opportunity' against Hezbollah In his first televised interview since being dismissed in November, Gallant disclosed details of the "beeper operation," which he said was a long-prepared strategy designed to dismantle Hezbollah's military capabilities. The operation, which involved detonating explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives, was carried out on September 16-17. However, as per Gallant, if executed earlier, it could have dealt a crippling blow to the group in October 2023. Also read | Trump slaps sanctions on ICC over 'baseless' arrest warrant against Netanyahu "Hezbollah as a military organization would have ceased to exist — no leadership, no missiles or rockets, most of its operatives killed in the field," he said, as quoted by Times of Israel. Gallant claimed the plan was ready years prior, but was delayed due to Netanyahu's insistence on consulting the US. "In accordance with his (PM Benjamin Netanyahu) request, I spoke with [US National Security Adviser] Jake Sullivan. After a few minutes, [Strategic Affairs Minister] Ron Dermer joined the conversation, and I received an absolute 'no,'" he recalled. Also read | Donald Trump: Government payments made to Politico to write 'good stories' about Democrats Netanyahu, he said, feared the repercussions of launching a two-front war with Hezbollah while still reeling from Hamas's October 7 attacks. "I went back to the prime minister, and I told him, 'We have to do this.' He (Netanyahu) pointed out the window at all the buildings, and told me: 'You see these buildings? All of this will be destroyed by Hezbollah's leftover capacity. After we hit them, they’ll destroy everything you see'," claimed Gallant. Netanyahu hits back In conversation with Channel 14, Netanyahu defended his decision, arguing that it would have been a "horrible mistake" and that Hezbollah's residual firepower could have devastated Israeli cities. The prime minister also claimed that only 150 booby-trapped pagers were in Hezbollah's possession in October 2023, "as opposed to thousands that we accumulated" by the September 2024 operation. Watch | Yoav Gallant Vs Netanyahu: Fired Defence Minister accuses Netanyahu of being overly hesitant Gallant quickly refuted this, stating the pagers were widely distributed among Hezbollah operatives by October 2023. "The pager operation was prepared years before the war and was ready for activation on October 11," he wrote on X. "Contrary to what was said, thousands of pagers were in the hands of the terrorists by the time I suggested attacking Hezbollah," he added, arguing that the delay allowed Hezbollah to reduce the eventual operation's impact He said that by September 2024, "the vast majority of walkie-talkies were in warehouses, and their explosion caused no damage." This, he said, happened because by that time Hezbollah had become suspicious that something was wrong with the devices. (With inputs from agencies)

Fired Israeli ex-defence minister Gallant slams Netanyahu, claims Hezbollah could have been 'wiped out' in Oct 2023

US President Donald Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House - the first foreign leader to visit Trump since he was inaugurated. Watch this report for more details!

Trump-Netanyahu Meet: Rousing welcome for Israeli PM Netanyahu at the White House

Trump-Netanyahu Meet: Netanyahu becomes first foreign leader to meet Trump

Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, reportedly played a major role in shaping Trump&rsquo;s proposal for US control over Gaza.&nbsp;
According to Puck News, Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for redevelopment.
Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exaggerated-trump-on-reports-of-us-blowing-iran-into-smithereens-calls-for-nuclear-peace-agreement-8693927"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exaggerated-trump-on-reports-of-us-blowing-iran-into-smithereens-calls-for-nuclear-peace-agreement-8693927">'Exaggerated': Trump on reports of US blowing Iran into smithereens, calls for 'nuclear peace agreement'</a>
<h2>Netanyahu&rsquo;s position on the plan</h2>
Sources cited by Puck News claim that Netanyahu had not requested Trump to pursue such a strategy in advance. The report suggests that the idea may have originated from Kushner, who has previously advocated for reshaping Gaza&rsquo;s future.
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<h2>Kushner&rsquo;s past remarks on Gaza</h2>
During a Harvard event last year, Kushner described Gaza&rsquo;s coastal land as &ldquo;valuable waterfront property&rdquo; and suggested moving out its residents to allow for redevelopment.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel&rsquo;s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,&rdquo; he further added. &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t think that Israel has stated that they don&rsquo;t want the people to move back there afterward.&rdquo;
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<h2>Netanyahu&rsquo;s meetings with US officials</h2>
Netanyahu is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance today, as reported by The Times of Israel. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on key regional issues.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for its redevelopment.

Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, reportedly played a major role in shaping Trump’s proposal for US control over Gaza. According to Puck News, Kushner was involved in drafting the statement Trump made during a White House briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan suggests clearing Palestinians from Gaza for redevelopment. Also Read | 'Exaggerated': Trump on reports of US blowing Iran into smithereens, calls for 'nuclear peace agreement' Netanyahu’s position on the plan Sources cited by Puck News claim that Netanyahu had not requested Trump to pursue such a strategy in advance. The report suggests that the idea may have originated from Kushner, who has previously advocated for reshaping Gaza’s future. Also Read | Who are the deported migrants? US military plane brings back 104 Indian nationals Kushner’s past remarks on Gaza During a Harvard event last year, Kushner described Gaza’s coastal land as “valuable waterfront property” and suggested moving out its residents to allow for redevelopment. Also Read | Cocaine ‘not worse than whisky’: Colombian president challenges US ties “It’s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel’s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,” he further added. “But I don’t think that Israel has stated that they don’t want the people to move back there afterward.” Also Read | Everything to know about shooter behind Swedish’s deadliest mass shooting Netanyahu’s meetings with US officials Netanyahu is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance today, as reported by The Times of Israel. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on key regional issues. (With inputs from agencies)

Kushner played key role in Trump’s Gaza strategy: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas say they are ready for negotiations on a new phase in their fragile Gaza ceasefire.
Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump returned to power last month, will discuss the truce's future and efforts to end the Gaza war.
Hours before their meeting, Netanyahu's office said Israel would send a delegation to the Qatari capital Doha later this week for negotiations.
"Israel is preparing for the working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement," the office said in a statement following meetings in Washington between Netanyahu and Trump's advisors, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas has said it is ready to negotiate the second stage of the ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The next phase aims to secure the release of remaining hostages and lay out steps toward ending the war, which has devastated the Palestinian territory of 2.4 million people.
<h2>'No guarantees'&nbsp;</h2>
The war broke out after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Trump has repeatedly touted a plan to "clean out" Gaza, calling for Palestinians to move to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan, despite all those parties strongly rejecting his proposal.
Before leaving for Washington, Netanyahu said Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its confrontations with Iran had "redrawn the map" in the Middle East.
"But I believe that working closely with President Trump we can redraw it even further, and for the better," he said.
The White House meeting promises to be a crucial one for a region shattered by war since the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.
Netanyahu hailed the fact he would be the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his January 20 inauguration as "testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance."
The Israeli prime minister had tense relations with Trump's predecessor Joe Biden over the growing death toll in Gaza, despite Biden's steadfast maintenance of US military aid.
But Trump, who has claimed credit for sealing the ceasefire after 15 months of war and prides himself on his dealmaking ability, will be pushing Netanyahu to stick to the agreement.
He is also expected to lean on Netanyahu to accept a deal to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia, something he tried to do in his first term.
Trump said Sunday that talks with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries were "progressing" -- but then warned less than 24 hours later that there were "no guarantees that the peace is going to hold."
<h2>Unrest in West Bank&nbsp;</h2>
Witkoff, who met Netanyahu on Monday over terms for the second phase of the truce, said however that he was "certainly hopeful" the truce would stick.
Trump's sudden floating of a plan to move people out of Gaza&mdash;which he describes as a "demolition site"&mdash;has added uncertainty to an already tense and difficult situation.
Trump said the plan could be temporary or permanent, but the mass displacement of civilians from Gaza was strongly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians, and ceasefire mediator Qatar.
Under the Gaza ceasefire's ongoing 42-day first phase, Hamas is to free 33 hostages in staggered releases in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Four hostage-prisoner exchanges have already taken place, and militants have freed 18 hostages so far in exchange for some 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The truce has also led to a surge of food, fuel, medical, and other aid into rubble-strewn Gaza, as well as allowing displaced Gazans to return to the territory's north.
Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.&nbsp;
Israel's retaliatory response has killed at least 47,518 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN considers these figures as reliable.
Israel has turned its focus to the occupied West Bank and an operation it says is aimed at rooting out extremism that has killed dozens.
On Tuesday, the military said its forces killed an assailant who fired on troops near the city of Jenin in the West Bank.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: Netanyahu hailed the fact he would be the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his January 20 inauguration as "testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas say they are ready for negotiations on a new phase in their fragile Gaza ceasefire. Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump returned to power last month, will discuss the truce's future and efforts to end the Gaza war. Hours before their meeting, Netanyahu's office said Israel would send a delegation to the Qatari capital Doha later this week for negotiations. "Israel is preparing for the working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement," the office said in a statement following meetings in Washington between Netanyahu and Trump's advisors, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas has said it is ready to negotiate the second stage of the ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The next phase aims to secure the release of remaining hostages and lay out steps toward ending the war, which has devastated the Palestinian territory of 2.4 million people. 'No guarantees' The war broke out after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Trump has repeatedly touted a plan to "clean out" Gaza, calling for Palestinians to move to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan, despite all those parties strongly rejecting his proposal. Before leaving for Washington, Netanyahu said Israel's wars with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its confrontations with Iran had "redrawn the map" in the Middle East. "But I believe that working closely with President Trump we can redraw it even further, and for the better," he said. The White House meeting promises to be a crucial one for a region shattered by war since the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. Netanyahu hailed the fact he would be the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his January 20 inauguration as "testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance." The Israeli prime minister had tense relations with Trump's predecessor Joe Biden over the growing death toll in Gaza, despite Biden's steadfast maintenance of US military aid. But Trump, who has claimed credit for sealing the ceasefire after 15 months of war and prides himself on his dealmaking ability, will be pushing Netanyahu to stick to the agreement. He is also expected to lean on Netanyahu to accept a deal to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia, something he tried to do in his first term. Trump said Sunday that talks with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries were "progressing" -- but then warned less than 24 hours later that there were "no guarantees that the peace is going to hold." Unrest in West Bank Witkoff, who met Netanyahu on Monday over terms for the second phase of the truce, said however that he was "certainly hopeful" the truce would stick. Trump's sudden floating of a plan to move people out of Gaza—which he describes as a "demolition site"—has added uncertainty to an already tense and difficult situation. Trump said the plan could be temporary or permanent, but the mass displacement of civilians from Gaza was strongly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians, and ceasefire mediator Qatar. Under the Gaza ceasefire's ongoing 42-day first phase, Hamas is to free 33 hostages in staggered releases in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Four hostage-prisoner exchanges have already taken place, and militants have freed 18 hostages so far in exchange for some 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The truce has also led to a surge of food, fuel, medical, and other aid into rubble-strewn Gaza, as well as allowing displaced Gazans to return to the territory's north. Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory response has killed at least 47,518 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN considers these figures as reliable. Israel has turned its focus to the occupied West Bank and an operation it says is aimed at rooting out extremism that has killed dozens. On Tuesday, the military said its forces killed an assailant who fired on troops near the city of Jenin in the West Bank. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Netanyahu to meet Trump as Israel, Hamas await talks for Gaza truce phase 2