ISRAEL/IRAN CONFLICT: Iran issues warning to U.S., stealth bombers on the move, Israeli hostage families make desperate plea to Trump

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As the Israel/Iran conflict continues into its 9th day, Iran battered Israel in the early morning hours. Israeli citizens hastened to bomb shelters as it’s military continued to strike sites in Iran.

Israel’s strikes against Iran have killed at least 400 people so far, and injured at least 3,000, according to Iran’s health ministry.

Israel reports 24 deaths from Iran’s retaliatory strikes.

President Donald J. Trump has stated that despite European efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, efforts by the United States are likely needed in order to get it done. On Thursday, he announced that there would be a delay in a decision on a U.S. military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, allowing two-weeks for negotiations to take place.

Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran doesn’t fully trust the U.S., and that there would be no negotiating while Israel is attacking.

There appear to be no plans for an end, however, as the Israeli military chief said Friday that they are ready for “a prolonged campaign” against Iran.

Trump said it’ll be hard to convince Israel to stop it’s attack as they are currently doing well against Iran. He insinuated that Israel has no motivation to pursue an end to the conflict until their demands, for Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions, are met.

Israeli military says it struck “dozens of military targets” in Iran Saturday. They hit a site storing missile launchers, and “radar detection system sites used for detection and aerial intelligence gathering, and military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime,” the IDF said in a statement.

Here are the latest developments making headlines.

Iranian official warns it would be ‘very dangerous’ if US joins conflict
From Fox News: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that it would be “very dangerous” if the U.S. were to get involved in Tehran’s war with Israel.

“It is obvious I cannot go into negotiations with the United States when our people are under bombardments under the support of the United States,” Araghchi said in a video uploaded by the Associated Press. “Unfortunately, we have heard that the U.S. may join this aggression. That would be very unfortunate, and I think that would be very, very dangerous for everybody.”

President Donald Trump has yet to decide whether the U.S. would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. However, on Saturday B-2 stealth bombers appeared to be heading for Guam, but it is not clear if this is a sign of upcoming action. Trump is expected to return to the White House on Saturday afternoon where he will receive intelligence briefings.

State Department aware of hundreds of Americans who have fled Iran: Officials
From ABC News: The State Department is aware of hundreds of Americans who have fled Iran amid the conflict with Israel and is also tracking unconfirmed reports of Americans who have been detained by the regime while attempting to leave, according to two officials familiar with the matter.

Americans who have left Iran have also reported that they faced delays and harassment from Iranian authorities while making their way out of the country, the officials said.

ABC News has requested comment from the State Department.

Nuclear diplomacy stuck, Israel says it killed top Iran commander
From Reuters: ISTANBUL/JERUSALEM, June 21 (Reuters) – Iran deems European proposals to curb its nuclear programme unrealistic and a hurdle to agreement, a senior

Iranian official said on Saturday, while Israel said it killed a veteran Iranian commander during attacks by both sides.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met British, French and German counterparts, plus the EU, on Friday in Geneva in search of a path back to diplomacy and a possible ceasefire.

But proposals made by the European powers were “unrealistic”, the senior Iranian official told Reuters, saying that insistence on them would not bring agreement closer.

“In any case, Iran will review the European proposals in Tehran and present its responses in the next meeting,” the official said, adding that zero enrichment was a dead end and Tehran would not negotiate over its defensive capabilities.

According to NBC News, Israel claims to have killed veteran Iranian commander Saeed Izadi.

“Saeed Izadi led the Palestine Corps of the Quds Forces, who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7 massacre, was eliminated in an apartment in the heart of Qom,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today.

Iranian nuclear scientist Isar Tabatabai-Qamsheh has also been killed, according to Iranian state media.

“He was a graduate in mechanical engineering with a focus on nuclear engineer and had dedicated year’s of his life to Iran’s nuclear industry,” Nournews said on Teelgram.

Israel continues fighting wars on different fronts
From CBS News: As the conflict with Iran escalates, Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues to intensify.

Hospitals in Gaza City reported that overnight strikes killed at least 84 people and injured more than 120 others. The recent strikes have targeted mobile phone charging points and residential homes, CBS News’ team in Gaza reported.
The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said Saturday that more than 200 bodies were brought to hospitals across Gaza in the past 48 hours and more than 1,000 people were wounded.

An Israeli military official told CBS News that Israel is getting used to fighting in multiple arenas and the war in Gaza is still ongoing.

 

B-2 stealth bombers appear to be on the move hours before Trump expected at White House
From Fox News: Six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri appear to be en route to a U.S. Air Force base in Guam, according to flight tracking data and voice communications with air traffic control.

The bombers apparently refueled after launching from Missouri, suggesting they launched without full fuel tanks due to a heavy onboard payload, which could be bunker-buster bombs.

The B-2 can carry two 15-ton bunker-buster bombs—which only the U.S. possesses. Experts say the bombs could be critical to targeting Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear site: Fordow.

A woman tried to call her mom in Iran. A robotic voice answered the phone
From AP News: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — When Ellie, a British-Iranian living in the United Kingdom, tried to call her mother in Tehran, a robotic female voice answered instead.

“Alo? Alo?” the voice said, then asked in English: “Who is calling?” A few seconds passed.

“I can’t heard you,” the voice continued, its English imperfect. “Who you want to speak with? I’m Alyssia. Do you remember me? I think I don’t know who are you.”

Ellie, 44, is one of nine Iranians living abroad — including in the U.K and U.S. — who said they have gotten strange, robotic voices when they attempted to call their loved ones in Iran since Israel launched airstrikes on the country a week ago.

Five experts with whom the AP shared recordings said it could be low-tech artificial intelligence, a chatbot or a pre-recorded message to which calls from abroad were diverted.

Several accounts have posted messages to X claiming that they are examples of these calls.

Houthis say they will target U.S. ships if U.S. attacks Iran
From NBC News: The Houthis said in a statement issued today that they will attack U.S. ships in the Red Sea if the U.S. attacks Iran.

In the statement, the Houthis accused Israel of seeking to eliminate Iran “which it considers the greatest obstacle to achieving its plans,” including domination over the Middle East.

“Based on this, should the Americans become involved in attacking or aggressing against Iran alongside the Israeli enemy, the Yemeni Armed Forces will target their ships and warships in the Red Sea,” the statement read.

“We will not abandon our brothers in the Gaza Strip, nor will we allow this criminal entity, backed by America, to execute its plans in the region,” the Houthis said.

IDF chief thanks Air Defense troops: ‘You are saving lives’
From Fox News: Head of the Israeli Air Force Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar spoke with UAV technicians and operators to thank them for their work in the country’s conflict with Iran. He said that they “surprised the Iranians” by blocking a number of missiles.

“If I had the time, I would personally shake the hand of each and every one of you and say: keep it up. This is our generation’s mission— the responsibility is on your shoulders — and you’re performing it brilliantly,” Bar told the troops.

The Israeli Air Force has played a large role in the conflict, carrying out strikes in Iran and countering Iranian fire.

Israeli hostage families make desperate plea to Trump amid escalating tensions with Iran 
From Fox News: JERUSALEM—The family members of Israeli hostages held in captivity by the U.S.-designated terrorist movement Hamas published an open letter on Thursday to President Trump, urging him to intervene to help free the 53 remaining people held in Gaza.

“As Iranian missiles streak across the sky above us, our hearts remain consumed by thoughts of our beloved family members enduring brutal Hamas captivity. 53 precious souls—our children, parents, siblings, and spouses—remain trapped in hell.

“For over 620 endless days, they have had no shelter, no family’s embrace, no whispered words of comfort. Their time is running out. We write to you united in this unique anguish, yet bound by unshakable faith in your leadership and commitment to bringing our loved ones home,” wrote the Israeli group Hostages and Missing Families Forum on the social media platform Truth Social -Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) is the parent company of Truth Social.

The family members urged the President to “seize the opportunity while Iran and Hamas are at their weakest point.”

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