New Delhi, June 13: Iranian state media have confirmed that two prominent Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli airstrikes carried out overnight across multiple locations in Iran. The deaths mark a significant escalation in the fallout from Israel’s ongoing military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.

According to the Tasnim news agency, the scientists killed were Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear physicist, and the president of Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoun Abbasi, a former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI). Both were reportedly assassinated in separate targeted strikes.

In a further development, reports carried by Reuters and the BBC stated that a new explosion had occurred at the Natanz nuclear facility, one of Iran’s most sensitive and heavily guarded nuclear sites, located approximately 225 kilometres south of Tehran. The nature and extent of the damage at the site remain unclear.

The Israeli strikes also hit multiple other locations in and around the capital, as well as in other cities, in what appears to be a sweeping attempt to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities and senior leadership structure. The killings of nuclear scientists Tehranchi and Abbasi, both deeply involved in Iran’s nuclear research and administration, signal a direct targeting of the country’s scientific elite, adding to fears of a broader regional escalation. Iranian authorities have yet to issue an official response or outline potential retaliatory steps.

New Delhi, June 13: Israel has carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear programme, leading to an escalation of tensions in the West Asia or Middle East. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, as reported by BBC stating that dozens of Israeli Air Force jets struck “nuclear and military targets” across multiple locations in Iran.
Loud explosions were reported in Tehran early Friday morning, while air raid sirens and emergency phone alerts were triggered in Jerusalem, as Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency. The Israeli government has warned of the potential for imminent retaliation by Iran.
IRNA news agency of Iran reports “Sounds of explosions have been heard in and near the Iranian capital, Tehran, amid reports in Israeli media that the Israeli regime is carrying out strikes against Iranian targets. The sounds were heard early on Friday. Unverified images and footage began to appear on social media of Tehran’s skyline in which plumes of smoke could be seen.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a national address, described the strikes as a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” He said Iran had taken steps toward weaponising enriched uranium, posing what he called a “clear and present danger.” “In recent months, Iran has taken steps it has never taken before,” Netanyahu said. “If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,” reports BBC.
According to the IDF, the first phase of the strikes involved a coordinated offensive on what it called “dozens of military targets, including nuclear facilities,” asserting that weapons of mass destruction in Iran’s hands would be an existential threat not only to Israel, but to global security. An IDF spokesperson said the strikes were a “pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive” in response to Iran’s “ongoing aggression against Israel.”
The scope of damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains unclear, and Iranian authorities have not yet issued a detailed response. However, Israeli officials have indicated that the operation may continue in phases depending on Iran’s response and the evolving threat landscape.
Meanwhile, the United States has moved to distance itself from the strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington was not involved in the operation, saying Israel had acted unilaterally and that the U.S. priority remains the safety of its forces in the region. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved,” Rubio stated as reported by BBC. “Our top priority is protecting American personnel. Iran should not target U.S. interests.”
Amid rising security concerns, the U.S. has ordered yesterday the partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad. Non-essential diplomatic staff and their families are being withdrawn, with officials citing increased risk of Iranian retaliation in Iraq from several neighbouring US embassies in West Asia. The precaution follows reports earlier this week that the U.S. was informed of Israel’s intention to strike.
The situation remains volatile, with the potential for regional spillover. Both military and diplomatic channels are closely monitoring developments, as fears grow of a wider conflict involving multiple regional actors.

New Delhi, Jun 12: Downtown Los Angeles remained under curfew for a second consecutive night as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and military deployments entered their seventh day. The city has become a focal point for national unrest over immigration enforcement and the federal government’s use of military resources in domestic operations.

Protests have spread to several major US cities, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC. In Spokane, Washington, the mayor declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew after demonstrators blocked roads in protest of ICE activities in the region.

In Los Angeles, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 700 Marines stationed in the area have completed their rapid response training and are scheduled to be deployed within the next 48 hours. A hearing is set today in California to examine the state’s efforts to limit the federal government’s use of Marines and National Guard forces within its borders.

US Cities stimulating for larger protests on Saturday

US cities across the country are now bracing for a large wave of demonstrations planned for Saturday, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, DC, marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army and his 79th birthday. More than 1,800 events under the banner of the “50501 movement” are planned in all 50 states, excluding the capital, as a coordinated national response to the parade. The “50501” initiative, short for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement,” is organising events under the theme “No Kings,” symbolising opposition to what organisers describe as authoritarian tendencies and unchecked executive power.

The movement has emphasised a commitment to nonviolence and lawful assembly, with strict instructions against bringing weapons to demonstrations, even where legally permitted. The official military parade in Washington, DC is expected to be the largest in decades, featuring vehicles and weaponry. The event’s financial cost is projected to reach into the tens of millions of dollars, with the US Army reinforcing streets along the parade route in early June to accommodate the heavy military equipment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the state’s National Guard will be deployed in advance of expected protests, including a “No Kings” rally planned in San Antonio. Authorities nationwide remain on alert as tensions rise ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations, with federal and local governments preparing for both security challenges and political fallout.