Israel

Some readers will recall that in this space last week I opposed those calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and de-escalation in the Iran-Israel war because that would only lead to renewed terrorist activity in Gaza against Israel and the deployment of nuclear weapons by Iran, whose government has pledged to destroy the Jewish people. To paraphrase Japanese Emperor Hirohito after the detonation of two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, in the light of this week’s events, it is time for the “unthinkable.” (The Japanese emperor acknowledged that the war had not gone “entirely as we had hoped.”) As predicted here and elsewhere, the United States Air Force and Navy successfully penetrated and destroyed the underground Iranian nuclear development sites. Those who immediately predicted a drastic escalation of hostilities and were soiling themselves in lamentations of imminent world war were placated, and in many cases doubtless disappointed, at the ceasefire that followed 24 hours later. Incorrigibly anti-American and particularly Trump-hating outlets such as the BBC, the CBC, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera, CNN and MSNBC attached themselves like limpets to the instant conjuration that the damage done by the American attacks had only been superficial and would easily be repaired. In the only known honest words that the criminally diseased regime in Tehran has uttered in its 47 years, the Iranian Islamic government acknowledged that official American reports of the success of the raids were accurate. U.S. President Donald Trump’s opponents dismissed this as disinformation. The more vocal political suicide cases among the American congressional Democrats, who had been calling for Trump’s impeachment for plunging the nation into war without authority, were struck mercifully dumb.

Arn Anderson’s real name isn’t Arn Anderson. It’s Martin Anthony Lunde. But because he kinda-sorta looked like fellow pro wrestler Ole Anderson, he “became” an Anderson in the weird, wacky world of wrestling. (Of course, Ole Anderson wasn’t really an Anderson either: In the 1960s, Alan Robert Rogowski “became” Ole Anderson, when he was teamed with “brothers” Gene Anderson and Lars Anderson… a.k.a. Larry Heiniemi.) Out of the four Andersons, only one was authentic.

A leaked intelligence assessment claiming Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran did not destroy Tehran’s nuclear program is ‘flat-out wrong’, the White House has claimed.

The report, conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency and leaked by CNN, claims Saturday’s airstrike on three Iranian nuclear sites only set the country’s program back by months instead of completely destroying it.

Trump claimed the strikes ‘completely and totally obliterated’, a statement echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt who dismissed the assessment as a ‘clear attempt to demean President Trump’.

This CNN story was written by the same “reporter” who wrote the very first FAKE NEWS story claiming the Hunter Biden laptop was disinformation.

How did that work out for you, @NatashaBertrand? pic.twitter.com/x2CVhlhB1b

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 24, 2025

US strikes on Iran nuke facilities caused more damage than first thought — as watchdog reveals possible contamination

Israel: Campaign against Iran not over

Israel’s war with Iran is “not over”, its military chief has warned, despite the newly-announced ceasefire.

The fragile truce between the two countries was announced on Tuesday morning following Israel’s intense 12-day bombing campaign that targeted Tehran’s nuclear facilities, military commanders and atomic scientists.

Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief of staff, said that Israel had set back Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme “by years”, concluding a “significant chapter”.

1. What are we to make of Saturday night’s destruction of the three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan?

Trump and the U.S. military took a great risk and succeeded in astounding fashion. Operationally, the destruction of the nuclear sites seems to have gone perfectly, in contrast to a long history of America’s Middle East debacles from the failed 1980 Carter rescue mission to the 2021 flight from Kabul.

What we know about the Iran-Israel ceasefire

Donald Trump has warned Israel against launching further attacks on Iran, hours after he said a ceasefire between the two sides had taken effect.

The US president used an expletive as he criticised both sides, after each accused the other of breaking the US and Qatar-brokered truce.

It came after Israel said Iran had violated the deal and vowed to respond with “powerful strikes”.

BREAKING—PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUES WARNING TO ISRAEL, DIRECTING THEM TO STOP ATTACKING IRAN:

“Israel. do not drop those bombs. If you do it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now! Donald J. Trump, President of the United States” pic.twitter.com/hWTZeJEwWc

— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) June 24, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized both Iran and Israel for what he said were violations of a ceasefire between the two adversaries in the hours after he announced the truce would go into force. Content warning: profanity pic.twitter.com/KAZh2WgLN5

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 24, 2025

US President Donald Trump announced late on Monday night that a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran and will enter into effect at 7 a.m. Israel time.

Trump said that Iran will immediately cease attacks and Israel will join the ceasefire on the 12th hour of the agreement. On the 24th hour, both sides will reportedly accept an end to the 12-day war.

Will it last? H/T David Martin

Iran’s parliament has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel through which around 20% of the world’s daily oil flows.

The move, which could block $1 billion in oil shipments per day, is likely to send oil prices soaring.

It will come into effect pending a final decision by Iran’s Supreme Council.

The US military dropped six “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment plant Saturday night — with President Trump declaring the facility hidden beneath a mountain “is gone.”

Trump announced the airstrikes days after Israel initiated extensive attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,” Trump posted on Truth Social just before 8 p.m. Saturday — marking the first-ever US strike on Iranian territory.

BBC Live Feed

Telegraph Live Feed

DM: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran including key Fordow bunker as Trump hails ‘very successful attack’: Live updates

President Donald J. Trump Delivers Address to the Nation, June 21, 2025 https://t.co/yutRDvtWv0

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 22, 2025

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