Fri Jun 20 03:20:00 UTC 2025: **ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT ESCALATES: STRIKES EXCHANGED, HOSPITAL HIT, INTERNATIONAL CONCERN GROWS**

**Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.**

**TEHRAN, Iran** – The conflict between Israel and Iran intensified Thursday with a series of escalating attacks. Iranian state television reported that Israel struck Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, though officials claim it was evacuated and poses no radiation threat. This attack is part of Israel’s ongoing strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.

Earlier Thursday, Iranian missiles targeted Tel Aviv, Israel, and directly hit the main hospital in southern Israel, causing extensive damage and wounding 240 people. Israel’s air defense systems intercepted some missiles, but the strike on the Soroka hospital in Beersheba marked a significant escalation. (See associated photo of damage at Soroka Hospital.)

The White House says President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to strike Iran. It says Trump still sees a “substantial” chance that negotiations can achieve U.S. and Israeli demands on Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, stating that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “cannot continue to exist,” suggesting an intent to target the leader personally. The Israeli military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium.

The United Nations is struggling to deliver medical resources and the fiber optic cable that provides internet services to Gaza is damaged and they are not being allowed in to fix it.

**International Response**

The escalating conflict has triggered widespread international concern. Australia closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff and their families, citing a “deteriorating security environment.” Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reiterating the commitment to de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, following a meeting with U.S. officials, emphasized that “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon” and that a two-week window exists for a diplomatic solution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with European diplomats in Geneva on Friday for the country’s first face-to-face talks since the crisis began.

Both Russia and China have condemned the Israeli attacks, with President Xi Jinping calling for an immediate ceasefire and offering to mediate. The Chinese Embassy in Israel is preparing to evacuate citizens, and other nations including Japan, Indonesia, and Oman are also organizing evacuations.

**Communication Blackout and Casualties**

Iran has effectively shut off its internet access to the outside world, severely limiting the flow of information. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, reports that the country has been disconnected for over 36 hours.

Conflicting reports on casualties are emerging. A Washington-based human rights group claims that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 657 people in Iran, while Iranian state media is minimizing the reported losses. In Gaza, health officials report that 69 people have been killed and 221 wounded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the beginning of the war in October 2023 to 55,706.

**Military Developments**

The Israeli military claims to have destroyed around two-thirds of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers but estimates that over 100 remain active. Iran, meanwhile, has warned the U.S. against direct involvement in the conflict, stating that it would lead to an expansion of the war across the region. The Israeli military said that Iran used a missile with multiple warheads in its attack, posing a new challenge to its defenses.

As the conflict continues, the international community is urgently calling for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic negotiations to prevent further escalation and regional instability.

Read More