The day so far in a war not far away: Iran claims they hit Mossad HQ

By Yiannis Damellos

Source: The Guardian, AFP, Reuters

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the two nations have engaged in a fifth consecutive day of conflict, with Israel conducting targeted airstrikes on military sites and missile launchers in western Iran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim they struck a centre of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Also, Iran’s senior army commander has called for residents of Haifa and Tel Aviv to evacuate immediately, Reuters reports, citing the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr. Iran has previously struck the two Israeli cities over the five days of fighting that began Friday. 

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire for Iran to completely abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, aligning with recent intelligence assessments suggesting that Iran is not actively pursuing nuclear capabilities and would require several years to develop them.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that the leadership in Tehran appears weakened, casting doubt on its ability to regain former strength, while UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has dismissed notions that Trump seeks direct U.S. military involvement against Iran, highlighting Trump’s commitment to peace discussed during the G7 summit.

Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, has reiterated that the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, framing its nuclear program as peaceful despite international concerns over uranium enrichment levels. Compounding the situation, U.S. forces have accelerated their withdrawal from two bases in northeastern Syria, prompting fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State. In a related development, a hacktivist group has claimed responsibility for cyber disruptions affecting Bank Sepah, Iran's first bank, which has faced technical issues amid ongoing sanctions.

Additionally, over 600 individuals from various nationalities have fled into Azerbaijan due to the conflict, utilizing a humanitarian corridor despite the country’s previously closed borders. 

In other news, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to discuss the Middle East situation, reflecting global concerns over the conflict’s implications. On the ground, El Al Airlines has received government approval to resume flights to repatriate stranded citizens from abroad, while the airline prepares to operate from multiple European cities back to Israel. As the situation continues to develop, the potential for further military escalation and international diplomatic efforts remains a focal point of global attention.

Let's break down the developments:

• Ongoing Strikes: Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes in several locations in western Iran, hitting “dozens” of missile launchers, AFP reports. This marks the fifth consecutive day of conflict, with both nations exchanging fire. The Israeli military reports that these strikes aim to disrupt Iran's military capabilities.

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  Iran says it hit Mossad HQ: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they struck a centre of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. In a statement aired on state television, the Guards said they “struck the military intelligence centre of the Zionist regime’s army, Aman, and the Zionist regime’s terrorist operations planning centre, the Mossad, in Tel Aviv”.
• U.S. Position: President Donald Trump has publicly stated his desire for Iran to fully relinquish its nuclear ambitions. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran is not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon and would need several years to develop one. This contrasts with Israel's narrative that suggests Iran is nearing a critical point in its nuclear capabilities.
• Bernie Sanders: In an apparent response to Donald Trump’s recent social media post, Senator Bernie Sanders says the president “must not take illegal military action against Iran. “The Constitution of the United States is very clear. There is no ambiguity. It is Congress that determines whether we go to war, not the President,” Sanders wrote on social media. The Vermont Independent’s statement comes just a day after Democratic Senator Tim Kaine introduced a war powers resolution that would prohibit US armed forces from taking direct action against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress or a declaration of war.
• German Chancellor's Statement: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz commented that Israeli attacks have significantly weakened the Iranian leadership. He expressed uncertainty about the regime's ability to regain its previous strength, indicating that the future of Iran remains precarious.
• UK Political Response: UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has dismissed the notion that President Trump seeks to involve the U.S. militarily against Iran. He emphasized that discussions with Trump at the recent G7 summit led him to believe that Trump genuinely aims for peace and de-escalation in the region.
• Iran's Nuclear Claims: Seyed Ali Mousavi, Iran’s ambassador to the UK, reiterated that Iran has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon. He described the country’s nuclear program as peaceful and emphasized that there is no desire to produce a bomb, despite concerns raised by international bodies about Iran's uranium enrichment levels.
• U.S. Troop Withdrawal: U.S. forces have withdrawn from two bases in northeastern Syria, a move that has raised alarms about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State. Reports indicate that these bases are now largely deserted, with minimal security presence remaining.
• Cyber Attacks: A hacktivist group, claiming to be responsible for technical issues at Bank Sepah, has reported disruptions affecting customer access to banking services. This group has previously targeted Iranian infrastructure, and the disruptions are believed to be linked to broader cyber operations against Iran.
• Evacuations: In light of the ongoing conflict, over 600 individuals from 17 different nationalities have fled into Azerbaijan. This includes citizens from various countries, as Azerbaijan has allowed entry through a humanitarian corridor despite previously closed borders due to the pandemic.
• International Reactions: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss the situation in the Middle East in a forthcoming phone call. This highlights the international concern over the escalating conflict and its broader implications.
• Air Travel: El Al Airlines, Israel’s national carrier, has been authorized to resume flights to repatriate citizens stranded abroad due to the conflict. Flights are expected to operate from several European cities back to Israel, as the airline seeks to assist those affected by the closure of airspace.