Tel Aviv, June 18: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the “battle has begun” after Tehran launched a hypersonic missile at Israel. This escalation has intensified the already volatile conflict, as the military confrontation between Iran and Israel enters its sixth day on Wednesday.

Israel has carried out a series of devastating airstrikes on Iranian territory, reportedly killing at least 224 individuals. Among the casualties are senior military figures, nuclear scientists, and civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched several attacks on Israeli targets, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people, including women and children, according to Israeli officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed the detection of additional missile launches originating from Iran.

The situation has drawn global concern, prompting US President Donald Trump to cut short his participation in the G7 summit in Canada. Before departing, he expressed firm support for Israel and issued a stark warning to residents of Tehran, advising them to evacuate in anticipation of potential escalation.

The conflict erupted last Friday when Israel initiated a large-scale offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. This action prompted swift and aggressive retaliation from Tehran, pushing the region closer to the brink of a broader war.

These developments come amid ongoing but fragile diplomatic efforts between Iran and the US to revive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the media, stating that Israel’s actions have significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “I believe we have set them back a very, very long time,” he asserted.

Tel Aviv, June 18: The Israel Defence Force (IDF) on Wednesday announced that it had attacked a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in Tehran, which were the “key elements of Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs”.

The escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran entered its sixth consecutive day on Wednesday.

“More than 50 Air Force fighter jets, under precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Branch, have completed a series of attacks on military targets in the Tehran area in recent hours. As part of the extensive effort to damage Iran’s nuclear weapons development program, a centrifuge production site in Tehran was attacked, which was intended to allow the Iranian regime to expand the scope and rate of its uranium enrichment for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons,” said the IDF in a post on X.

“The Iranian regime is enriching uranium intended for the development of nuclear weapons. It should be emphasised that nuclear development for civilian use does not require enrichment at these levels,” the post added.

According to the Israeli military, throughout the wave of attacks, several weapons production sites were attacked. It asserted that among the weapons manufacturing plants that were attacked was a site for the production of raw materials and components for assembling the surface-to-surface missiles that the Iranian regime has used to launch towards the State of Israel.

“In addition, sites producing systems and components for surface-to-air missiles designed to hit aircraft were attacked. These targets were attacked as part of the IDF’s effort to damage the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program and missile manufacturing industry,” said the IDF.

Earlier on Tuesday the IDF stated that it had eliminated Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime chief of staff and close aide of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an overnight strike. This was the second time in recent weeks that Israel has targeted and killed a high-ranking military commander of the regime, to disrupt Iran’s military leadership.

“Following accurate intelligence received by the Intelligence Branch and a sudden opportunity during the night, Air Force fighter jets attacked a manned headquarters in the heart of Tehran and killed Ali Shadmani, the Chief of Staff of the War, the most senior military commander and the man closest to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei,” the IDF said in an X post.

According to the Israeli military, Shadmani served as Chief of War Staff and Commander of the Armed Forces Emergency Command and commanded the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army.

The conflict erupted last Friday when Israel initiated a large-scale offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. This action prompted swift and aggressive retaliation from Tehran, pushing the region closer to the brink of a broader war.

New Delhi, June 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed to US President Donald Trump that India does not seek and will never accept any mediation on matters related to Pakistan, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on Wednesday.

Misri revealed that the two leaders spoke over the phone for 35 minutes, their first conversation since the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.

The call took place after a scheduled in-person meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit was cancelled due to Trump’s early return to the US.

“The phone conversation was held at the request of President Trump,” said Misri, adding that PM Modi used the opportunity to detail India’s measured military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 innocent tourists.

The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, a group affiliated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

“Prime Minister Modi said that on the night of May 6-7, India had targeted only terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India’s actions were very measured, precise, and non-escalatory,” Misri said.

“India had made it clear that it would respond to Pakistan’s ‘goli’ with ‘gola’ (a strong, proportionate military response),” he said.

Operation Sindoor saw India strike nine high-value terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and PoK. In response, Pakistan launched military strikes not only on Indian military infrastructure but also on civilian and religious sites, prompting further escalation.

The Foreign Secretary also disclosed that on the night of May 9, US Vice President Vance conveyed to PM Modi that Pakistan could launch a major retaliatory strike.

“Prime Minister Modi told him clearly that if this happens, India will respond with even greater force. India’s strong counterattack on the night of May 9-10 caused heavy damage to Pakistan’s military. Several of their airbases were rendered inoperable,” Misri said.

He noted that following India’s forceful retaliation, Pakistan approached India with a ceasefire request.

“Prime Minister Modi stated that the ceasefire was agreed to only at the request of Pakistan and that India does not want mediation. He made it clear that at no point during this episode were India-US trade talks or third-party mediation discussed,” Misri stated.

“The halt to military action was discussed directly between the two countries through existing military channels,” he added.

Reiterating India’s long-standing position, Misri said, “Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on this issue.”

President Trump, according to Misri, fully understood India’s position and expressed support for its fight against terrorism. PM Modi also informed Trump that India will consider any terror act emanating from Pakistan as an act of war, and that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing.

Trump reportedly asked if PM Modi could stop by the US on his return from Canada, but the Prime Minister expressed his inability due to prior commitments. However, both leaders agreed to try to meet soon.

The conversation also covered international developments, including the Iran-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Both leaders agreed that direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv is necessary for peace.

“They also discussed the Indo-Pacific and the vital role of the QUAD. Prime Minister Modi invited President Trump to India for the next QUAD summit, and President Trump accepted the invitation,” Misri said.