Israel-Iran latest: Israel strikes Iran’s largest nuclear research facility after huge explosion rocks Haifa

As the war between Israel and Iran hits the one-week mark, Iranians have spent nearly half of the conflict in a near-communication blackout, unable to connect not only with the outside world but also with their neighbors and loved ones across the country.

Civilians are left unaware of when and where Israel will strike next, despite Israeli forces issuing warnings through their Persian-language online channels. When the missiles land, disconnected phone and web services mean not knowing for hours or days if their family or friends are among the victims.

That’s left many scrambling on various social media apps to see what’s happening — again, only a glimpse of life able to reach the internet in a nation of over 80 million people.

The Israeli prime minister made the remarks in a solemn address to TV cameras while standing in front of the ruins of a hospital in the southern city of Beersheba, hours after it was hit by Iranian missiles. Officials said at least 40 people were injured in the attack on Thursday.

“There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,” Netanyahu said, comparing the attacks on Israel to the blitz in Britain during World War II.

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has warned against any military action targeting Iran’s nuclear reactors.

At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said: “I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment. This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences could be most serious.”

So far, Israel has avoided targeting nuclear reactors, focusing instead on Iran’s Natanz enrichment site, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, and the Arak heavy water facility.

While initial reports indicated no damage at Arak, the IAEA later confirmed “key buildings at the facility were damaged,” though no radioactive material was present.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars news agency claimed Israel struck the Isfahan nuclear facility on Saturday, with no hazardous leaks reported.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the military had killed Saeed Izadi, a senior commander in Iran’s Quds Force, during a strike on an apartment in the city of Qom, according to Reuters.

Izadi, who led the Palestine Corps within the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), was described as a veteran figure in Iran’s regional operations.

Israel pledged on Friday to keep up its military offensive against Iran until Tehran’s nuclear capabilities are fully dismantled, Reuters reported.

“Though our homes, our families and our children are under threat, we will not stop,” Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the United Nations Security Council. “Not until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled. Not until its war machine is disarmed. Not until our people and yours are safe.”

In response, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, called on the Security Council to intervene to halt Israel’s attacks.

“Israel apparently declared that it will continue this strike for as many days as it takes,” he said. “We are alarmed by credible reports that the United States… may be joining this war.”

As the war between Iran and Israel enters its second week, much of Iran remains in a near-total communication blackout, leaving millions unable to connect with the outside world or even with friends and family across the country.

According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, Iran has been largely cut off from global internet access for more than 60 hours.

“The internet shutdown continues to severely limit the public’s ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely, and follow safety alerts amid ongoing conflict with Israel,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.