Israel’s strike on a Tehran housing complex killed around 60 people, including 20 children, according to Iranian state media. Though aimed at Iran’s nuclear programme, the scale and messaging suggest a deeper goal: regime change.
A deadly Israeli strike on a residential complex in Tehran has killed around 60 people, including 20 children, according to Iran’s state television. The attack, which marks one of the deadliest in the capital in recent memory, comes amid a sweeping Israeli campaign against Iran that appears to extend beyond targeting its nuclear programme.
While the immediate objective of Israel’s surprise strikes was to significantly hinder Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, analysts suggest the broader intent may be to destabilise the regime itself.
The Friday strikes targeted not only nuclear facilities and missile production sites but also senior military commanders and nuclear scientists—key elements of Iran's internal stability. According to regional experts, the selection of these targets signals a strategic effort to shake the foundations of the Iranian leadership.
“There’s a strong assumption that Israel hopes these actions could lead to regime change,” said Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former U.S. official. “They appear to be trying to inspire unrest, encouraging the Iranian people to rise up.”
In a direct appeal to Iranians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Islamic Republic as a repressive regime and called on citizens to seize what he described as an opportunity for freedom.
“The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for nearly 50 years, threatens to destroy our country,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “As we remove that threat, we clear the path for you to reclaim your freedom. The regime has never been weaker.”
Despite the devastating impact of the strikes, many analysts remain sceptical about Israel’s ability to foment regime change in a nation where deep-rooted hostility toward Israel is not limited to the ruling elite, but also exists within broader segments of the population.
Michael Singh noted that while the targeting of military and nuclear leadership could weaken the regime, “no one knows the precise conditions under which public opposition would successfully coalesce in Iran.”
The Friday operation marked just the first phase of what Israel describes as a sustained campaign. Israeli officials have acknowledged that completely dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme is beyond the scope of military operations alone.
“There’s no way to destroy a nuclear programme purely through military means,” said Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s National Security Adviser. He added that the campaign is intended to create leverage for a potential diplomatic solution, ideally involving the United States.
“These individuals were pillars of the regime’s internal stability,” Shine said. “Removing them sends a shock through the system.”
However, Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer now at the Atlantic Council, warned of the dangers of such an outcome. “Even if Israel succeeds in weakening or removing the current regime, the replacement could be even more hostile and unpredictable,” he said.
While Israel maintains that the future of Iran must be decided by its own people, its latest actions reflect a growing desire not only to delay Tehran’s nuclear ambitions but potentially reshape the region’s political landscape.
Air raid sirens are sounding across the Haifa area in northern Israel as Iran reportedly launches a barrage of ballistic missiles.
The latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, have been canceled. This development follows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's explicit statement that Tehran refuses to negotiate as long as Israeli attacks persist.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning of more strikes targeting the Iranian regime, a declaration that comes as Iran confirms the death of a prominent security and foreign policy adviser.
Iranian authorities are reportedly beginning the evacuation of Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
Air raid sirens are sounding across the Haifa area in northern Israel as Iran reportedly launches a barrage of ballistic missiles.
The latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, have been canceled. This development follows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's explicit statement that Tehran refuses to negotiate as long as Israeli attacks persist.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning of more strikes targeting the Iranian regime, a declaration that comes as Iran confirms the death of a prominent security and foreign policy adviser.
Iranian authorities are reportedly beginning the evacuation of Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. immigration raids and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, calling for reforms instead of enforcement.
Air raid sirens are sounding across the Haifa area in northern Israel as Iran reportedly launches a barrage of ballistic missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning of more strikes targeting the Iranian regime, a declaration that comes as Iran confirms the death of a prominent security and foreign policy adviser.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the cycle of violence sparked by Israel’s attacks on Iran threatens regional stability, urging Syria to avoid involvement during a phone call with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba strongly condemned Israel’s military attacks on Iran on Friday, calling the strikes “totally intolerable” and warning against further escalation in the region.
Israel’s June 13 strikes on Iran led to the deaths of several high-ranking military officials and prominent nuclear scientists, marking a major escalation in the ongoing hostilities between the two countries.
Air raid sirens are sounding across the Haifa area in northern Israel as Iran reportedly launches a barrage of ballistic missiles.
The latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, have been canceled. This development follows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's explicit statement that Tehran refuses to negotiate as long as Israeli attacks persist.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning of more strikes targeting the Iranian regime, a declaration that comes as Iran confirms the death of a prominent security and foreign policy adviser.
Iranian authorities are reportedly beginning the evacuation of Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
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