Russia strikes more Ukrainian military training sites - Defense Of Minister Of Russia

©Russian Defense Ministry

Russian forces have conducted strikes on two sites used by Kiev to train newly mobilized troops, the Defense Ministry said. The announcement follows the resignation of a senior Ukrainian military commander, who criticized what he described as a lack of accountability for such incidents.

Ukraine’s armed forces rely on compulsory conscription to bolster their ranks, typically sending draftees to remote training facilities for basic instruction before deploying them to the front.

According to the Russian military, Iskander missile strikes recently targeted two such facilities.

One strike, near the Ukrainian city of Sumy, reportedly resulted in up to 100 casualties and destroyed as many as 14 military vehicles, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The second strike, reported on Sunday, hit an area under Kiev’s control in Russia’s Kherson Region, the ministry said. This operation involved an Iskander missile equipped with a cluster warhead that allegedly killed around 70 Ukrainian troops while destroying more than 10 vehicles.

Ukraine’s military confirmed the attack on a training site but reported a significantly lower toll – three soldiers killed and 14 wounded.

In early June, Ukrainian General Mikhail Drapaty resigned as commander of the Land Forces following a similar deadly incident. In a social media post, he condemned what he called a culture of impunity within the military leadership regarding troop losses.

According to Ukraine’s Suspilne news outlet, a Russian strike killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers and injured 60 others on June 1. Authorities in Kiev did not disclose the exact location, but the report, citing anonymous sources, indicated it may have occurred in the Dnepropetrovsk Region.

Around the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had struck the Novomoskovsky training ground in that region.

Days later, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky appointed Drapaty to oversee all frontline operations as part of a broader reshuffle in military leadership, assigning a different official to supervise conscript training.

In a report on Saturday, the Financial Times said that the newly appointed commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, Brigadier General Gennady Shapovalov, has been tasked with reforming the “unpopular” forced mobilization and training system.

Ukraine declared general mobilization in 2022, barring most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, Kiev tightened conscription laws and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 in response to mounting battlefield losses. The mobilization campaign has sparked numerous violent confrontations between draft officers and unwilling conscripts, while many have attempted to flee the country despite serious personal risks.

Drone targets Iraq's Taji military base, no casualties

Iran’s Tasnim news agency is citing sources saying that the Victory Base Complex, a cluster of former US military installations in Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, has been hit by a drone attack.

An unidentified drone targeted an army radar at Iraq's Taji military base north of Baghdad, the Iraqi state news agency reported early on Tuesday, citing a military official.

There were no casualties, the commander of Baghdad's operations said.

In 2020, the U.S.-led international coalition troops withdrew from the base and handed it over to Iraqi security forces. The base had historically held up to 2,000 coalition members.

The base, 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad, had been the site of frequent rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias targeting U.S.-led troops months before the withdrawal.

The Balad military base in Iraq has come under attack, according to reports from the Kurdistan24 news channel, citing its correspondent in Baghdad.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the attack on the base, located in Iraq’s Salahuddin province about 100km (62 miles) north of the Iraqi capital.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency earlier reported that two explosions were heard inside the base, which previously served as the second-largest US base in Iraq.

Republicans rally around Trump after ceasefire announcement

US President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans have rallied around him after he announced that a ceasefire deal had been reached between Iran and Israel.

In a brief post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote: “Peace through STRENGTH!”.

Johnson has been feuding with some members of his party who criticised Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most outspoken voices opposed to US intervention in the Iran-Israel war, also welcomed the announced ceasefire, writing on X, “Thank you, President Trump, for pursuing peace!”.

Greene earlier criticised Trump’s decision to bomb Iran, saying it felt “like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons, warmongers, military industrial complex contracts, and neocon tv personalities that MAGA hates and who were NEVER TRUMPERS!”

Iran Launches Missiles Toward U.S. Military Base in Qatar - Video

Watch: Iran Launches Missiles Toward U.S. Military Base in Qatar Video footage showed flashes and explosions in the sky above Doha as Iran launched missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, officials said. Photo: Reuters

Iran’s military said it attacked Al Udeid in Qatar, the biggest U.S. base in the Middle East. Qatar said it intercepted a rocket attack. Officials said Iran also fired on Iraq.

Iran launched missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar and at Iraq, where the U.S. keeps military facilities, officials said. The U.A.E, Bahrain and Kuwait closed their airspaces. Qatar said it intercepted a rocket attack and there were no casualties.

Iran warned Qatar prior to Monday’s attack on an American military base in the Gulf country, several Arab and other officials familiar with the situation said.

Explosions were heard in Qatar as witnesses said they saw what appeared to be missiles over the country, multiple news agencies reported.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted the U.S. base at Al Udeid in Qatar with a "devastating and powerful missile." Iranian state media earlier announced an operation launching missile attacks against U.S. bases named "Annunciation of Victory." 

A spokesman for Iran's Armed Forces said the attacks on the American base in Qatar were carried out by the Revolutionary Guards Corps.

"We warn our enemies that the era of hit and run is over," said the spokesman.

Located southwest of Doha, Al-Udeid air base houses around 10,000 US troops and serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM). The base supports air operations, including combat aircraft and drones, and is a hub for operations in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. It covers 24 hectares (60 acres) and hosts nearly 100 aircraft.

Iran's response defied leaders in Europe who urged Iran not to respond in a way that would “destabilize the region.” President Trump had given no ground on his demand for Iran to agree on the U.S.’s terms for a peace deal. Trump on Sunday didn’t rule out backing a change in Iran’s leadership.

Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace, forcing planes to divert away from Doha - one of the world's busiest airports. In a post on social media, Qatar said this is part of a set of precautionary measures being taken based on developments in the region.

Iran, say media reports, coordinated its strikes on US base in Qatar, prompting air space closure, to minimize casualties.

The United Arab Emirates too has joined Qatar in closing its airspace. Bahrain, a Gulf State very close to Qatar, has also suspended air traffic. And so has Kuwait.

"The Civil Aviation Affairs of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications announced the temporary suspension of air navigation in the skies of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a precautionary measure in light of recent regional developments," said a statement carried by the official Bahrain news agency.

The Indian Embassy in Doha has issued an advisory for its citizens in Qatar and said, "In view of the ongoing situation, Indian community in Qatar is urged to be cautious and remains indoors. Please remain calm and follow local news, instructions and guidance provides by Qatari authorities. The Embassy will also keep updating through our social media channels."

Israel Strikes Hit Near Iran Red Crescent Building; Blasts Heard Over Jerusalem

Israeli missile struck the Red Crescent building in Karaj.

Iran and Israel continued to exchange missile attacks on Monday. An Israeli military spokesperson reported that Israeli fighter jets targeted military sites in western Iran. This came after Iran launched missiles that caused widespread damage in Tel Aviv, injuring many and levelling buildings.

As the world braces for Iran’s response after the United States attacked Tehran’s key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action, President Donald Trump said there may be a regime change if Iranian leadership cannot “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.”

Iran has threatened US bases in the Middle East and pledged to defend itself after the US dropped bunker-buster bombs onto the mountain above Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, while Trump urged Tehran to stand down.

According to Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation.

Iranian missile attack causes power outages in southern Israel

We have more on the Iranian missile hit in southern Israel.

The Times of Israel is reporting that the Israel Electric Corporation has confirmed a hit near a “strategic infrastructure facility” and says there are power disruptions in several towns in the area.

“Teams are on their way to several locations on the ground with the aim of restoring power supply as soon as possible. The operations include infrastructure repairs and the removal of safety hazards, and are being carried out in coordination with security forces,” the IEC was quoted as saying.

During the attack, sirens sounded for some 35 minutes. “This is the longest period Israelis have spent in shelters since the start of the war” on Iran, the Channel 13 broadcaster reported.

Israeli forces strike Fordow nuclear site: Official

A spokesman for the Qom Province Crisis Management headquarters says the Israeli army attacked Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, a day after it was targeted in US strikes.

The official said there was no danger to residents in the area, Tasnim news agency reported.

IAEA chief says ‘very significant damage’ expected at Fordow

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has given an update on the status of Iran’s nuclear sites following US attacks.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors, Grossi said “craters are now visible at the Fordow site… indicating the use of ground-penetrating munitions”.

While “no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow,” he said it is expected to be “very significant”.

That’s because of “the explosive payload utilised and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges”, he said.

Red Crescent building, Fordow nuclear facility hit amid ongoing Israeli strikes

Morteza Heydari, spokesman of Qom’s crisis management organisation, said the Fordow nuclear site was attacked again, but did not elaborate who was behind the attack. He said “no danger is posed to citizens” in the area.

Massive Israeli air strikes also targeted Tehran and nearby Karaj around noon, with large plumes of rising visible in areas across the capital.

The live feed of state television was cut for several minutes, and it was confirmed that a technical building supporting live broadcasts for several channels was hit. The entrance of the Evin Prison was also bombed, as was a building of the Red Crescent Society.

Moscow blasts US redo of ‘Iraqi weapons of mass destruction’ stunt

©Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Russia has sharply condemned the United States for its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the attacks “irresponsible, provocative and dangerous,” and warning they risk pushing the Middle East toward a large-scale war with potentially catastrophic nuclear consequences.

Speaking at an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Washington of violating the UN Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“The United States has opened a Pandora’s box, and no one knows what consequences may follow,” Nebenzia said, noting that by targeting IAEA-supervised nuclear sites, Washington has “once again demonstrated total disregard for the position of the international community.”

Nebenzia drew a pointed comparison to the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War, when then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented false evidence to “justify the invasion of another sovereign state, only to plunge its people into chaos for decades and not find any weapons of mass destruction.”

“Many today feel a strong sense of déjà vu,” he said. “The current situation is essentially no different: we are once again being urged to believe in fairy tales in order to once again bring suffering to millions of people living in the Middle East.”

Russia argued that Tehran has not been proven to be pursuing a nuclear weapon, echoing earlier assessments by US intelligence that were dismissed by President Donald Trump as “wrong.” Nebenzia accused Washington of fabricating a narrative to justify the use of force and of undermining the decades-long diplomatic framework built around Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

The Russian envoy also criticized what he described as the hypocrisy of Western nations that had for days called for “restraint” in the same Security Council chamber, yet failed to condemn Washington for joining Israeli strikes – and even blamed Iran for the escalation.

“We are witnessing an astonishing example of double standards,” he said. “Iran has been and remains one of the most thoroughly inspected states under the NPT, but instead of encouraging such an attitude, it receives bombardments of its territory and civilians by a state that refuses, in principle, to sign the NPT.”

Nebenzia warned that the US strikes undermine the authority of the IAEA and the global non-proliferation regime, and that continued escalation could return the world to an era of uncontrolled nuclear risk.

“This is an outrageous and cynical situation, and it is very strange that the Director General of the IAEA did not say a word about it. Neither has he ever called on Israel to join the NPT,” Nebenzia added.

Anti-war protests take place in New York, Washington DC, Boston

Protests against the U.S. military involvement in Iran, including some in New York and outside the White House June 22, are expected to continue throughout the week in communities across the country.

The protests come on the heels of President Donald Trump ordering attacks on three nuclear facilities in Iran. Demonstrations were underway Sunday, June 22 in Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, according to social media posts.

“The people of the United States don’t want another forever war. The people of the United States want money for people’s needs!’’ the Party for Socialism and Liberation posted on X.

People take part in an anti-war demonstration at Times Square in New York protesting US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites [Kena Betancur/AFP]

The protests, some organized in part by ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, an anti-war group, call for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the war on Iran.

ANSWER is a left-wing group that has organized protests against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other U.S. military actions, including some that have drawn hundreds of thousands of participants. Earlier this year, the organization was part of a coalition of groups across the country protesting in the days after Trump’s inauguration.

Other protests are planned in the coming week, including a national ‘‘Stop the War on Iran’’ march slated for June 28 in Washington, D.C. Others protested across the globe, including in Japan and Iran.

Trump administration officials defended the attacks Sunday morning, and President Trump threatened possible further actions.

People hold signs as they demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington, DC, against US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites [Alex Wroblewski/AFP]

"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speech and skill," Trump said Saturday at the White House.

Congress is scheduled to return to Washington this week. Many Republican lawmakers applauded Trump’s move.

“President Trump has been consistent and clear that a nuclear-armed Iran will not be tolerated,’’ Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said in a statement. “That posture has now been enforced with strength, precision, and clarity.’’

Some Democrats, however, blasted Trump's “unilateral decision” to attack Iran without congressional approval, calling it illegal.

“This move, a rash sequel to his withdrawal from the nuclear deal, puts our nation, our troops, and innocents at grave risk,’’ Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, said in a statement. “Trump promised to be a peacemaker and vowed to avoid plunging the U.S. into more wars in the Middle East. This attack is inconsistent with his promise to the American people.”

Protesters shout slogans during an anti-war demonstration in Boston, Massachusetts [Joseph Prezioso/AFP]

Anti-war demonstrators have begun to peacefully gather in New York's Times Square and various locations across the U.S. in response to the Trump administration's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Chinese foreign ministry says US attack ‘seriously violates’ international law

Patrons of the Chapel Street Cafe watch as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation following U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. June 21, 2025. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Purchase Licensing

China strongly condemns the U.S. attacks on Iran and bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA. The actions of the U.S. seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East. China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.

Beijing has “strongly condemned” the US attack on Iran, noting its nuclear facilities were under the safeguards of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency.

“The actions of the US seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation.”

In a brief statement on Sunday night, the Chinese foreign ministry said the bombing of the facilities, which were under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, seriously violated the United Nations Charter and its principles.

It called on all parties, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians and start dialogue.

“China is willing to work with the international community to uphold justice and restore peace and stability in the Middle East,” the ministry said.

The call came hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the US military had conducted the bombings, calling the strikes a “spectacular military success” and pledging more attacks if Tehran did not stand down.

The actions of the United States seriously violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East, the spokesperson said.

China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation, the spokesperson said.

China stands ready to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, the spokesperson said

Russia’s Medvedev criticises Trump for starting ‘new war’

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, says the “absolute majority” of nations are against “the actions of Israel and the United States”.

Dmitry Medvedev [File: Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik/Kremlin/Pool via AP]

“Trump, who came as a peacemaker president, started a new war for the US,” he said on his Telegram channel after Washington’s strikes on Iran.

“The United States is drawn into a new conflict with the prospect of a ground operation. With this kind of success, Trump won’t win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers of the UK, France, Italy, UAE, Qatar, none of their statements condemned the US attack, instead they were merely symbolic statements. And that clarifies their position as US stooges.