IRAN TRIED TO HIDE IT'S NUCLEAR SCIENTIST IN A SAFE LOCATION, BUT ISRAEL STILL FOUND AND KILLED HIM.

According to Times of Israel, an Israeli drone strike targeted an apartment building in Tehran’s Gisha neighborhood on Friday, killing an Iranian scientist specializing in weaponry, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

The scientist was reportedly being kept in a safe house outside his home in an effort to protect him from Israeli attacks. This strike is part of Israel’s ongoing campaign, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Since launching the operation last Friday, Israel has reportedly assassinated at least a dozen leading Iranian nuclear scientists and targeted numerous military and nuclear facilities.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an intensification of strikes on regime symbols in Tehran, including the Basij militia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with the goal of destabilizing the Iranian government.

The strike on the scientist’s hiding place underscores Israel’s focus on eliminating key figures in Iran’s weapons development. Iranian state media confirmed the drone attack on the residential building but did not provide details on casualties.

Meanwhile, Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, including Beersheba, causing casualties and damage.

In addition to the strike on the scientist, Israeli airstrikes have damaged Iran’s Internal Security headquarters and other military sites, including the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research complex, a critical part of Iran’s nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported damage to key buildings at Iran’s Arak heavy water research site.

Despite the violence, thousands of Iranians protested in Tehran after Friday prayers, denouncing Israel and the United States.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides and shows no signs of abating as Israel continues its campaign to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

ISRAEL TARGETS IRAN'S DRONE NETWORK, ELIMINATES SENIOR IRGC COMMANDER.

According to Iran International English, the Israeli military has announced on Saturday that it has killed Aminpour Joudaki, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an airstrike. The report alleged the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) of recounting that Joudaki led the second UAV brigade of the IRGC Air Force, and played a major role in orchestrating drone attacks against Israeli targets.

"As part of his role, Aminpour Joudaki advanced hundreds of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) attacks against Israeli territory from the area of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran," the IDF said in an official statement.

The strike is part of an ongoing Israeli campaign targeting key figures within Iran’s UAV command structure. The IDF noted that Joudaki had recently taken on a more prominent leadership position following the death of another senior IRGC official earlier this month.

"Following the elimination of Taher Pour, the commander of the UAV headquarters of the IRGC Air Force on June 13, 2025, Joudaki assumed a key role in the headquarters' operations," the statement continued.

Israel has ramped up its operations against Iranian drone units in recent months, citing growing threats from Iranian-made UAVs deployed not only directly from Iran but also through proxies across the region. The killing of Joudaki is expected to further disrupt Iran’s UAV activities, particularly those based out of the strategic Ahvaz region.

There was no immediate response from Iranian officials regarding Joudaki’s reported death. However, analysts suggest the strike is likely to heighten tensions between the two nations, which have been locked in a shadow conflict involving cyber attacks, sabotage and targeted killings.

The IDF has framed the operation as a preemptive defence measure aimed at curbing escalating UAV threats. The broader regional implications, however, remain uncertain as Israel continues to pursue a strategy of eliminating what it calls "high-value terror assets" within Iranian military ranks.

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Trump Warns Putin Is ‘Playing With Fire’ Amid Stalled Peace Talks


U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of “playing with fire” as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine struggle to gain traction.

Trump’s comments came Tuesday via his Truth Social platform, where he expressed frustration over the lack of progress in peace negotiations. The warning follows his earlier remarks describing Putin as “absolutely CRAZY” after a large-scale drone attack in Ukraine left multiple civilians dead.

"Putin doesn’t realize that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would’ve already happened to Russia. And I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!" Trump posted, without specifying what those consequences might have been.

Moscow maintains that its military actions are in response to increasing Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilians and accuses Kyiv of deliberately undermining peace efforts. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and despite a phone conversation eight days ago where Trump claimed Putin agreed to resume talks, no progress has been reported.

Diplomatic pressure has grown in recent weeks, with Washington reportedly considering a new wave of sanctions. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNN, Trump is weighing additional economic measures against Russia, which could be announced as early as this week. Speaking on Sunday, Trump confirmed he was “absolutely” considering sanctions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said all options remain on the table. “President Trump has been clear in his call for a negotiated peace deal and is prepared to act decisively. This war is Joe Biden’s fault,” she told AFP.

Trump has so far resisted harsh sanctions on Russian banks, arguing they could have devastating effects. However, his recent comments reflect a shift from his previously cordial tone toward Putin, with whom he often claimed to have a good relationship.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its drone campaign. Between May 20 and 27, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted over 2,300 Ukrainian drones. On Tuesday night alone, nearly 150 drones were reportedly downed, including 33 targeting Moscow.

The Russian defense ministry accused Ukraine—and its European allies—of attempting to sabotage peace efforts. In contrast, Ukrainian officials say it is Russia that is deliberately targeting civilians. “We need to end this eternal waiting — Russia needs more sanctions,” wrote Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Telegram.

Calls for action are also growing in the U.S. Congress. Senator Chuck Grassley urged strong measures, while bipartisan voices, including Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, pushed for secondary sanctions on countries continuing to do business with Russia.

Former Trump national security adviser and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg told Fox News that Geneva may serve as the next venue for peace talks after Russia rejected the Vatican as a host. He expressed hope that Trump, Putin, and Zelensky could come together for direct negotiations.

The Swiss foreign ministry declined to confirm Geneva as a host but reiterated Switzerland’s readiness to facilitate dialogue.

Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in over three years in Istanbul. #TrumpWarning, #PutinUkraineWar, #ECOWAS50Celebration