June 18, 2025 (00:45 Local Time) – Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically early Wednesday as Iran launched a second wave of ballistic missiles towards Israel within an hour, triggering sirens across the country and sending civilians scrambling for shelter. The strikes come amidst reported high-level talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Escalating Missile Barrage:
-
00:37: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed a second round of Iranian missiles had been fired towards Israeli territory. This followed an earlier salvo around 00:28.
-
Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that its sources indicated Kheiber-Shakan (Castle Buster) missiles, known for their bunker-busting capabilities, were part of the latest launch.
-
The IDF issued urgent instructions for civilians in “several areas around the country” to seek immediate shelter in protected spaces. This marked the second such nationwide alert within less than 60 minutes.
-
00:28: Initial reports and emerging photos indicated that Israel’s missile defense systems, likely the Arrow network, had intercepted Iranian missiles over Israeli airspace during the first wave.
Trump-Netanyahu Call & Demands:
-
00:08: Multiple US and Israeli media outlets reported that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu held a phone call shortly before the second missile launch. Details of the conversation have not been officially released by the White House, which the BBC has contacted for comment.
-
Trump’s stance on the crisis appears uncompromising. Echoing comments made Monday en route from the G7 summit, Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” telling reporters he wanted “a real end. Not a ceasefire. An end. Or giving up entirely. That’s OK, too.”
Diplomatic Confusion Reigns:
As the missiles flew, diplomats at the residual G7 meetings in Canada’s Rocky Mountains expressed profound uncertainty about the US President’s intentions:
-
Policy Divide: Officials are unsure whether Trump aligns with Israel’s hawkish view that military action is the only way to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, or with the European position advocating for long-term diplomatic containment.
-
Mixed Messaging: Trump’s rhetoric is described as “contradictory and mixed,” caught between administration hawks and isolationists, and between his desire to project US power and his aversion to new military entanglements (“forever wars”).
-
Surrender vs. Diplomacy? While Trump stated he wants “a deal,” his demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender has left allies perplexed. Some diplomats hope it signals a push for maximum pressure to force Iran back to negotiations, but many remain baffled. “Those left here… are still scratching their heads,” one diplomatic source noted.
Current Situation:
The immediate focus remains on the active threat over Israel. Air raid sirens are ongoing in multiple regions as the IDF engages the second wave of incoming missiles. Civilians remain in shelters. There has been no immediate claim of casualties or significant damage from the first intercepted wave.
