Hegseth says US will control Iranian skies within a week, leaders 'dead or in hiding'

Israel’s economy could suffer losses of more than 9 billion shekels ($2.93 billion) a week from the ongoing war with Iran, the country’s Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry estimated that under the Home Front Command’s current “red” restrictions, weekly economic damage could reach 9.4 billion shekels ($3.06 billion).

The measures include limits on travel to workplaces, school closures and the mobilization of military reservists, disrupting activity across the country.

Iran’s internet blackout has passed 100 hours, with national connectivity flatlining at about 1% of ordinary levels, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said on Wednesday.

“The regime-imposed blackout is the second this year and follows the shutdown in January when thousands were killed,” NetBlocks said.

Israel’s military spokesperson said on Wednesday that Israel’s strikes on Iran are directed at the country’s authorities rather than its people, urging civilians to stay away from military facilities.

In a video message addressed to Iranians, the spokesperson said Israel respected Iran’s long history and that recent tensions were tied to the policies of the Islamic Republic. “You cannot erase 2,500 years of magnificent history with 47 years of darkness,” he said.

He added that Israel was determined to continue its attacks until what he described as the threat posed by Iran’s authorities is removed.

The spokesperson also called on Iranian citizens to distance themselves from military installations for their safety as strikes continue.

A ballistic missile fired from Iran and passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday.

The missile, which was heading toward Turkish airspace, was rendered ineffective before it could cause any damage. A piece of the missile fell in the Dörtyol district of Hatay, and it was determined to belong to the intercepted missile. No casualties or injuries were reported.

The ministry reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to ensuring national security and its right to respond decisively to any threats, warning all parties against actions that could escalate the conflict in the region.

Relatives said prison wards have been locked down and some staff have left their posts as explosions from strikes in Tehran continue to be heard around the clock.

Families said food distribution and cooking supplies in the women’s ward and Ward 7 had been halted, leaving inmates with only small quantities of bread. The prison store has also been closed since the attacks began, preventing detainees from purchasing additional food.

Some prisoners who managed to contact relatives said they had access only to “dry bread and water,” raising concerns about how long supplies could last.

In a letter from Evin prison, jailed human rights activist Reza Khandan wrote that thousands of detainees were being held while facing the risk of ongoing bombardment and that many services inside prisons had been disrupted. He warned that continued conflict could lead to shortages of food rations and hygiene supplies.

Khandan said responsibility for the safety of prisoners lies with Iran’s judiciary and the prison organization.

A campaign supporting political prisoner Varisheh Moradi also called for the immediate release of detainees, particularly political prisoners, saying their safety could not be guaranteed under wartime conditions.

Separately, the United Nations has raised concerns about the situation inside Iran following the escalation of the conflict.

A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 787 people had been killed in Iran in the strikes, and expressed concern about civilian casualties, domestic repression, internet disruptions and the situation of political prisoners.

The UN also urged Iranian authorities to guarantee fundamental freedoms in line with international human rights law and called for the restoration of internet access, warning that communication outages could limit people’s access to vital safety information during wartime.

Evin prison in northern Tehran, known for holding political prisoners and activists, was hit during airstrikes on June 23 in last year’s 12-day war, damaging parts of the complex and raising concern about detainee safety.

Iran’s judiciary said at the time 71 people were killed, including guards, staff, inmates, visiting relatives, and nearby residents.