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Israel And Iran Launch New Rounds Of Attacks; IDF Says It Struck Key Military Targets In Tehran Area; Israel and Iran Launch New Rounds of Attacks; Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender in Warning; Trump Weighing Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites; G7 Leaders Wrap Up Canadian Summit; Canada Pledges More Military Assistance to Ukraine; Ukraine Says at Least 21 Killed, 134 Injured in Russian Strikes; Trump Says It Was a Mistake to Kick Russia Out of G8; Trump Skips G7 Meeting With Ukraine's Zelenskyy; Kim Jong-un Meets With Russian Security Council Secretary; Gaza Authorities Say Israeli Fire Kills Dozens Seeking Aid; Flights to Bali Canceled as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired June 18, 2025 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello and welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson live from our Middle East programming headquarters in Abu Dhabi. It is 10:00 a.m. here. It is 9:30 a.m. in Tehran, and it is 9:00 a.m. in Tel Aviv, Wednesday, the 18th of June.

Questions mounting over whether the U.S. will get militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran now in its sixth day. From Tehran to Tel Aviv, sirens and explosions have been ringing out during waves of new attacks.

Warning sirens have been wailing in Israel for incoming missiles from Iran. Most are intercepted by the Iron Dome. Some, though are getting through. There's been damage to residential buildings, and several fires have broken out, but no casualties have been recently reported.

And in Tehran, new explosions and missile interceptions as Israel warns an entire district of the capital to evacuate. Many Iranians have been fleeing north while senior Israeli officials are waiting to find out whether the U.S. will help them attack Iran. The Israeli military says it sent a fleet of 50 fighter jets to carry out attacks on Iranian missile and centrifuge production sites.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. EFFIE DEFRIN, IDF SPOKESPERSON: We've struck deep hitting Iran's nuclear ballistic and command capabilities. The Iranian regime has spent years getting closer to a nuclear weapon. They have spent billions building a ballistic missile program. Our mission -- our mission is clear, to remove the threat at its source.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Supreme leader posted a blunt warning on X. "The battle begins."

Well, Sources tell CNN, President Trump is warming to the idea of using U.S. military assets to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, and is souring on the prospect of a diplomatic solution. The president used his social media account to lash out at Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

First, he posted, we know exactly where he's hiding. He is, he said, an easy target, but he's safe there. We are not going to take him out (kill) exclamation mark, at least for now, he wrote.

This was followed by two words, all caps, UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

Here's U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAMMY BRUCE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: This is again, one of the things we've learned about President Trump is that when he tweets, when he speaks, the world watches, and it's the most clear framework that we can learn of his approach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Paula Hancocks with me here in Abu Dhabi. She's been following the back and forth strikes very closely, day six, and we are into the regular day here, as it were, in this region, just get us up to speed on what we know has been happening overnight.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've just had an update Becky from the Israeli military, saying that overnight they had some 50 fighter jets and they pinpointed 20 different targets.

Now, they're specifying those targets were centrifuge production facilities. So, very much a focus on the nuclear program, trying to degrade that nuclear program.

They were also focusing on the missile side of it, of course, the where they're launching the missiles from, where they're producing the missiles. And this is a consistent message we're hearing from the Israeli side that they're managing to degrade Iran's ability to retaliate, to send missiles back.

Now, on the face of it, that appears to be accurate. Monday morning, for example, we had hundreds of missiles into Israeli territory, but we are seeing far less at this point, and there are, of course, many experts questioning how many missiles Iran may have left, and of course, how many interceptors Israel has left as well.

So, from that point of view, Israel says that it is succeeding in what it is trying to achieve. But of course, from the other side, we are still seeing these missiles coming from Iran. You mentioned that the Ayatollah Khamenei, he is saying that the battle begins. He is saying at dawn today on X that this has to continue, that the fight is going to go on.

[02:05:15]

Also claiming that they hit an intelligence infrastructure in Tel Aviv, which we are waiting for confirmation on.

ANDERSON: Meantime, it seems the world, and certainly this region, is waiting for some signs, indication as to what the U.S. president has decided on this diplomacy or war.

Certainly, I've just read out some of his X post or Truth Social posts this morning that seemed to suggest, without announcing a decision, that he is veering towards involvement here and support for the Israelis.

HANCOCKS: I mean, it certainly sounds as though, over the last 24 hours, he is hardening his opinion. He's becoming more hawkish.

One of his posts, for example, was talking about, we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. He's using the word we when talking about the Israeli capability, showing he's very much in that camp.

Now, there were officials that were saying that he was wanting an outreach to Iranian officials as he was on his way back from the G7 which he left early, that appears to be on hold, at least at this point.

Officials who are familiar with his thinking, say, that he is certainly hardening towards helping militarily Israel. Now the military officials, according to these sources, are readying for being able to refuel Israeli jets, for example, in the region.

Now that's certainly less than Israel wants. They want the U.S. fully in, they want these -- you know, these so called bunker busters, the 20,000, 30,000 pound bombs that the U.S. has and would be able to destroy the underground facilities, potentially, of the Iranian production sites in Iran.

But one Israeli source familiar with what is going on did say that they have more optimism at this point that the U.S. would join the military campaign. It's worth pointing out, though, we have seen some flip flopping from the U.S. president. There have definitely been some mixed messages. So, this doesn't necessarily mean that this is where he is landing.

ANDERSON: Paula, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Well, for more perspective on the conflict, let's get to Boston, Massachusetts. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo is the executive director of the Nonviolent Initiative for Democracy and a former member of the Iranian Parliament. And I just want to start with what you are hearing from your contacts, families, friends, inside Iran.

FATEMEH HAGHIGHATJOO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NONVIOLENT INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRACY: Hello to you and the audience. It's very shocking. Of course, nobody has been prepared for that and haven't expected the air strike because there has been U.S.-Iran negotiation going on.

So, basically they are fearful, shocked, anxious, especially after President Trump issued that everybody has to evacuate Tehran, which is the city with over 10 million people, it's hard to that.

On the other side, we see sort of unity that doctors and nurses who even were in vacation return to hospital to provide care for injured people, preparing other city have opened their home for people of Tehran and other places that under attack.

And unfortunately, the attack hasn't been only on military and nuclear side, but also on civilians. So many people got killed, and it's very saddened moment for Iranian inside the country and, of course, diaspora.

ANDERSON: Yes, and lest up we forget there are more than 90 million in the country, some 10 million alone in Tehran, of course. Fatemeh, you just heard Paula, my colleague reporting on some optimism that the U.S. will join Israel in this fight. Optimism, very specifically, I caveat there from the Israeli side. What do you think the result of that would be at this point?

[02:10:06]

HAGHIGHATJOO: Well, I think first of all, we could recognize that Israel attack was illegal based on the U.N. Charter international law, and my main concern is this will unleash catastrophic humanitarian environmental consequences by heating nuclear facilities, there is an imminent risk of radioactive contamination, which could endanger the lives and health of millions people, not only in Iran, but also in the region.

And I think this would be a real disaster for the country that the United States also joined. And I would like to use this opportunity also to condemn Chancellor, Mr. Merz (ph), that basically praised the Israeli military on attacking to Iran nuclear sites, which is, as I said, it's create catastrophe for the country and the region. We've seen Hiroshima, we've seen Ukraine. That basically how a nuclear site has been created, catastrophe for decades to come.

And this is also, again, is protocol in international law and additional protocol that site should not be attacked and if we remember 1981 after Israel attack to Iraq's nuclear site. Immediately, United Nations Security Council condemned that and called Open Israel urgently to place its nuclear facility under the safeguard of the International Atomic Agency, which we know that the Israel has over 92 even said that 400 nuclear bombs, which is this is create hypocrisy in the world as well. ANDERSON: Right. Let's -- can I ask you, as the Supreme Leader has message that the battle begins, so Israel and Donald Trump have been very clear that the Supreme Leader is a target effectively, they know where he is. Donald Trump said he is safe at present. Should there be the fall of the regime? Should that happen at this point? What does the day after look like to you? We are getting a lot of messaging, for example, from Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah.

There are, of course, people inside of Iran, and he sits outside of Iran as part of the diaspora. There was a credible amount of support for him. But not everybody in the diaspora are supportive of Pahlavi. There are people inside who have paid the price of dissent, who are being very vocal in condemning his support for what is going on. They will say he is very aligned with Israel. He has visited Israel in the past.

I just wonder what you think the day after looks like. Should this regime fall or be removed?

HAGHIGHATJOO: First of all, I would like to say that it is important everybody in international community call for immediate cease fire between Iran and Israel.

Second, even though some people, including Mr. Pahlavi state that he has planned for next 400 -- 100 days after the collapse of the regime or chaos and civil war will not happen. But as I am very engaged in our community, watching, especially for past couple of years, my main concern, which I see the signs is civil war, catastrophe.

We've seen condition in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and we've seen wave of refugees taught to Europe. This will create similar or worse situation in Iran, and integrity of the country also another main concern that it's not in nobody's hand, even now that I am sure Pahlavi and other opposition love Iran, but nobody can just predict and say Civil War will not happen. Iran will not collapse. Integrity of Iran will not -- will be intact, but that is my nightmare.

[02:15:56]

I would like to get rid of this regime. I would like to end the regime. I am the opposition, and by the way, in 2003 when the negotiation, we learn that Iran has nuclear program and negotiation between Tibi, European power and Iran has asserted over nuclear program, majority of the parliamentarian, including myself, we called to supreme leader to cooperate fully with the European powers, because we felt that the country's development path is more important Iran to have nuclear program or not. Saying we could predict the condition 20 years ago that what will happen to country.

And as we saw that impact of the sanction took toll on ordinary people, and I am so worried about the future of country, it's not going to be easy. We see what is going on in Sudan right now that people killing each other, civilian don't have life really in the country, (INAUDIBLE) two section.

Iran, is similar to other country, we are in the Middle East, we see what is going on in the Middle East. The United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and in 2003. After decades, still, the situation is not normal. One time I said to --

ANDERSON: Fatemeh?

HAGHIGHATJOO: Yes?

ANDERSON: So, Fatemeh, I'm just going to -- I'm going to have to leave the interview there. But I mean, I think your point is very well made. The concern you clearly have is about Iran dissolving into civil war, Kurdish separates -- Separatist Baluki, separatists and remnants of the MEK.

I mean, this is not -- this is a -- you know, what you're saying is, this is effectively a powder keg. And you see no clear opportunity in any one individual at this point to pick up where the regime may have left off, should that regime be cleared. Well, thank you. And it's important to get your analysis this morning.

Reza Pahlavi has spoken and of course, about what a transition might look like, and we will look at more of that statement as we move through these hours. Fatemeh, thank you.

Well, still to come, President Trump considers what move if any to make in the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, more on how the U.S. is staying prepared they say, after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:23:33]

ANDERSON: Well, now in our breaking news this hour, Israel's military says it launched attacks on Iranian centrifuge and missile production sites overnight. According to the Israel Defense Forces, more than 50 Air Force fighter jets carried out the operation. The IDF video appears to show Israeli strikes on Iranian rocket launches. Israel says its strike on the centrifuge production facility is intended to cripple what it calls the country's nuclear weapons development program.

Meanwhile, Iran has been launching its own aerial barrage on Israel, though most of its missiles have been intercepted.

Sources tell CNN the U.S. military is preparing for the possibility that President Trump may decide to offer assistance to Israel in the conflict with Iran. U.S. assets being moved around the Middle East right now, to give him, "Options."

The president on Tuesday posted on Truth Social, "We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran." Note, the use of we, echoing a nearly identical thought from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just a day earlier. President Trump also reiterating his desire to stop Iran's nuclear program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Is there any guarantee that if the U.S. did get involved militarily, that a U.S. bomb could destroy Iran's nuclear program and facilities?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: (INAUDIBLE) you know that. Look at you, right? There's no guarantee. But you're saying a guarantee on what?

[02:25:07]

COLLINS: Do you think if the U.S. got involved militarily, it would actually wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Or where's your assessment of that?

TRUMP: I hope their program is going to be wiped out long before that, they're not going to have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, source says Central Command even presented President Trump the option of joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Natasha Bertrand has details on U.S. assets in the Middle East and how they could play a part in this conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dozens of U.S. Air Force tankers have been moved into the Middle East in recent days as a way we're told for the president to have military options should he decide to get more involved in the war between Iran and Israel.

Essentially, what these refueling tankers would allow the president to do, if he wanted to, is to do a range of military options, ranging from helping the Israeli fighter aircraft refuel so that they can continue the pace of their air strikes over Iran, to a another option that would involve greater U.S. military involvement, which would be joint U.S.-Israeli strikes over Iran and against these nuclear facilities in Iran.

Essentially, if the U.S. wanted to deploy, for example, a B-2 bomber, which is the only aircraft that it has that would carry these massive bunker busting bombs that would allow the U.S. to penetrate deep underground of the Fordow nuclear facility, then the B-2 bomber would be able to be refueled by these tankers that are currently in the region and positioned to do so.

And so, this essentially gives the President options, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Now, the U.S. military has also been repositioning a number of other assets into the Middle East, including the Nimitz aircraft carrier, which is currently en route to the region. It is going to join another aircraft carrier that is already there, the USS Carl Vinson.

And it's unclear just how long they are going to overlap, but they do both bring a tremendous amount of firepower and hardware to the region at a moment when, of course, the president is reportedly contemplating greater involvement in this military confrontation. These aircraft carriers can be used to launch fighter jets to carry out airstrikes and, of course, to help intercept incoming missiles and drones from Iran to Israel.

And so, U.S. Central Command right now working to give the president a large number of options for just what he can do militarily if he decides to get more involved in this conflict.

Natasha Bertrand, CNN at the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Now from Tel Aviv is Gideon Levy. He's a columnist for Haaretz newspaper and a former advisor to Shimon Peres. It's good to have you on what is day six.

I just want you to give us a sense or assessment of what we have seen overnight, both from Israel and its military activity, into Iran and then what has come the other way before we talk about the wider story here.

Gideon, your assessment of what we are, what we have seen to date.

GIDEON LEVY, COLUMNIST, HAARETZ NEWSPAPER: You see, Becky, the last two nights were easier, at least in Tel Aviv, than the nights before, which maybe shows that they are pulling down a little bit, maybe because of shortage of rockets and the rocket economy to save some for the -- for the coming days and weeks.

In any case, it is still quite horrifying here in Tel Aviv, as you can imagine yourself, this is not normal life. And I'm not sure Israel can take it for very, very long. And in Tehran, the Air Force continues to bomb and all the eyes are at the White House now, because this is the crucial question right now.

ANDERSON: Iran's Supreme Leader overnight has issued a warning. It was issued at dawn some hours ago now on social media, telling Israel, "The battle begins from the perspective of the Iranian regime. This is only the start effectively."

You have been an arch critic of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, you know, for some time. How do you evaluate this operation and whether or not you believe it is likely to be successful? What does success look like at this point for the Israeli prime minister?

LEVY: You see, in my nature, I don't like gamblers, and for sure, not if they are gambling in something so dangerous, mainly if there is an alternative to the gambling.

[02:30:00]

And Netanyahu took a hell of a gamble launching this war. We know how it starts. We have no clue how will it end. It can turn into a World War, it can end tomorrow with an agreement. Netanyahu doesn't know how will it end? Nobody knows how will it end. And therefore, in my view, the gamble was much too dangerous. Right now, so far, so good. But it all depends now -- I mean, it can end only if the goal will achieve so-called. The goal is to totally eliminate the nuclear capabilities of Iran and this is possible only with your Americans B-2 Bombers, the jets, fighters. There is no other way to end it. And if you go to such a war, you have to remember that you are limited in your power. You cannot finish it. You cannot achieve the goals by yourself.

So, you better guarantee that you have an ally. And right now, we all depend on the moods of Benjamin -- of Donald Trump, who wakes up in one mood and goes to sleep in another mood and nobody knows where is he aiming.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR AND MANAGING EDITOR, ABU DHABI: It does appear that Donald Trump is increasingly -- growing increasingly warm to using U.S. military assets to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Souring on the idea, again, we have to say it seems because it is not clear what his position is, but it does seem as if he is somewhat souring on the idea of using diplomacy as an off-ramp at this point.

And overnight, Donald Trump has called the supreme leader "an easy target" and said that America's "patience is wearing thin." He also demanded Iran's unconditional surrender. This is very inflammatory language for the Iranian regime. Whatever you think of them, using the unconditional surrender line will be deemed unacceptable, I'm sure, by them as a position and, and as rhetoric at this point.

You talked about what the objectives for this, the goal, Benjamin Netanyahu's goal to decimate the nuclear infrastructure and the missile supply. It does now appear that the regime is a target and that regime change may be a very significant part of all of this. To your mind, given that there is no clear alternative, how concerned are you? That that may be what is affected.

LEVY: I'm very concerned day and night. To the Americans, I can only say, if you want to shoot, shoot, don't talk. Those talkings not -- are not only without coverage until now, they are very, very dangerous. What (inaudible) humiliate now the Iranians and to tell them either total surrender or bombarding, what does he think this regime will choose? I mean, they cannot surrender when he humiliates them before -- even before it starts.

Why not to call them to get back to the negotiation table and freeze the situation? Why immediately to tell them, listen, if you stop now, it means you surrender. It means you humiliate yourself. This rhetoric by itself has its own dynamics. Now, does it mean to bomb? So the rhetoric is totally hollow because they know the capabilities of the United States and they know that they can bomb Fordow. But, so do it.

And if you don't want, try to bring them to the negotiation table without humiliating them and without all those threats.

ANDERSON: Gideon, we're going to have to leave it there. Your insight and analysis always extremely important as we provide our viewers perspective on what is going on day six of this Iran-Israel conflict. Thank you.

Still to come, Iran has been launching waves of strikes against Israel. Some experts believe they may be depleting their arsenal, as we have discussed. We'll hear about that up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:39:17]

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. You are watching CNN Breaking News. Let's get you up to date on where we are at Israel. Says more than 50 aircraft have carried out strikes on military sites in and around Tehran. The IDF reports striking a centrifuge production facility as well as missile manufacturing sites. Meanwhile, a semi-official Iranian news agency reports Iran has fired hypersonic Fattah missiles towards Israel. CNN hasn't been able to verify that claim.

Sources tell CNN, President Donald Trump is considering U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear targets with encouragement from some hard- line Republicans.

[02:40:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R-SC): Iran with a nuclear weapon is a threat not only to Israel, but to us. And four presidents have promised to make sure that Iran never had a nuclear weapon. I think it will be Donald Trump who delivers on that promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Danny Citrinowicz served 25 years in a variety of command position units in Israel's defense intelligence. Today, he's a senior researcher in the Iran and Shiite Axis program at the Institute for National Security Studies. He joins me now from Melbourne in Australia. Your insight extremely valuable today. Day six, what do you make of the IDF's strike activity overnight and strategy to date, sir?

DANNY CITRINOWICZ, SENIOR RESEARCHER, INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES: Well, it's obvious that Israel might launch the war to deprive the Iranian capabilities on the nuclear side and on the missile side. But obviously, given the last target that Israel attacking, Israel is aiming to topple the regime. And I think it's quite obvious not only from the number of the target that are being attacked, but also from the declaration coming from Prime Minister Netanyahu, actually saying that this is -- if he's not declared, still Israel interested in that. But that really require the U.S. help.

So, I think the next 24 hours will be crucial because if the U.S. will join Israel, then toppling this regime might seem feasible in some way or form, definitely destroying Fordow. But if not, and Israel continued this attack and insisting on unrealistic condition there, we are going to war of attrition. And there, Israel achievement in this war might be eroded. ANDERSON: Our last guest from Tel Aviv, Danny, describing Benjamin Netanyahu's decision Friday to launch these attacks as taking an enormous gamble. We know how this started. Question is how does it end? And if the regime is indeed the ultimate goal and its removal, what is the alternative? I mean, you've spent years in intelligence. We know the intelligence -- Israeli intelligence in Iran, much deeper and much more robust it seems than Tehran was aware of, that many people were aware. What do they know at this point about what comes next?

CITRINOWICZ: Well, it's a million dollar question, but I'll start by saying that the real question is what is the exit strategy of the state of Israel? It seems that we launch an attack hoping that the U.S. will join us, especially on the nuclear side. We have to remember that we have major achievements in the nuclear side in terms of killing scientists with unique knowledge, attacking Natanz Enrichment Center and probably causing the damage of 14,000 centrifuges. But, we knew that we cannot deal with Fordow.

So if the war will end and we cannot deal with Fordow and the U.S. won't come to our help, then significant capability of the Iranian mutual program stays as it is. So, it definitely was a gamble, but even more gamble like you hinted, but (ph) the issue of replacing the regime. First, the regime is strong, we have to say that. But we don't know who will come after. We can find the RGC. We can find mayhem within Iran, a country that has nuclear capabilities. So, thinking that we can replace someone, that's great. But I think history showed us that at the end of the day, even if we think that the devil that we know is someone that we need to replace, sometimes we'll miss the devil that we know.

And I'll say something about Khamenei. He is the first enemy of the state of Israel, but he proven during the real (ph) that he might show flexibility when push comes to shove. This is why I think that if the U.S. will want to return back to negotiation, we might find Iran with some flexibility in term negotiation. But it seems right now, the declaration coming from President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu are pushing Khamenei to the corner, and it seems like escalation is imminent.

ANDERSON: Including posting the term -- I'm talking about Donald Trump here -- "complete surrender" what do you make of that?

CITRINOWICZ: Yeah, I'm trying to understand what the policy of President Trump, because at the beginning of the week, it seems that he uses Prime Minister Netanyahu in order to weaken Iran and then call them back to the negotiation table. And I think that if Israel would've stopped the attack against Iran, Iranian would've agreed to return back to negotiation table. Again, it'll be a fierce negotiation. I'm not sure that Iranians were willing to forego the right to enrich, but still they wanted to return back to negotiation.

Now, according to declaration coming from President Trump, it's all -- it's obvious that he has no interest in negotiation. So the question is, he wants to get into the war. We have to remember that if the U.S. will enter the war, escalation imminent in a way that the Iranians, because they'll be the back against the wall, they will consider using things that we didn't see before. For example, mining the Hormuz Strait. For example, attacking U.S. presence in the region.

[02:45:00]

For attacking -- for example, attacking oil facilities in the region, and that can really escalate the situation. And from, a war between Israel-Iran, can find ourself in a regional war. So this is something that is very hard to predict and it's very hard to understand what really the end game regarding President Trump. We know Prime Minister Netanyahu. He wants to topple the regime. But regarding President Trump, it's very hard to understand. And I think also the Iranians not understand. This is why I think they will choose to, of course, to see and wait, how things will develop. But if the U.S. will enter the war, then I think they don't leave any choice to the Iranians but to escalate.

ANDERSON: Danny, it's good to get your perspective. Thank you, Danny Citrinowicz, joining us here on CNN. Well, I'm Becky Anderson. I'll be back at the top of the hour.

Coming up, John Vause (inaudible) other stories including the outcome of the G7 Summit and what that means for Ukraine's latest pleas for military aid. More on that is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:50:42]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWSROOM": Hello, I'm John Vause in Atlanta with a look at some of the other stories we're following. A day after the U.S. president made an early exit, the G7 Summit in Canada has wrapped with the remaining six world leaders unable to reach agreement on a number of key issues, including the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president was a guest for Tuesday's final session, but did not get to meet one-on-one with President Trump, who was already back in Washington meeting with his national security team over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also pushing G7 countries for military assistance as Russian airstrikes ramp up. Canada's prime minister announced new sanctions on Moscow, as well as increased military aid for Ukraine. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: With our international partners, we're launching a major new package of sanctions on individuals, on companies, on vessels, the shadow fleet to exert maximum pressure on Russia. We're also sending over $2 billion in funding for drones, ammunition, armored vehicles to help Ukrainians defend their territory, as well as a $2.3 billion loan to help rebuild the infrastructure in that country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Russia's latest wave of airstrikes targeting Kyiv has been the deadliest in almost a year. CNN's Clair Sebastian reports at least 21 people were killed, 134 others were injured.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: First by its scale, the number of drones used, 440 according to Ukraine's Air Force was close to a daily record, and combined with 32 missiles, a very high number. And also by the level of destruction, this was the deadliest attack on the Capital Kyiv in almost a year, according to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

Now, Russia says it was targeting military industrial facilities. But look at this, the moment a drone slams into a high-rise Kyiv apartment block. And this the aftermath of a direct hit by a Russian cruise missile on another residential building, graphic visual reminders of why air defenses matter so much to Ukraine.

Well, even as Russia has ramped up air attacks on Ukraine, it has not only faced no additional sanctions from the U.S., but this latest attack came just hours after Trump told reporters at the G7 Summit in Canada that it was a mistake to kick Russia out of what was then the G8 in 2014. And Trump has left the door open to Russia's offer to mediating between Iran and Israel, a move that would allow Putin to rebrand himself as a peacemaker.

Trump's early departure from that G7 Summit also meant he skipped a planned meeting with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, a crucial opportunity for him to try once again to convince Trump to ramp up the pressure on Moscow.

Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.

VAUSE: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has met with the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, Sergei Shoigu to mark one year since both countries agreed to their strategic partnership, which has seen Pyongyang sending troops to Ukraine to bolster Russian forces on the frontline. According to Russian State Media, Shoigu promised to build memorials in honor of North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine, while Kim Jong-un will reportedly send engineers and crews to remove landmines and help rebuild Russia's Kursk region.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 51 people were killed by Israeli forces Tuesday, while waiting for aid deliveries in Khan Younis. More than 200 others were wounded. If true, this would be one of the deadliest such attacks in recent weeks. The Israeli military says the incident is under review. Meantime, the World Health Organization says the U.N. must be allowed to distribute aid in Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ATHANASIOS GARGAVANIS, W.H.O. TRAUMA SURGEON AND EMERGENCY OFFICER: We have all to be aware that the recent food distribution initiatives by non-U.N. actors every time result in mass casualty instances. The United Nations know what has to be done in Gaza. We know how to deliver care. We know how to support partners. We know how to do our job. But, to make the very best of our presence here, we have to be allowed and facilitated.

(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: International aid agencies have criticized the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private aid distributor backed by the U.S. and Israel, for setting up distribution sites in active combat zones.

[02:55:00]

Well, some flights to Indonesia's resort island of Bali have been canceled or delayed due to eruptions from one of the country's most active volcanoes. A huge cloud of ash has been billowing from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. Indonesia's Volcano Alert System has been raised to its highest level. No casualties have been reported. The volcano has erupted several times in recent months, killing at least 10 people. That was back in November.

Thank you for watching this hour of CNN. I'm John Vause. Our breaking news coverage continues right here on CNN, after a very short break. Back in a moment.

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