Israel and Iran continue exchanging airstrikes. Meanwhile, Israel is starting to bring its citizens back from abroad. Follow DW for more. Israel says it is conducting strikes 'in the area of Tehran' Israel is bringing back its citizens from abroad US has closed its embassy in Jerusalem until Friday Below is a roundup of the latest developments on the Israel-Iran conflict and the wider crisis in the Middle East on Wednesday, June 18, 2025: Israel to bring back stranded citizens from abroad Starting Wednesday, the first Israelis stranded abroad due to the escalating conflict with Iran are expected to be flown home. Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev said that between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis were currently stranded abroad. The ministry stated that all of Israel's commercial aircraft had been sent outside the country to prevent damage to the planes during the air war. "Tomorrow [Wednesday] we will likely conduct rescue flights from the following destinations: Larnaca [in Cyprus], Athens, Rome, Milan, and Paris," El Al, the country's largest airline, announced. The passengers who are to be taken will be notified throughout the day, El Al said, adding that the flights are already fully booked. Meanwhile, some of the first returnees have already arrived by sea. On Tuesday evening, a ship carrying around 100 Israeli doctors and other medical personnel arrived in Haifa, according to the news portal Ynet. Israel and Iran trade air strikes Early Wednesday morning, as the fighting between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they were attacking Tehran, the Iranian capital. The airforce "is currently conducting a series of strikes in the area of Tehran," the IDF posted on its Telegram channel around 2:25 am (2325 GMT). Later, the IDF reported that it had identified incoming missiles from Iran heading toward Israel once again, and that the Israeli Air Force was operating to eliminate the threat. Sirens were activated, and the IDF requested that the public follow Home Front instructions. Earlier, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces urged people to leave the major Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. Welcome to our coverage Welcome to DW's coverage of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Both countries continue to exchange airstrikes while Israel begins to bring its stranded citizens back home. In addition to the latest news, this blog will bring you photos, videos, analysis and on-the-ground reporting from DW correspondents.