German Police Raid Center over Suspected Hezbollah Support

German police walk at the Islamic Center Hamburg grounds during a raid in Hamburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
German police walk at the Islamic Center Hamburg grounds during a raid in Hamburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
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German Police Raid Center over Suspected Hezbollah Support

German police walk at the Islamic Center Hamburg grounds during a raid in Hamburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
German police walk at the Islamic Center Hamburg grounds during a raid in Hamburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

German police have conducted raids in seven states over the Islamic Center of Hamburg's suspected support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the interior ministry said.

Authorities searched more than 50 properties connected to the center whose activities are suspected of violating Germany's constitutional order.

The raids, which also targeted five other associations believed to be subgroups of the center, were aimed at securing evidence as part of the ministry's investigation, the authorities said.

"I want to make clear that we are acting against Islamists, not against a religion or another state," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
"But we have the Islamist scene in our sights," she said.

"The suspicions against the Islamic Center of Hamburg are serious," and it has long been monitored by the domestic intelligence agency for Islamist activities, said Faeser.

"Especially now, when many Jews feel particularly threatened, we do not tolerate Islamist propaganda or anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate speech," added Faeser.

Since Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, German authorities have cracked down on pro-Palestinian groups.

On Nov. 2, Faeser implemented a formal ban on activity by or in support of Hamas and dissolved Samidoun, a group that was behind a celebration of Hamas’ attack on Israel, following up on a pledge made by Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after the attack.



Khamenei Says Israel Initiated a War as Iran Fires Missiles in Retaliation

 Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Khamenei Says Israel Initiated a War as Iran Fires Missiles in Retaliation

 Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a statement on Friday that Israel initiated a war and said it will not be allowed to do "hit and run" attacks without grave consequences.

"The Zionist regime (Israel) will not remain unscathed from the consequences of its crime. The Iranian nation must be guaranteed that our response will not be half-measured," Khamenei said in a statement.

Israel launched blistering attacks on the heart of Iran's nuclear and military structure Friday, deploying warplanes and drones previously smuggled into the country to attack key facilities and kill top generals and scientists -- a barrage it said was necessary before its adversary got any closer to building an atomic weapon.

Iran’s state news agency reported that Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel as part of its retaliation for Israel's Friday attack.

IRNA said the Iranian military had dubbed its operation "Severe Punishment."

Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded across Israel following what the country's military spokesman said was the firing of missiles from Iran. 

The ongoing military and intelligence operation raised the potential for all-out war between Iran and Israel and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.