Amid tensions over Tehran's nuclear program, Israel and Iran increase their airstrikes.
June 14, Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Washington (Reuters) - Israel unleashed its largest attack to date in a significant escalation to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. This occurred during Saturday's reciprocal airstrikes between the two longstanding rivals. Residents of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the two biggest cities in Israel, hurried to bomb shelters as sirens sounded before daybreak. The Israeli military said that incoming Iranian missiles were being aggressively intercepted by its air defense systems.
Dozens of missiles have been fired from Iran in the direction of Israel in the last hour. The Israeli military claimed that some had been intercepted. No formal casualty details had been released yet, but emergency workers were reacting at several hit areas across the nation. Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news service, reported multiple explosions in Tehran, the country's capital. Two rockets hit close to Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, where fires were observed, according to Fars News Agency. Near important government facilities is a vital air force facility that is utilized by both fighter jets and transport aircraft.
Reuters witness heard a tremendous explosion in Jerusalem, while Israeli media reported a probable missile impact in Tel Aviv. It was yet unknown if Israel's defensive measures or Iranian attacks were to blame for the explosions. After two rounds of air raids on Friday night, Iran launched a third round of airstrikes on Saturday morning, according to Fars News. Israeli strikes earlier Friday targeted Iranian commanders, nuclear scientists, military outposts, and nuclear locations, prompting these retaliatory airstrikes. One missile hit a high-rise building in the heart of Tel Aviv, seriously injuring the lower third of the building in a crowded area. In Ramat Gan, a nearby housing complex was totally demolished.
Israel's emergency medical services report
that 34 persons were hurt on Friday night in the Tel Aviv region, the majority of them with minor injuries. One death was later confirmed by the authorities. American military assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles on route to Israel, according to two U.S. officials. Less than 100 missiles were fired from Iran, according to the Israeli military, with the majority being intercepted or missing their targets. Nonetheless, a number of structures in and around Tel Aviv were struck. Even though Israel had already destroyed Iranian-backed organizations like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the daylong exchange of bombings sparked concerns about a wider regional conflict. "It's Not Too Late," said Trump.
According to Iran's national news agency IRNA, the volley of missiles fired from Tehran was a response to Israeli strikes that killed senior Iranian military leaders and destroyed the underground nuclear complex in Natanz. Iran insists that the only goals of its nuclear program are peaceful ones. Although they admitted the damage to the Natanz site, Israeli officials stated that a thorough assessment might take some time. Iran has long been accused by Western nations of violating its stated peaceful aims by enriching uranium at Natanz to weapons-grade levels. Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, informed the Security Council on Friday that the Natanz above-ground pilot enrichment plant had been destroyed. Additional Israeli strikes on two more Iranian nuclear facilities, Fordow and Isfahan, are being investigated, he added.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran,
charged Israel with inciting a conflict. A top Iranian official pledged terrible reprisal and warned that "nowhere in Israel is safe." According to Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Israeli strikes killed 78 people, including top military officials, and injured over 320 others, the majority of whom were civilians. He declared that Washington would be held completely responsible and accused the US of complicity. According to intelligence, Iran is only a few days away from creating enough fissile material for several bombs, said Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon. He described the actions of Israel as "a matter of national self-defense." The UN nuclear watchdog has found that Tehran is breaking its commitments under the worldwide non-proliferation treaty, despite Iran's insistence that its nuclear aspirations are benign.
It is "not too late" for Tehran to reach an agreement and stop Israel's bombing campaign, according to former US President Donald Trump.
Prior to Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran and his administration had been negotiating Iran's nuclear program. Later, a revised American plan was rejected by Iran.