Early this morning, Israel intensified its focus on Iran’s air defense capabilities, continuing a series of substantial attacks that began the previous day, targeting critical Iranian nuclear and military installations. This escalation has led to retaliatory responses from Iran.
- Advertisement -
In a stark warning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, Tehran will burn
if Iran continues to launch missiles at Israel.
In a televised address last night, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a bold assertion, pledging to bring Israel to ruin
.
As tensions rise, global appeals for restraint are increasing, with many fearing that the Middle East may be on the brink of a wider conflict.
Targeting Air Defenses
This morning, the Israeli military reported ongoing strikes against numerous missile launchers in Iran, having launched a wave of operations aimed at air defense systems around Tehran.
The Israeli Air Force stated, The military continues striking dozens of surface-to-surface missile launchers in Iran
. Over the previous night, these operations targeted a range of installations, including surface-to-air missile systems, as part of a broader strategy to undermine Iran’s aerial defense capabilities.
Iran’s Response
In reaction, Israel reported that dozens of missiles were fired from Iran, with some intercepted. Disturbing images from the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv depict blown-out buildings, damaged vehicles, and streets littered with debris.
Tragically, Israeli rescue teams confirmed that two individuals lost their lives and 19 others were injured due to rocket fire in a residential area on the coastal plain.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards asserted that numerous targets in Israel were attacked in retaliation.
Nuclear Talks?
This fierce exchange between long-standing rivals Iran and Israel coincided with ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington aimed at resolving issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. Prior to the strikes, a sixth round of discussions was scheduled to take place in Oman; however, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei expressed uncertainty about their plans for Sunday.
While Iran consistently claims it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, it has been enriching uranium to 60%, significantly above the 3.67% limit outlined in a largely outdated 2015 agreement with major powers. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that while enriched to 60%, this level is still shy of the 90% required for a nuclear warhead.
More Iranian Generals Killed
In a grim report, Iranian state media announced the deaths of General Gholamreza Mehrabi, the deputy head of intelligence for the armed forces, and General Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy head of operations. Additionally, top military officials, including Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, have been reported killed, with replacements promptly appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Revolutionary Guards also reported the death of Amirali Hajizadeh, their aerospace commander responsible for Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal. Furthermore, Iranian media indicated that three additional nuclear scientists were killed, raising the total to nine, as confirmed by Israeli sources.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations reportedly stated that 78 people have died and 320 have been injured in the initial wave of Israeli strikes.
Nuclear Sites Targeted
Israel’s operations commenced in the early hours of yesterday, coinciding with a day of rest and prayer in Iran, and continued throughout the day across various locations. A significant target was a sprawling underground uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, which was reportedly struck multiple times, as per Iranian state television.
Additionally, a late-night airstrike on Iran’s uranium conversion plant in Isfahan caused damage to infrastructure critical for reconverting enriched uranium; however, Iranian sources claim that the impact was limited at both Isfahan and the Fordo enrichment facility.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
