Intense Airstrikes in Tehran's Perimeter Lead to Fatalities; Reciprocal Attacks Escalate Between Israel and Iran Continue in Tel Aviv's Outskirts on the Second Successive Night
Saturated Skies and Ticking Clock: The Unceasing Clash Between Israel and Iran
In the wee hours of Saturday, the tension between Israel and Iran persisted as both nations continued to exchange blows. As per updates from Western and Iranian media outlets, Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, hosting an Iranian Air Force base brimming with fighter jets and transport aircraft, was a target (Reuters reported this). This comes in response to Iranian rocket attacks throughout the previous night, resulting in 21 injuries according to Israel's emergency services.
Initial reports indicated Iran had launched a fresh barrage of rockets at Israel, a claim the IDF corroborated, urging civilians to seek shelter. However, Israeli military officials later stated that "boatloads" of rockets were launched from Iran, with some being successfully intercepted. Debris searches were reportedly ongoing in several locations across the country.
A fresh wave of Iranian rocket attacks was recorded around 4:30 AM Moscow time. A high-ranking Iranian official spoke to CNN, expressing Tehran's intent to escalate its assaults on Israel and target regional bases of countries defending it.
"Any nation attempting to shield Israel from Iranian operations will suffer the consequences. Their regional bases and positions will become new targets," the official added.
Earlier on Friday, reports circulated that American military aid played a part in intercepting Iranian rockets directed at Israel. An Israeli source shared this information with CNN, and it was also reported that other neighboring nations supported Israel's air defense.
Overnight on Saturday, Israel struck back at Iran, with one of the attacks reportedly hitting Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, evoking sights of flames and thick smoke (AFP's correspondent reported this). A 13-second video from Mehrabad, published by Iran's Tasnim news agency but unverified by the BBC, further confirmed these visuals.
As dawn broke, the IDF released a concise statement, affirming they were still striking targets in Iran.
Regrettably, a fatality was confirmed by Israeli authorities on Saturday, with a woman being killed in an attack on Ramat Gan, a city situated near Tel Aviv. The previous night, Israel's emergency service "Magen David Adom" reported that 21 individuals had been injured, including one critically, several seriously, and others with minor to moderate injuries following Iran's recent attacks.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, Amir-Saeid Iravani, announced Iranian casualties stemming from Israeli strikes in Iran during a UN meeting, stating that 78 individuals were killed, and over 320 were injured, with the majority being civilians. Unfortunately, this number included a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the chief of staff, and prominent nuclear physicists.
Citizens across the globe expressed concerns for peace and diplomacy, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres urging Iran and Israel to halt the escalation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the situation, emphasizing the need for all parties to "exercise maximal restraint" and de-escalate the tension.
Meanwhile, China, a significant partner of Iran in energy and infrastructure, condemned "violations of Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity" during the UN Security Council meeting. Despite advocating for Iran's right to "peaceful use of nuclear energy," as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, China expressed "grave concern" over the impact of the current situation on talks surrounding Iran's nuclear program. China urged Israel to cease all military actions to prevent further escalation in the region.
"Make the Middle East great again": Trump advocates for a deal between Iran and Israel
"Any country that endeavors to protect the Israeli regime from Iranian operations will discover that their regional bases and positions will become new targets," the high-ranking Iranian official told CNN.
- Iran Blames US for Derailing Nuclear Deal Negotiations
- Netanyahu Appeals to Iranian People (Video)(For more in-depth insights, hop over to "More on This Topic")
Current Scenario:
The unstable situation between Israel and Iran continues to intensify, with significant military actions on both sides and a steady increase in casualties. Israeli forces have managed to obtain aerial dominance over Tehran and claim to have targeted numerous key military and strategic locations in Iran, including the Revolutionary Guard headquarters and nuclear facilities. In response, Iran has reportedly targeted Israeli cities, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries on both sides.The volatile and unpredictable nature of the conflict has led the United States to issue a Level 4 "do not travel" advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
- In the midst of war-and-conflicts, politics and general-news outlets are actively covering the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with the latest updates indicating Iran intends to escalate its assaults on Israel and target regional bases of countries defending it.
- As the conflict intensifies, crime-and-justice reports are surfacing, with accident investigations ongoing in several locations across countries involved, following boatloads of rockets being launched from Iran, some successfully intercepted.
- The unforeseen regional fallout from the war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran may have wider geopolitical repercussions, including the United States issuing a Level 4 travel advisory, suggesting travelers avoid a trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Meanwhile, global figures such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen call for all parties to de-escalate the situation.
