Iran responds with counterattacks following Israeli assaults on its nuclear facilities and military installations
In a bold move, Israel has launched extensive attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, raising concerns of a full-blown war between the two nations. According to Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is using his citizens as hostages and will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli civilians.
The assault involved warplanes and drones smuggled into Iran, targeting key facilities, top generals, and scientists. The Iranian government reports 78 deaths and over 320 injuries, although experts and the US government suggest that Tehran was not actively working on a nuclear weapon before the strikes.
Iran responded with waves of drones and ballistic missiles, causing explosions across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shaking buildings. The Israeli military ordered civilians to shelter, adding to the two-year-long strain caused by Hamas' October 2023 attack.
These strikes have cast doubt over nuclear talks scheduled between the United States and Iran. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman called further talks with the US "meaningless" after the Israeli attacks, but the talks have not yet been officially cancelled.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed retaliation, and Iranian citizens woke up to repeated state television clips of strikes on Israel, along with videos of people celebrating and handing out sweets. Israel reported additional drones intercepted near the Dead Sea early Saturday.
The crossfire has disrupted East-West travel through the Middle East, a key global aviation route, but Jordan's airspace is expected to reopen on Saturday. Key sites attacked include Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz and a second, smaller facility in Fordo. Israel stated that it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan and destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.
Israel's ongoing airstrikes and Iran's retaliation have fueled fears of a full-scale war, prompting numerous calls for de-escalation from countries and leaders worldwide. Despite this, the U.S. maintains its position that Iran must dismantle its enrichment facilities for any agreement to be viable.
Past year, Israel has targeted Iran's air defenses, and the initial wave of strikes has reportedly provided Israel with significant freedom of movement in Iran's skies, paving the way for further attacks. The duration of the potential operation remains unclear, but Israel is prepared for an operation that could last up to two weeks.
The strikes resulted in the deaths of several top military leaders in Iran, sparking warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump that the attacks will only worsen. The current status of the nuclear talks between the United States and Iran remains uncertain, with Iran seeking a ceasefire before resuming diplomacy.
- France, Russia, and the United States have expressed concerns over the escalating war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran, urging both nations to engage in international politics and de-escalate the situation.
- Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities have complicated the general-news landscape, with the ongoing war-and-conflicts impacting East-West travel through the Middle East and prompting calls for de-escalation from various countries and leaders worldwide.
- While Iran has vowed retaliation against Israel, the United States has maintained its stance that Iran must dismantle its enrichment facilities for any agreement to be viable in future politics.
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts, discussions between the United States and Israel on their joint approach towards Russia and its stance on the conflict have become crucial, as both nations seek to maintain strategic diplomatic relationships in the region.
