Iranian and Israeli air forces engage in consecutive airstrikes for the third consecutive day following the suspension of nuclear negotiations.
In the midst of a raging conflict, Israel and Iran traded a barrage of missiles on a third day, ignoring calls for a ceasefire as tensions boiled over. This occurred just as U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman were abruptly terminated.
Iran alleged that Israeli strikes hit Iran's oil refineries, wiped out the intelligence chief of the Revolutionary Guard, and pummeled civilian centers. The casualty count skyrocketed in Iran since the Israeli offensive began on Friday, reaching 224 deaths and over 1,277 injuries, without distinguishing between military officials and civilians.
Meanwhile, Israel – assumed to be the only nuclear-equipped nation in the Middle East – aimed its missiles at Iran's rapidly evolving nuclear program and military leadership. Iran reported launching over 270 missiles since Friday, estimating that 22 slipped through Israel's sophisticated defenses, causing widespread destruction in residential districts and taking lives of 14 people and injuring 390 others.
Waves of missiles were launched again by Iran early Monday morning, prompting warning sirens in Israel and leading to multiple injuries after at least one missile is said to have breached Israeli defenses. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened reprisals if Israel ceased its attacks, while accusing the United States of being complicit in these attacks.
Tensions reached a fever pitch in Iran, with explosions echoing through Tehran and other cities early Sunday. In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight, pushing the national death toll to 14 since the initial airport bombings on Friday night. Israel's defense minister warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran persisted in firing missiles at Israel.
Among the key sites Israel attacked was its main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where smoke billowed into the air. Israel is believed to have also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, destroying dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran acknowledged the strike in Isfahan. The United Nations nuclear chief reported that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed, but the main centrifuge facility underground was left untouched.
Despite urgent calls to de-escalate from world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant, stating that the strikes thus far are "nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days." The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group claimed a higher death toll in Iran from Israeli strikes, reporting at least 406 people killed and 654 wounded.
Iran has suggested that it may cease retaliation if Israeli attacks come to a halt, but it stands firm in its resistance to nuclear negotiations. The volatile situation in the Middle East continues to pose a significant threat to regional stability and global energy supplies.
- War
- Iran
- Israel
- Politics
- Middle East
- Benjamin Netanyahu
Despite the urgent calls to de-escalate from world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains defiant, indicating that the ongoing missile exchanges between Iran and Israel could escalate further. In the volatile situation in the Middle East, politics in the region continue to be heavily influenced by the war-and-conflicts between Iran and Israel. The United Nations and other global powers express concerns over the impact of these conflicts on regional stability and global energy supplies.
