The Unyielding Conflict: A Ghostly Tehran Under Siege
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Trump pledges to completely eliminate Tehran's ghostly urban area - Trump advocates for complete termination - deserted city of Tehran
The current scenario paints a picture of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with Trump calling for a "real end" to Iran's nuclear program rather than a mere truce. While returning from the G7 summit in Canada, Trump proclaimed, "I want an end, a real end, not a ceasefire, an end." Experts opine that Israel would need a high-tech bunker-busting bomb, only in possession of the US, to eliminate the deeply buried Iranian nuclear facility at Fordo.
In the fifth day of this relentless war, both sides have continued to engage with unabated fury. In Israel, casualties stand at 24 deaths and 600 injuries, according to government reports. The death toll in Iran, however, is kept underwraps due to censorship, making it likely that the actual number runs much higher. Iran has reportedly lost around 20 high-ranking military officials.
Tehran, the vibrant capital housing 15 million residents, has sadly transformed into a desolate, forlorn city. Many residents have fled, and those who remain struggle to find supplies as supermarkets are largely shorn of their stock. Internet access is severely limited.
Reports suggest that Israel's air force has struck the north of Tehran once more. Witnesses report a powerful explosion in a well-populated, upscale district, marked by affluent shopping centers. Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has hinted at further substantial attacks, declaring that "very significant targets" will be struck, with more than ten nuclear facilities in the Tehran area on the hit list.
When questioned about US participation in the war, Katz affirmed, "The State of Israel is conducting this fight with its own forces." Although the US has yet to officially join the conflict, they have been involved in offering Israel defense support.
The intensity of Iranian rocket attacks on Israel appears to be dwindling, according to Israeli military sources. Iran has launched around 400 ballistic rockets and hundreds of drones since Friday, but their frequency has lessened lately. Israeli troops have managed to destroy many rockets while they were still en route to their targeted positions, and now possess significant freedom of action in Iranian airspace.
The US is reportedly bolstering its military presence in the Middle East since Trump's decision is considered one of the most crucial in recent US foreign policy history. Experts caution that US involvement could potentially intensify the regional conflict, as the EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas points out in Brussels, that "if the United States becomes involved, it will definitely draw the region into a larger conflict, and that is not in anyone’s interest."
In an act of retaliation, the US is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, along with deploying dozens of tanker aircraft to Europe, for quick deployment to the Middle East if needed. The primary focus appears to be on protecting US troops stationed in the region.
Israel claims it is waging war to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. In a recent online post, Trump called for Iran to sign the agreement he proposed regarding the Iranian nuclear program, deeming it a "waste of lives." Tension escalated further when Trump subsequently stated that Iran was "very close" to having a nuclear weapon, contradicting previous US intelligence assessments.
The G7 summit leaders surprising agreed on a joint statement, branding Iran as "the primary source of regional instability and terrorism" and stressing Israel's right to self-defense. They expressed their opposition to Iran ever acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Fordo is considered the primary target, according to Israeli reports. The well-protected facility near the city of Ghom is considered crucial in preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, told Fox News that, "At the end of this entire operation, Fordo must be neutralized." According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, centrifuges at Fordo spin at near supersonic speeds, generating up to 60% pure uranium suitable for nuclear weapons.
[1] Extensive Israeli Airstrikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites and Regime Figures[2] Iran's Retaliatory Missile Attacks Damaging Cities and Critical Infrastructure in Israel[3] Structural Dynamics in Iranian Regional Influence Over the Past Decade
The European Union, despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts and political turmoil between Israel and Iran, remains committed to a comprehensive and comprehensive policy on the environment. In the midst of the general-news regarding the escalating war, it's crucial for global politics to also address environmental concerns and prevent any potential long-term damage to the region's ecosystem.
