Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday night and into Saturday in retaliation for Israel’s surprise attack on its nuclear facilities and military leadership.
The Iranian strikes have killed several persons in Israel, and injured at least 20 persons, according to international press. Reports have emerged of people trapped under the rubble of buildings in Tel Aviv, as well as homes destroyed or damaged. Rescue crews are responding in areas hit.
Meanwhile and in Iran, at least 78 were killed by Israeli strikes, including senior military officials, according to Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani. Over 320 were injured, most of them civilians.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said late Friday that Iran had “crossed red lines” by targeting populated areas, and promised it would “pay a very heavy price.” That being said, Israel’s military points out that most of the surface-to-surface missiles were intercepted, with the help of the U.S.
Iran, in turn, stated it would escalate attacks on Israel and would target regional bases of any country that attempts to defend it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran on Friday that “more is coming.”
Nuclear Talks
A sixth round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran was set to begin on Sunday. Former U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters the talks remain scheduled, although he is unsure whether they will actually take place. Speaking on the attacks, President Trump told The Wall Street Journal he was aware of Israel’s plans to attack Iran: “Heads-up? It wasn’t a heads-up. It was, we know what’s going on.” Earlier, he urged Iran’s leadership to make a deal “before there is nothing left.”
Iran, however, now deems such negotiations “pointless.”
Israel has long pushed for a military solution to Iran’s nuclear program. On Friday, it claimed Tehran was advancing a “secret nuclear weapons program” and was closer than ever to acquiring a bomb. Iran continues to insist it is not building a nuclear weapon and that its nuclear program is strictly for energy purposes.
