On Friday morning, Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, which it insisted were necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The airstrikes were coordinated with targeted assassinations of senior Iranian military officials.
Iran confirmed that the attacks killed Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, along with several nuclear scientists.
Iran’s envoy to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, stated that 78 people were killed and 320 others injured.
Tehran retaliated with dozens of ballistic missiles fired into Israel, at least some of which penetrated air defenses, according to videos circulating online.
US President Donald Trump said he had prior knowledge of the Israeli operation and called on Iran to conclude a new nuclear deal. Tehran, however, said Israel’s actions had closed the path to diplomacy and announced the suspension of nuclear talks with the US.
West Jerusalem declared that Tehran’s retaliation “crossed all red lines,” while subsequent reports from Iran suggested a new round of Israeli military action.
Credit: RT News