Israel has initiated widespread attacks on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military leaders, escalating tensions between the two adversaries in the Middle East. The strikes are part of a larger operation to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, according to Israeli officials.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised a severe response to the attack after several Iranian commanders and six nuclear scientists were killed. Israel has reported that Tehran retaliated with over 100 drones.

Key Points:

• Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu labeled the strikes as a 'targeted military operation' to eliminate the Iranian threat to Israel's existence.
• Iranian state media confirmed that top military leaders, including Hossein Salami, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, were killed in the attacks.
• US President Donald Trump emphasized that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons and expressed support for Israel's actions.

These strikes have drawn international concern, with the International Atomic Energy Agency closely monitoring the situation. The agency has emphasized the importance of safeguarding nuclear facilities and preventing further escalation.

Various airlines, including Lufthansa and Aeroflot, have suspended flights to and from Tehran, highlighting the impact of the conflict on air travel in the region.

International Response and Condemnation:

Leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and prioritize peace in the region. The attacks have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for restraint from global leaders.

Iran has vowed to respond strongly to the Israeli strikes, emphasizing the need to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities in the face of aggression.

As the situation unfolds, the world watches closely to see how the conflict between Israel and Iran will impact the broader Middle East region.

Source: The Irish Times