Iran’s health ministry reported on Sunday that 224 people have been killed since Israel started its attacks on Friday. Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said on social media that 1,277 others were hospitalised. He stressed that over 90% of the casualties were civilians.
The situation between the two nations escalated when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military sites. These attacks killed several top generals and nuclear scientists. Both countries have shown no sign of stopping, raising fears of a long conflict.
Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, the intelligence chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and his deputy, General Hassan Mohaqiq, have been killed in Israeli airstrike on Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in an interview with Fox News.
Israel says 14 people have been killed and 390 injured within its borders since the attacks began. According to news agency Reuters, Iran has fired over 270 missiles at Israel, some of which struck buildings despite Israel’s air defences.
ISRAEL AND IRAN ISSUE WARNINGS
Israel warned Iranians living near weapons factories to leave immediately. Meanwhile, Iran’s military warned Israelis not to stay near “occupied” areas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said from Bat Yam, where six people died in a missile strike, “Iran will pay a heavy price for the murder of civilians, women and children.”
The Israeli airstrikes have hit not only military sites but also Iranian oil refineries. Iran’s Foreign Ministry building was also struck, injuring several employees, including government officials.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the United States for supporting Israel and warned that if Israel’s “hostile actions” continue, Iran’s response “will be more decisive and severe.”
Israel claims its attacks aim to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, Iran denies the claims, saying its nuclear program is peaceful. Netanyahu said in a Fox News interview that regime change in Iran “could certainly be the result” of the conflict. He also alleged that Iran planned to give nuclear weapons to its allies in Yemen.
With inputs from Associated Press
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