Israel and Iran continue to exchange air strikes on the ninth day of the conflict. In an overnight assault, Israel continued its military operation against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israeli military said it launched a series of strikes against missile storage and infrastructure sites in central Iran. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said a senior Iranian commander, Saeed Izadi, has been killed in a strike on an apartment in the city of Qom.
Iranian state media also reported an Israeli attack on a nuclear facility in Isfahan in the early hours today. News agencies do not report any leakage of hazardous material caused by the attack. Iran’s air defences reportedly responded to the attack. However, there is no update yet from the IAEA on the facility’s status.
Iran also fired a barrage of missiles that hit near industrial facilities in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba and the northern city of Haifa. According to Israeli emergency service, there were potential impacts in Tel Aviv, Beersheba and Haifa. At least 23 people were injured in Haifa.
The developments come after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country was ready to consider diplomacy only after the aggression is stopped and Israel is held accountable for the heinous crimes committed. His statement came after his hours-long talks with his counterparts from the UK, EU, Germany and France in Geneva yesterday. Meanwhile, the talks did not yield the outcome they wanted. Araghchi added that Iran’s nuclear programme was peaceful, and said Iran’s defence capabilities are non-negotiable.
Iranian state media, citing the country’s Health Ministry, said that at least 430 civilians have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel launched its attack. However, according to Israeli authorities, 24 people have been killed in Iranian missile attacks.
Meanwhile, the White House has said, the US President will decide in the next fortnight whether to take direct US action in Israel-Iran conflict.
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