SANA
Israeli aircraft launched large-scale strikes on Friday on a number of targets in Iranian territory, killing Iranian military commanders and damaging several facilities.
Following the attack, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced in a statement this morning the death of its commander, Major General Hossein Salami. Iranian media also reported the deaths of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and six Iranian nuclear scientists as a result of the Israeli attack.
After the Israeli military announced that dozens of fighter jets had launched an opening strike in the heart of Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement asserting that Iran had the right to respond to the attack in any manner it chose, calling on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to address the violation of international peace and security and condemn the Israeli attack.
Following this, Israeli Army Radio indicated that a potential Iranian response could occur within hours and that the first strike could include the launch of hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared a state of emergency in preparation for this.
In this context, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, announced that the agency is closely monitoring the situation and has been in contact with its inspectors in Iran and Israel to ensure the safety of its staff. He also stated that Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility was not affected by the Israeli attack, calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Arab and foreign international reactions to the current tensions continued, with countries expressing concern over the continued escalation and its repercussions for security and stability in the region. They called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent further escalation and avert risks in the region.
Iman / Noura / Fedaa
