The strikes between Iran and Israel are becoming increasingly fierce, as for the third consecutive night, the world watches with bated breath the attacks from both sides, with Tel Aviv attacking mainly through airstrikes and Iran launching ballistic missiles.
Israel's "Rising Lion" and Iran's "True Promise" operations are in full swing, with civilians in both countries now living under constant pressure, amid the sounds of sirens across the country, as well as explosions.
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Despite the protective shield of the "Iron Dome" air defense system, Israeli residents feel, perhaps for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza, that they are not invulnerable.
The "game" is being played behind the scenes and at the highest diplomatic level, with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the European Union "coming forward" in the last few hours in a last-ditch effort for a ceasefire, something that currently seems impossible.
Iran's main oil-producing region under attack
Israel struck an area near Iran's border with Iraq with fighter jets. Air defense systems were immediately activated in the Iranian city of Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq, Iran's main oil-producing region. "A few minutes ago, air defense systems were activated in Ahvaz at various locations to deal with enemy targets," the Mehr news agency reported, amid the military escalation.
Ahvaz is a city located about 800 kilometers by road from the capital Tehran. In Iran, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult due to the incessant Israeli bombings that are intensifying day by day.
The Israeli air force also bombed an Iranian refueling plane at Mashhad airport in northeastern Iran, about 2.300 kilometers from Israel, marking the “farthest strike since the start of the operation.” “The Air Force is working to achieve air superiority over all of Iran,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
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Late at night, Iran accused Israel of "deliberately" targeting an Iranian Foreign Ministry building in Tehran, something that Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a statement.
He even promised even harsher strikes, while revealing that Israel killed the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' intelligence services, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy, General Hassan Mohaqiq.
It is worth noting that Israeli police arrested two Israelis on suspicion of "carrying out missions for Iranians in recent days," as the country is "at war with Iran," according to a statement from the police and Shin Bet, the internal security service.
Explosions in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa
Sirens warning of incoming missiles sounded in northern, central and southern Israel today after the Israeli military announced new missile attacks from Iran. The military said “multiple areas were hit” in Israel by the new barrage of Iranian missiles.
It was shortly after 8.30:XNUMX p.m. when sirens sounded again in central Israel and Jerusalem amid an Iranian missile attack. Israelis across almost the entire country were being urged to seek refuge in safe rooms and shelters.
Meanwhile, another wave of rockets was fired at the city of Haifa, with reports of a building being hit. Israelis earlier saw rockets hit a residential building in the coastal city of Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, where seven people, including two children, were killed in an earlier raid. Iran's armed forces warn Israelis to leave "vital zones" in a video broadcast on state television.
Indicative of the intense diplomatic background that prevails is the presence of Donald Trump, who on Sunday stated that he is "open" to the possibility that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could play a mediating role in the conflict between Israel and Iran, in which the US "is likely" to be involved.
An ally of Israel, Trump had called on Iran on Friday to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear program, while a new round of indirect talks was scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
Asked about possible mediation by Putin in the conflict, the Republican president replied: "He's open to it. He's ready. He called me about it and we discussed it at length. We talked about it more than his own situation."
Finally, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaia Kalas, convened an emergency videoconference of EU foreign ministers for Tuesday, on the subject of the dramatic developments in the Middle East, with Europe closely monitoring developments for fear of Israel's allied forces being involved in the war.
Source: cnn.gr
