TEL AVIV: Iran and Israel focused one another with airstrikes early on Saturday (Jun 14) after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against its long-time foe in a bid to stop it from growing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the nation’s two largest cities earlier than daybreak, sending residents speeding into shelters. The navy mentioned its air defence programs have been working, looking for to intercept Iranian missiles.
“Within the final hour, dozens of missiles have been launched on the state of Israel from Iran, a few of which have been intercepted,” the Israeli navy mentioned.
It mentioned rescue groups have been working at quite a lot of areas throughout the nation the place fallen projectiles have been reported, with out commenting on casualties.
A number of explosions have been heard within the Iranian capital Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim information company reported.
The Fars information company mentioned two projectiles hit Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, and Iranian media mentioned flames have been reported there. Near key Iranian management websites, the airport hosts an air drive base with fighter jets and transport plane.
Israeli media mentioned a suspected missile got here down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud growth in Jerusalem. It was unclear whether or not Iranian strikes or Israeli defensive measures have been behind the exercise.
The Fars information company mentioned Tehran launched a 3rd wave of airstrikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night.
These have been in response to Israel’s assaults on Iran early on Friday in opposition to commanders, nuclear scientists, navy targets and nuclear websites.
In central Tel Aviv, a high-rise constructing was hit throughout a wave of the missile assaults, damaging the decrease third of the construction, which stands in a densely populated city space. An condo block in close by Ramat Gan was destroyed.
Israel’s ambulance service mentioned 34 folks have been injured on Friday evening within the Tel Aviv space, most with minor accidents. Police later mentioned one particular person had died.
America navy helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two US officers mentioned.
Israel’s navy mentioned Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and that the majority have been intercepted or fell brief. A number of buildings in and round Tel Aviv have been hit.
The Israeli strikes on Iran all through the day and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, though Iran’s allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel.
