Israel declares nationwide emergency after bombing Iranian nuclear, military sites
JERUSALEM, June 13 — Israeli military source says Israel targeting Iran nuclear plant, military sites.
Earlier today, Israel declared a state of emergency, warning of reliatory action from Tehran after the Israelis launched a 'preemptive strike' on Iran.
'Following Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate term,' a statement from the Israeli defence ministry said.
'Therefore, and in accordance with his authority under the Civil Defense Law, Defence Minister Israel Katz has now signed a special order, according to which a special state of emergency will be imposed in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel.' — AFP
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New Straits Times
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State media said civilians, including women and children, were killed, while an emergency services official said 95 people had been wounded. Tasnim news agency said six nuclear scientists were among the dead. 'Scathing response' Civilians, including women and children, were killed in today's attack. (EPA Images pic) Tehran's streets were deserted except for queues at petrol stations, a familiar sight in times of crisis. 'How much longer are we going to live in fear?' asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree. 'As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response.' Air traffic was halted at Tehran's main gateway, Imam Khomeini International Airport, while Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspace. Israel declared a state of emergency, and hours later, the Jordanian military said its aircraft and air defence systems intercepted 'a number of missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace'. 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'Within reach' US secretary of state Marco Rubio warned Iran not to respond to Israeli strikes by hitting US bases, saying Washington was not involved. With the violence raising questions on whether a sixth round of talks planned between the US and Iran would still take place on Sunday in Oman, Trump said Washington is still 'hoping to get back to the negotiating table'. Confirming Natanz had been among Israel's targets, the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said it was 'closely monitoring' the situation as the Israeli military said it hit the underground uranium enrichment centrifuges at the site. 'Most of the damage is on the surface level,' said the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, adding that there had been 'no casualties' at the facility. 'Extremist' Israel sees Iran as an existential threat, and Netanyahu has vowed less restraint since the unprecedented Oct 7, 2023 attack by Tehran-backed Hamas, which triggered the war in Gaza. Since the Hamas attack, Iran and Israel have traded direct attacks for the first time. Israel again called for global action after the IAEA accused Iran yesterday of non-compliance with its obligations. Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, slammed the resolution as 'extremist', while Tehran said it would launch a new enrichment facility in a secure location. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, far above the 3.67% limit set by a largely moribund 2015 agreement with major powers, but still short of the 90% threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.
