Iran launches new wave of missile attacks on Israel
Iran and Israel targeted each other with airstrikes after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against its long time foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the country's two largest cities before dawn, sending residents rushing into shelters. The military said its air defence systems were operating, seeking to intercept Iranian missiles.
"In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the state of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted," the Israeli military said.
It said rescue teams were operating at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported, without commenting on casualties.
Several explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem. It was unclear whether Iranian strikes or Israeli defensive measures were behind the activity.
Iran's Fars news agency said Iran launched a third wave of airstrikes today after two salvos last night.
Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early yesterday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites.
Israel's ambulance service said 34 people were injured last night in the Tel Aviv area, most with minor injuries. Police later said one person had died.
The US military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel, two US officials said.
Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles yesterday and that most were intercepted or fell short. Several buildings in and around Tel Aviv were hit.
The Israeli strikes on Iran throughout the day and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel.
Trump says it is not too late
Iran's state news agency IRNA said Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders.
Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.
Israeli officials said it may be some time before the extent of damage at Natanz was clear.
Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium there to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use.
The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz has been destroyed, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council. He said the UN was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war. A senior Iranian official said nowhere in Israel would be safe and revenge would be painful.
Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians.
He accused the US of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences.
Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. He called Israel's operation "an act of national preservation."
Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. The UN nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Iran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear programme.
Iran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Mr Trump abandoned in 2018. Iran rejected the last US offer.
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Irish Times
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