UN chief Guterres calls on Israel and Iran to de-escalate
UN Secretary General António Guterres on Friday called on Israel and Iran to urgently de-escalate.
"Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv. Enough escalation," Guterres wrote on X.
"Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail."
However, both Israel and Iran reported further attacks overnight as the war between the two arch enemies continued.
The Iranian attacks were in response to the large-scale assault launched by Israel on Thursday night.
Israel, the only nuclear power in the region, primarily targeted Iran's nuclear programme with its large-scale attack. According to Israeli reports, more than 100 targets were hit, including sites in the major cities of Tehran, Tabriz and Shiraz, as well as the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
A senior Iran researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies Danny Citrinowicz warned the consequences of the conflict could be far-reaching.
"It's important to emphasize: we are only at the beginning of what is likely to be a very different event from previous direct clashes between Israel and Iran,' he told the Wall Street Journal.
"This time, it seems to be an 'all-in' campaign, the consequences of which will be far-reaching and significant for Iran's future and the stability of the region."
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