Israel threatens to make Tehran 'burn' after Iranian retaliatory strikes
Iran and Israel traded missiles and air strikes on Saturday, the day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against its old enemy, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it building an atomic weapon.
In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that about 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex, with more strikes reported across the country. Israel said it had attacked more than 150 targets.
In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them. At least three people were killed overnight. An Israeli official said Iran had fired about 200 ballistic missiles in four waves.
US President Donald Trump has lauded Israel's strikes and warned of much worse to come unless Iran quickly accepts the sharp downgrading of its nuclear programme that the US has demanded in talks that had been due to resume on Sunday.
But with Israel saying its operation could last weeks, and urging Iran's people to rise up against their Islamic clerical rulers, fears have grown of a regional conflagration dragging in outside powers.
The US, Israel's main ally, helped shoot down Iranian missiles, two US officials said.
'If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,' Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said.
Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases.
Tehran warned Israel's allies that their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported.
However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran's strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation.
Gulf Arab states that have long mistrusted Iran but fear coming under attack in any wider conflict have urged calm as worries about disruption to the Gulf region's crucial oil exports boosted the price of crude by about 7% on Friday.
Iranian general and MP Esmail Kosari said the country was seriously reviewing whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, the outlet for oil shipped from the Gulf.
NIGHT OF BLASTS AND FEAR IN ISRAEL AND IRAN
Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said.
In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home.
In the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: 'We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful.'
The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza.
In Iran, Israel's two days of strikes destroyed residential apartment buildings, killing families and neighbours as apparent collateral damage in strikes targeting scientists and senior officials in their beds.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ There are some double standards because some countries like countries like France, Spain, and the United Kingdom individually have more visa overstays than Libya, Chad, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea combined. The African Union (AU) released a statement in response to the travel bans urging the Trump administration to make decisions in a 'manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing partnership between the United States and Africa.' The statement further encouraged the US government to 'consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned.'The travel ban, which disproportionately affects African countries, is a continuation of the Trump administration's negative posture towards Africa. In the last six months, the Trump administration has liquidated the US Agency for International Development (USAID) which was distributing considerable amounts of aid in Africa and helping mitigate poverty. It has also indicated that it will withdraw its funding from Africa's premier multilateral development bank – the African Development Bank (AfDB). This will undermine the bank's efforts to fight poverty and underdevelopment in the continent. Moreover, Trump has also abolished the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which gave millions of African citizens infected by HIV access to critical medication. It is widely expected that Trump will not renew the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) when it expires in September. Since 2000, eligible African countries have been able to access the lucrative US export market duty-free. In this context, the travel ban is not surprising. It is a xenophobic and racist policy that unfairly shifts the blame for the US' security problems to foreigners from poor countries. Trump's campaign for office was partly based on the demonisation of immigrants as criminals and a threat to the US. It perpetuates a negative stereotype of African countries as failed states that are a threat to the United States without any concrete evidence. This is linked to his outlandish claims of a white genocide in South Africa which he has peddled without any shred of evidence. Such a characterization of Africa from the world's most powerful office greatly undermines the work that is being done to promote the continent as a safe investment destination. During his first term, Trump grotesquely described African countries as 'shithole' countries. His treatment of Africa shows that he has not changed his mind. He treats Africa with obvious disdain. It is important that Africa develops a common position and becomes more assertive towards the Trump administration. He may have targeted a few countries in the continent but the impact of his statements will be felt beyond those countries. * Dr. Sizo Nkala is a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Africa-China Studies. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
