Israel and Iran launch fresh strikes as conflict enters second week

ITV News

3 hours ago

Israel and Iran launched fresh strikes in the early hours of Saturday morning as the conflict enters its second week.
It comes as Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran would not negotiate while Israel's attacks continue.
His comments followed a meeting with foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany on Friday, which failed to make progress in de-escalating the conflict.
'Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes,' he told reporters.
He added that any attack on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities would be a grave breach of international law, reiterating that Tehran's defensive capabilities are "not negotiable".
No date was set for the next round of talks.
Following the meeting, US President Donald Trump said Europe can't help in brokering an end to the conflict, adding that it is a "very hard" request to ask Israel to stop.
He added: "It's a little bit hard to get somebody to stop," saying, "Israel's doing very well in terms of war, and I think you would say that Iran is doing less well."
He said Iran "doesn't want to speak to Europe" and that the country "wants to speak to us".
He adds: "Europe is not going to be able to help at this point".
Early on Saturday, Iranian missiles were intercepted over Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank.
An Iranian nuclear site was also targeted by Israel, according to reports from local media.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue 'for as long as it takes' to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear programme and arsenal of ballistic missiles.
Israel's top general echoed the warning, saying the Israeli military was ready 'for a prolonged campaign.'
However, Iran's underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility is considered to only be reachable by America's 'bunker-buster' bombs.
Earlier this week, Trump said he will make a decision on US military action in Iran "within two weeks".
The conflict erupted on June 13, with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists.
At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.
Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates.
Most have been shot down by Israel's multitiered air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.