Israel launched a pre-emptive military strike on Iran on Saturday, escalating tensions in the Middle East and reducing hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with Western countries.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the attack aimed to remove threats to Israel’s security. Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran, though details of damage or casualties were not immediately available.
The strike followed a 12-day air conflict between Israel and Iran in June and came after repeated warnings from Israel and the United States that further action would be taken if Iran continued developing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The United States and Iran resumed negotiations in February to resolve the decades-old nuclear dispute and avoid a broader military confrontation.
Israel has insisted that any agreement must include dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and limiting its missile programme. Iran, however, has said it is willing to discuss restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief but refuses to include its missile programme in negotiations.
Tehran also warned it would defend itself against any attack and threatened retaliation against US bases in neighbouring countries if Washington joins military action.
In June, the United States joined Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, marking its most direct military action against Iran. In response, Iran launched missiles toward a major US air base in Qatar.
Western countries say Iran’s ballistic missile programme threatens regional security and could be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking to develop atomic bombs.
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