Key points
- Israel attacks Iran’s Isfahan
- Isfahan is home to a key nuclear research centre
- British diplomats quit Tehran
ISLAMABAD: A day after Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat, Iran and Israel exchanged fresh attacks.
Iran launched an early morning missile attack on central Israel, resulting in a fire in Holon, as several Israeli attacks were reported including on Iran’s Isfahan, home to a key nuclear research centre.
Shortly after 2:30am in Israel (4:30am PKT), the Israeli military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reported.
Sirens also sounded in southern Israel, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service. An Israeli military official said Iran had fired five ballistic missiles and that there were no immediate indications of any missile impacts.
No initial casualties
There were no initial reports of casualties.
Israel said Saturday its air force had launched fresh airstrikes against missile storage and launch sites in central Iran.
A US-based NGO, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, put the death toll in Iran at 657 people, including at least civilians, citing Iranian sources and reports.
Iran said Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Authorities have not issued an updated toll since.
Two salvoes of missiles
According to AFP, Iran launched two salvoes of missiles at Israel on Friday. At least 19 people were injured in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, a local hospital said.
At least 25 people have been killed in Israel since the war began, according to Israeli authorities.
Diplomats quit Tehran
Britain said it had withdrawn its embassy staff from Iran, while Switzerland announced the temporary closure of its embassy.
“Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” the British foreign ministry said.
Switzerland cited the “highly unstable situation on the ground” for its decision. It said it would continue to fulfil its role representing US interests in Iran.
