Israel and Iran intensified their strikes as the deadly conflict between both the countries entered its fifth day. As rounds of Iranian missile attacks were detected, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) repeatedly advised citizens to seek shelter while Iran’s air defenses were activated above Tehran.
Israel launched an attack on Iran’s state television network, IRINN, disrupting a live broadcast. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the company that operates IRINN, reported that one staffer was killed. Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA confirmed that two persons were killed.
According to state-affiliated Nour News, fires that were raging in the IRIB building after the incident have since been contained.
A “communication center that was being used for military purposes by the Iranian Armed Forces” was the target of an airstrike, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the operation, the IDF claimed to have “provided an effective advanced warning to the civilian population.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that his country’s strikes have significantly set back Iran’s nuclear program. “I estimate we are sending them back a very, very long time,” he said speaking at a press conference.
The number of casualties is growing. Since the start of the conflict on Friday, 24 people have died in Israel. 224 people have been killed in Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump departed the G7 summit one day early to return to Washington “because of what’s going on in the Middle East,” the White House said. Trump emphasised the threat to Tehran’s 10 million residents by urging Iranians to leave the city.
French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the United States has made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. However, Trump is refuting claims that he left the G7 summit early in order to negotiate a ceasefire between the two countries.
In an interview with ABC News on Monday night, Netanyahu suggested that he wasn’t going to rule out the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would “end the conflict” between the two Middle East enemies and prevent nuclear war.
According to reports, Trump has vetoed a plan by Israel to kill Khamenei.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the Group of 7 (G7) leaders called for a solution to the Middle East problem, which an official with knowledge of the situation claimed was released with Trump’s approval. CNN contacted The White House for a comment.
The G7 summit this year is being held in Kananaskis, Alberta in Canada. The three-day summit started on Sunday.