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Two soldiers killed in Israeli airstrikes on Iran
Two soldiers were killed in Saturday morning’s Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the official news agency IRNA has reported.
Reuters carried a statement from the Iranian army which confirmed the fatalities.
The army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in defending Iran’s security and protecting the people and Iran’s interests, sacrificed two of its fighters while countering projectiles from the criminal Zionist regime.
Iranian media reported multiple explosions over several hours in Tehran, the capital, and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2am local time (2230 GMT on Friday).
At least seven explosions were reported over Tehran and nearby Karaj, as well as in the eastern city of Mashhad. The attacks were launched in retaliation to the missile barrage launched by Iran on 1 October that saw an estimated 180 ballistic missiles fired towards Tel Aviv and military bases.
Regimes from across the world have responded to the attack. UK prime minister Keir Starmer urged Iran not to respond and said the Middle East needs to “avoid further regional escalation”.
A senior US official said Israel’s “targeted and proportional strikes” should be the end of direct exchange of fire between the two countries.
Key events
German chancellor Olaf Scholz says his message to Iran is clear: “We cannot continue with massive reactions of escalation, this must end now.”
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has condemned Israel’s strikes, saying they will exacerbate violence in the Middle East.
The strikes are “an attempt to aggravate the violence in the region, which further complicates and intensifies the unfavorable situation in the region,” a statement from the Afghani foreign ministry says.
Russia urges Israel and Iran to show restraint to avoid catastrophe in the wake of Israel’s attack on Iran on Saturday.
“We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence, and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says, warning of an “explosive escalation.”
The Israeli military says that Tehran and its proxies “have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil”.
“Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond,” an Israeli army spokesperson said.
10 members of Iran’s national police force have been killed 1,200 kilometers southeast of Tehran, reports the Associated Press.
The assault came after Israel bombarded Iran early Saturday morning. No suspects have been identified nor has any group claimed responsibility.
Summary
If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of today’s developments as the fallout continues from Israel’s air attack on military sites in Iran. It’s approaching 3.15pm in Tehran and 2.45pm in Tel Aviv.
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Two soldiers were killed in Saturday morning’s Israeli airstrikes on Iran, according to the official news agency IRNA. The attacks, carried out in retaliation to the missile barrage launched by Iran on 1 October, were heard over several hours in Tehran, the capital, and at nearby military bases.
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The Israeli army has intercepted two drones crossing from Lebanon, with the interception happening hours after Israeli airstrikes hit Iran early on Saturday.
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The UK and US have warned against further escalation, while nations including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have all condemned the attacks.
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Israel bears ‘full responsibility’ for the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the Pakistan foreign ministry has said. The ministry said the Israeli airstrikes “undermine the path to regional peace and stability”.
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Iran is “entitled and obligated to defend itself against external aggressive acts”, its foreign ministry has said. The ministry called the Israeli attack a violation of international law and said that Tehran “recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security”.
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Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of Lebanon village Aita al-Shaab, and has also launched drones against an Israeli air base south of Tel Aviv. The “aerial attack with drones” against the Tel Nof base was the first claim of its kind in one year.
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At least 42,924 people have been killed since the Israel-Gaza war began, according to the health ministry in Gaza. This includes 77 deaths in the previous 48 hours.
At least 42,924 people have been killed since the Israel-Gaza war began
The health ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that at least 42,924 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October last year.
This number includes 77 deaths in the previous 48 hours, AFP has reported. According to the ministry, 100,833 people have been wounded since the Israel-Gaza war began just over a year ago.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has warned Iran against further escalation and says Israel has concluded its retaliatory strikes. See here:
The Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza has been unable to respond to emergency calls from residents in the Jabalia region, according to Al Jazeera.
Defence operations have been “completely halted due to ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression in northern Gaza”, statement published by the organisation said.
We are unable to respond to numerous pleas for help from homes that have been targeted and burned by Israeli bombardment in Jabalia and Jabalia Nazla in northern Gaza.
The region has been under siege for 22 days, and on Friday Gaza’s health ministry accused Israeli forces of storming the Kamal Adwan hospital – the last functioning facility in northern Gaza.
France calls on Israel to refrain from further escalation
France has called on Israel to “refrain” from any action which could further escalate already heightened tension in the Middle East.
Multiple explosions were heard in Tehran, the capital, and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2am local time (2230 GMT on Friday).
At least seven explosions were reported over Tehran and nearby Karaj, as well as in the eastern city of Mashhad. Official news agency IRNA reported that two soldiers were killed.
The Israeli airstrikes were carried out in retaliation to a missile barrage launched by Iran on 1 October.
In a statement issued by the Quai d’Orsay on Saturday, the French foreign ministry urged Israel to “refrain from any escalation or action likely to aggravate the context of extreme tension” in the region.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says northern Gaza’s last functioning hospital is “still under seige” but it has managed to contact staff.
On Friday Gaza’s health ministry accused Israeli forces of storming Kamal Adwan hospital in the Jabalia camp, where it launched a major operation earlier this month.
It said the raid left two children dead, accusing the Israeli forces of detaining hundreds of staff, patients and displaced people. The Israeli military said its forces were operating around Kamal Adwan, but was “not aware of live fire and strikes in the area of the hospital”.
Late on Friday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted this update on X.
Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern #Gaza is still under siege, but we managed to get in touch with the staff. Three health workers and another employee have been injured, 44 health workers have been detained and four ambulances damaged. Around 600 patients, health workers and…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 25, 2024
Iran ‘entitled and obligated to defend itself’, foreign ministry says
Iran is “entitled and obligated to defend itself against external aggressive acts”, its foreign ministry has said.
Iranian media reported multiple explosions over several hours in Tehran, the capital, and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2am local time (2230 GMT on Friday).
At least seven explosions were reported over Tehran and nearby Karaj, as well as in the eastern city of Mashhad. Official news agency IRNA reported that two soldiers were killed.
Calling the Israeli attack a violation of international law, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Tehran “recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security”.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have all condemned the attacks, while the UK and US have warned against further escalation.
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