As the Israel-initiated conflict with Iran intensifies with fresh exchange of missile strikes, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are preparing for a planned diplomatic meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday.
On Thursday, Iranian missile strikes caused heavy damage across central and southern Israel, including a direct hit near Soroka Medical Centre in Be’er Sheva.
Israel confirmed incoming attacks in multiple locations and responded with airstrikes targeting Iran’s Khondab nuclear facility, raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
Iranian state media reported that the Khondab heavy-water reactor had been evacuated before the Israeli strike, with no radiation risk detected.
In Holon near Tel Aviv, a missile strike seriously injured one person and wounded over two dozen others as a residential building collapsed.Israeli reports also claimed that a part of a hospital’s roof had collapsed due to shockwave from an Iranian strike, prompting an evacuation and warnings to the public to stay away.
“The military infrastructure was a precise and direct target,” IRNA reported via Telegram.
Israeli attacks on Iran have killed more than 240 people, including at least 70 women and children, according to Iranian authorities. Other media sources have reported a higher death toll on the Iranian side.
In retaliation, Iran’s missile attacks on Israel have killed at least 24 people and injured more than 800 others, according to officials in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, Iranian media state that the Israeli assault has resulted in 585 deaths and over 1,300 injuries in Iran.
UN watchdog fails to act as Israel attacks nuclear facilities in violation of international law
In a statement published by state media IRNA on Thursday, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said the attack struck both the Khondab research reactor and the adjoining heavy water complex.
Iran also revealed that repeated warnings had been submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about potential Israeli threats, but claimed the UN’s nuclear watchdog had taken no action to prevent the attacks.
