The Iranian military has claimed it carried out fresh attacks on US and Israeli targets using more than 40 missiles, while also destroying 10 drones during the operation.
According to international news agencies, Iranian officials said the strikes were launched in response to recent attacks by the United States and Israel. The Iranian military stated that American bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain were among the targets during the retaliatory operation.
An Iranian military spokesperson said that more than 40 missiles were fired at US and Israeli targets, adding that 10 drones belonging to the two countries were also shot down during the confrontation.
The spokesperson further warned that if the United States and Israel attempt a regime change in Iran, Tehran could target Israel’s nuclear facilities.
EXPLOSIONS IN JERUSALEM
AFP adds: The Israeli military confirmed that Iran launched several rounds of missiles at Israel early Thursday, triggering alerts in multiple areas and explosions heard in Jerusalem, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.
After a lull of more than seven hours, Israel’s military issued three separate alerts warning of Iranian missile fire in under two hours.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB also reported the launches.
AFP reporters in Jerusalem heard explosions following the third reported launch.
But Israel’s emergency services, Magen David Adom, said it had received no reports of casualties following Thursday’s early rocket fire, and the military has cleared people to leave their shelters.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed it targeted a military base south of Tel Aviv. The group said the strike was carried out using a drone aimed at an Israeli Iron Dome radar system.
Earlier, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Beirut on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring six others.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has also severely disrupted air travel across the region. Over the past five days, more than 20,000 flights across eight countries have reportedly been cancelled due to the growing security situation.
Flight schedules indicate that flights from Pakistan to Middle Eastern destinations were affected for the sixth consecutive day, with a total of 145 flights cancelled.
Separately, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces intercepted and shot down three cruise missiles approaching near Al-Kharj city, adding that no casualties were reported due to the swift response.
MORE THAN 1,000 CIVILIANS INCLUDING 181 CHILDREN DIE IN IRAN: HRANA
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in the US-Israeli bombings of Iran since Saturday, including 181 children under the age of ten, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
The rights group said it had aggregated reports of 1,097 civilian deaths and more than 5,000 injuries so far in the war that began in the early hours of Saturday morning with a massive wave of airstrikes across the country that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian military and political leaders.
It said an additional 880 reported deaths were currently under review for verification and classification.
