In a bold move, Israel carried out direct strikes against military targets in Iran early Saturday, marking a significant escalation in tensions following a ballistic missile barrage from Tehran earlier this month. According to Israeli military sources, the strikes specifically targeted militaray installations, avoiding energy infrastructure.
In response, Iran has asserted its right to defend itself, although state media has reported minimal damage at the targeted sites in three provinces, with two Iranian soldiers confirmed dead.
A senior official from the U.S. administration revealed that President Joe Biden had encouraged Israel to carefully plan its response to prevent further escalation. World leaders are urging both Israel and Iran to avoid igniting a wider regional conflict.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli forces detained male staff members during a raid at Kamal Adwan Hospital, which the UN human rights chief has condemned as part of a broader campaign of bombardment and siege on the region.
*Biden Expresses Hope for De-escalation*
President Biden expressed hope that the Israeli strikes would signal an end to the recent cycle of escalation in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia, he noted, “It looks like they didn’t hit anything other than military targets. My hope is this is the end.” Biden confirmed he had been briefed on the strikes and emphasized that while the U.S. was not directly involved, there had been close consultations with Israel.
*WHO Reports Heavy Costs from Gaza Hospital Raid*
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a recent Israeli raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital came at a “heavy cost,” with around 44 male healthcare workers detained. The hospital director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, shared that his son was killed by Israeli shelling while attempting to assess the situation. The WHO’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the conditions in northern Gaza as “catastrophic,” urging that hospitals must be protected during conflicts.
*Global Leaders Urge Restraint*
European leaders have reacted with concern to the escalation. France’s foreign ministry called for all parties to refrain from actions that could worsen the already tense situation, while Switzerland condemned the violence and emphasized the need for hostilities to cease. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of minimizing casualties and called for an end to Iran’s aggressive responses.
As the conflict intensifies, both Israel and Iran remain on high alert, with the potential for further military actions looming large.
