The Israeli Army on Monday said it has taken control of the airspace over Tehran city amid escalating tension in the region.
“We can now say that we have achieved full air superiority in the skies over Tehran,” military spokesperson Effie Defrin told a press conference as quoted by DW.
Defrin said more than 50 fighter jets and precision missiles had struck over 120 launch pads of the ballistic missiles that had been launched in Israel’s direction since Friday.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has clarified ‘paying the price’ remark and wrote on X: “The residents of Tehran will be forced to pay the price of the dictatorship and evacuate their homes from areas where it will be necessary to attack regime targets and security infrastructure in Tehran.”
“We will continue to protect the residents of Israel,” he said.
Eight Die in Israel
At least eight people died after Iranian missiles hit several cities in Israel on Monday, media reports said.
Four people were killed in Petah Tivka, three in Haifa, and another person in Bnei Brak, reported The Times of Israel.
The Health Ministry told the newspaper that 287 people were hospitalised nationwide as a result of the Iranian missiles hitting Israel.
UN rights chief Volker Türk has condemned the ferocious escalation of violence in the Middle East sparked by Israel’s massive attacks across Iran last Friday.
“The military escalation between Israel and Iran is deeply worrying,” he told the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva this morning. “I join all those appealing for de-escalation and urgent diplomatic negotiations to end these attacks and find a way forward. And I call for full respect of international law by both sides, in particular the protection of civilians in densely populated areas.”
US Embassy in Tel Aviv suffers damage
The US Embassy in Israel’s capital Tel Aviv, suffered minor damage during an Iranian missile attack overnight, envoy Mike Huckabee confirmed on Monday.
No US diplomat or other staff members were injured in the incident.
He wrote on X: “Our @usembassyjlm US Embassy in Israel & Consulate will officially remain closed today as shelter in place still in effect. Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in @TelAviv but no injuries to US personnel.”
Donald Trump says Iran should reach a deal
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Iran and Israel should reach a deal amid the ongoing conflict that escalated on Friday, but suggested that the two nations need to ‘fight it out’ first.
“I hope there’s going to be a deal. I think it’s time for deal and we’ll see what happens, but sometimes they have to fight it out,” Trump was quoted as saying by CNN.
“I think there’s a good chance there will be a deal,” he told reporters before leaving for the G7 Summit in Canada.
