New Delhi: As the conflict between Iran and Israel enters its second week, the US has joined in on Israel’s side, launching strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran early Sunday.
Iran confirmed the US strikes while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced an emergency meeting Monday.
US President Donald Trump has claimed the US strikes have “completely and fully obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran airspace. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home,” he posted on X early Sunday, congratulating “great American Warriors” and saying “now is the time for peace”.
Israel and Iran entered into open conflict on 12-13 June, after years of simmering tensions, with the first blow struck by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which initiated “Operation Rising Lion” and launched “pre-emptive strikes” against Iranian nuclear sites, its military leadership and nuclear scientists. Iran responded with missile strikes of its own.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed the 12 June attack on Iran as a “decisive moment in Israel’s history” and said the operation would continue for as long as necessary, while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel faces a “bitter and painful” fate in the wake of its offensive.
Netanyahu also congratulated Trump for his “bold decision” to strike Iran, asserting that the US’s stance will “change history”. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, accused the US of committing a “grave violation of international law”.
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