Cross-border attacks continue between Iran, Israel amid diplomatic push for de-escalation
Tehran: The exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran continued on Tuesday in a dangerous escalation threatening the region, amid regional and international efforts to contain the crisis.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported on Tuesday that an Israeli drone launched an attack with four missiles on an industrial area in the city of Tabriz, northwestern Iran. The agency stated, "An Israeli aggression drone targeted an industrial zone in Tabriz with four missiles, resulting in an explosion in the area." It added that Iranian air defences continue to intercept Israeli targets in the city's airspace.
Meanwhile, an Iranian security official announced on Tuesday the downing of an Israeli drone in the Kashan area of Isfahan province, near the Natanz nuclear facility. Akbar Salahi, the security deputy of Isfahan's governor, told reporters that locally made "3 Khordad" air defence systems intercepted an Israeli drone in one of the defensive layers around the Natanz nuclear site, in addition to shooting down several small flying objects in Isfahan.
The fortified Natanz facility had previously been targeted in multiple attacks by Israel last Friday, leading to radioactive and chemical contamination that "did not leak outside the facility," according to Iranian authorities.
In another development, an Israeli strike on the headquarters of Iran's state television in Tehran on Monday killed at least three people, according to a toll broadcast by the station on Tuesday. The channel reported that "three television employees were killed and others were wounded in the Israeli attack," without specifying the number of injuries.
On the other hand, Israeli media reported that Iran launched a missile barrage this morning, hitting several areas in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Herzliya, causing casualties and material damage. Israeli outlets stated that Herzliya came under intense missile fire, with between 20 and 30 missiles launched from Iran, one of which directly struck an eight-storey residential building, causing significant damage and thick plumes of smoke. Israeli emergency services reported that 10 people were injured while heading to shelters following the missile launches.
Tehran and other Iranian cities have been under widespread attack by Israeli forces since last Friday, with Iran responding with repeated missile strikes on Israeli territory.
Amid the escalating tensions, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and de-escalation efforts with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The GCC Secretariat General stated in a statement on Tuesday that the two officials reviewed several regional and international issues of mutual concern, primarily the developments in the war between Israel and Iran and ongoing efforts to achieve calm and enhance security and stability.
Al-Budaiwi affirmed the GCC states' commitment to supporting international and UN efforts, as reflected in the statement issued by the 48th extraordinary ministerial meeting of the GCC held on Monday regarding regional developments. He stressed that the ministerial statement emphasised the necessity of an immediate ceasefire to preserve regional security and stability, urging all parties to work jointly toward de-escalation and adopt diplomacy as an effective means to resolve conflicts while exercising maximum restraint to spare the region and its people the dangers of war.
For his part, Guterres commended the GCC's positive role in supporting de-escalation efforts and promoting regional security, according to the statement. He reiterated the UN's aspiration to strengthen cooperation with the GCC in various priority areas.
Separately, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations called for de-escalation and a "broader cessation of hostilities" in the Middle East. In a statement following a meeting in Canada last night (Monday), the G7 leaders said, "We, the G7 leaders, reaffirm our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as the importance of protecting civilians."
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