JERUSALEM – Sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel yesterday after the army reported a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles, at least the third salvo in less than two hours. “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” a military statement said, adding in another statement about 10 minutes later that people were allowed to leave shelters.
Earlier yesterday, sirens wailed across Israel for over 30 minutes as the military warned of multiple missile barrages launched from its arch-foe.
“Search and rescue forces are operating in several locations across the country in which reports of fallen projectiles were received,” the military added.
Following the first wave, Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported no casualties “except a number of anxiety cases and people injured while seeking shelter”.
Israeli media reported an impact in the area of Ashdod in the south.
The full extent of the damage in Israel after 11 days of war with Iran is not known due to military censorship rules, but at least 50 impacts have been acknowledged nationwide and 24 people have died, according to official figures.
Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on 13 June targeting its missile and nuclear facilities, as well as military leaders and security services.
Aerial assaults raged between the two foes early yesterday, while Tehran vowed retaliation over the bunker-buster bombs American warplanes unleashed at the weekend on three nuclear sites.
Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday slammed strikes on Tehran as “unprovoked aggression” and said Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people as he hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
“This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran,” Putin told Araghchi, calling the strikes “unjustified” and adding that Russia was “making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people”.
The Kremlin Monday said it “condemns” and “regrets” US strikes on Iran over the weekend, as Russian Putin was set to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow yesterday.
“There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and, of course, we condemn this and express our deep regret in this regard,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Meanwhile, Israel’s state power company reported supply disruptions in the south of the country after damage near a “strategic infrastructure facility” on Monday, as Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles.
“Due to damage near a strategic infrastructure facility of the Israel Electric Corporation in the south of the country, disruptions in electricity supply are being reported in several communities in the area,” the IEC said in a statement, without specifying the cause.
– Nampa/AFP