The explosion was heard in Tehran early Wednesday as Israeli airstrikes again targeted the Iranian capital.
In its last update issued Monday, Iran has not made public its regular death toll during the conflict.
Iran retaliated against Israel’s airstrike campaign by launching around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones in Israel. So far, 24 people have died in Israel.
China’s XI wants to get out of escalation “as soon as possible”
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the removal of tensions in the Middle East “as soon as possible,” saying “China is deeply concerned as Israeli military operations against Iran have caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East.”
When visiting Kazakh capital Astana late Tuesday, XI added that China “opposes actions that violate the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.”
He added: “China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.”
China has already called on all its people to leave Iran, and Iran has long maintained close trade and political ties.
The first deportation flight carrying a stuck Israelis arrives in Tel Aviv
Two flights from Larnaca in Cyprus landed at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning, airport spokesman Lisa Dobill said it marked the first flight to bring Israelis back overseas since the Israeli-Iran conflict began.
The footage showed the first plane gliding through the tarmac after landing in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Minister of Transport Mili Regev greeted the captain of the airport’s control tower.
“We are waiting here with great expectations for you,” she told her in Hebrew. “I was very excited, my first rescue air flight.”
Israel has closed airspace to commercial flights due to multiple volleys of ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards the country every day.
According to Israeli media reports, tens of thousands of Israelis are stuck abroad.
China tells its people to leave Iran
Chinese authorities are still advised to leave as soon as possible, citing “an increase in the size and intensity of the Iranian-Israel conflict” and the possibility that the land border would be closed soon.
Numbers regarding the number of Chinese citizens in the country were not given to a notification issued online by the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday.
The two countries have long maintained strong trade ties, with China as the leading buyer of Iranian crude oil and Iranian and importer of Chinese consumer goods.
Address was given to notifications of crossing with Türkiye, Raj where Nordouz crosses with Armenia, Astala crossing with Azerbaijan, Bajigiran crossing with Turkmenistan.
Egyptian FM calls with Iranian counterparts and US envoys
Egyptian diplomats have called both Iranian foreign ministers and US Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov, Cairo and Tehran.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti held a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut and Witkov on Tuesday.
Abdelatty reportedly emphasized the “need to work towards regional emissions, contain the escalation situation and rely on diplomatic and political solutions that avoid the risk of widespread fires in the Middle East.”
Abdelatty “emphasized the order to “return to negotiation paths as the only way to achieve an immediate ceasefire and reach a sustainable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program,” his office said in a statement.
He “further emphasized that there is no military solution to the crisis currently facing the region.”
Social media accounts related to Araghchi confirmed that the call was made.
US officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Israeli strike hit Tehran
Israeli heavy airstrikes targeted Iran’s capital early on Wednesday after warnings about new areas that could be targeted.
One big explosion was heard at about 5am on Wednesday morning. Other explosions boom early in the compassionate darkness.
Iranian authorities have not acknowledged the increasingly common attacks as Israeli airstrike campaigns have intensified since it launched on Friday.
Israelis had warned they could attack nearby south of Merabad International Airport.
The area includes residential areas, military facilities, pharmaceutical companies and industrial companies.
Satellite photos show us naval ships from Bahrain Dock
Satellite images analyzed Wednesday by the Associated Press appear to show that as the strike between Israel and Iran continues, there are no more ships anchored from the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
Images taken Tuesday show a shipless main dock against the ship.
Dispersed vessels are a common safety technology adopted by navys around the world in times of trouble.
Meanwhile, local media on Tuesday reported that Bahrain had conducted tests for air raid sirens.
Iran threatened to target US military facilities in the region, but has not had any attacks so far since Israel’s campaign against Iran began on Friday.
Source link
