Israel and Iran exchanged strikes on Friday, a week into their war, with the US weighing its involvement in the conflict. President Donald Trump said he would delay deciding whether to join Israel’s air campaign against Iran for two weeks.
US participation is likely to involve strikes against Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility, considered out of reach except by America’s “bunker-buster” bombs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the military operation “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what he called an existential threat from a nuclear-armed Iran.
Iran’s top diplomat rejected nuclear negotiations with the US while Israel continues to attack, saying Americans want talks but there is no room for diplomacy as long as aggression continues. French President Emmanuel Macron said European diplomats would make “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation” to Iran.
A week into their war, at least 657 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians, with over 2,000 wounded. The conflict began on June 13 with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. Israel has fired 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Iran, most of which have been shot down.
The risk of attacking nuclear reactors was addressed by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who warned that a direct hit on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could result in a high release of radioactivity. Israel has focused its strikes on uranium enrichment sites, causing some radiological and chemical contamination at one site but no significant impact on radiation levels outside.
Netanyahu stated that Israel will fight as long as necessary to diminish Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capacities, citing an existential danger from the country’s 20,000 rockets and atomic bombs. The conflict continues with both sides exchanging strikes, despite diplomatic efforts in Geneva.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-and-iran-launch-new-strikes-even-as-diplomatic-effort-gets-underway