Further escalation: Israel bombs, Iran fires missiles

Israel's military says it has attacked a military research center and other targets in Tehran. A series of attacks in the center of Iran's capital, Tehran, was completed on Friday night, the Israeli military said. The targets included "production facilities for military missiles" and "the headquarters of SPND, the organization responsible for research and development of Iran's military nuclear program," according to Israel.

According to the army, more than 60 Israeli fighter jets were involved in the wave of attacks. Ballistic missile production facilities and "three ready-to-launch rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory were also hit." Due, among other things, to internet blockades in Iran, hardly any photos or videos from there are currently being made public.

Iranian attacks on Beersheba

Israel was also attacked again from Iran. The Israeli army announced that it had intercepted four drones launched from Iran overnight.

But this morning, Iranian rockets again hit the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. At least one missile landed near residential buildings, office buildings, and industrial facilities, according to the Israeli army. The facade of at least one residential complex was demolished.

According to paramedics, at least six people were slightly injured. However, they are still searching the apartments for more injured people. The Israeli broadcaster Kan is showing footage of burning cars, thick clouds of smoke, and broken windows in residential buildings.

The US news channel CNN reports fires near office buildings, including an office of the US tech giant Microsoft. Beersheba has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian attacks in recent days.

Will the US intervene?

Whether the US will intervene and provide military support to Israel remains open. US President Donald Trump officially intends to decide within two weeks whether the United States will intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

There is a "significant chance of negotiations" with Iran, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt quoted the president as saying in a statement to reporters. These "may or may not take place in the near future." Therefore, he will make his decision within the next two weeks whether to intervene or not.

While Trump wants a diplomatic solution, Leavitt said, the top priority is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Dispute over nuclear program

Israel would likely need US military assistance to launch an attack on Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordow. So far, the US has stated that it is not actively participating, but is supporting Israel in its defense.

Israel justified its major attack on Iran , launched a week ago, with the aim of preventing Tehran from building a nuclear bomb. Since then, the Israeli army has been bombing military and nuclear facilities in Iran. In response, Iran has attacked targets in Israel with missiles and drones.

Western states have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons for years, a charge Tehran denies. Since the United States withdrew from the 2015 international nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran has ramped up its uranium enrichment. The radioactive material thus processed can also be used to build nuclear bombs.

AR/pg/jj (afp, rtr, dpa)