New Delhi: The volatile Middle East plunged into chaos on Saturday as joint US and Israeli airstrikes targeted key Iranian sites, including the presidential palace in Tehran, resulting in over 200 deaths and widespread destruction.
In a swift counteroffensive, Iran launched missiles at American military bases across the Gulf and Israeli cities, escalating fears of a broader regional war.
Iranian state media reported 201 fatalities, including 85 schoolgirls, and 747 injuries across 24 provinces, with cities like Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan shrouded in smoke. Among the casualties were defence minister Amir Nasirzadeh and several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, though Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the president remained unharmed. Israeli officials claimed the operation, planned weeks in advance, aimed to “uproot the Iranian regime”.
US President Donald Trump outlined the strikes’ goals: eliminating Iran’s navy, dismantling its missile industry, and blocking nuclear weapon acquisition. He cautioned against potential American casualties, stating, “Our actions are necessary to prevent a nuclear threat.” Iranian authorities vowed “devastating” reprisals, firing missiles at US bases in Qatar’s Al Udeid, the UAE’s Al Dhafra, Bahrain’s 5th Fleet headquarters, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, and Israel’s Haifa and Galilee regions.
France, Germany, and the UK condemned Iran’s attacks in a joint statement: “Iran must shut down its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, cease destabilising activities, and end violence against its people.”
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urged restraint in calls with Iranian and Israeli counterparts, expressing “deep concern” over the Gulf turmoil and calling for respect of sovereignty.
With tensions soaring, the world watches anxiously, with the Strait of Hormuz potentially at risk, threatening global oil supplies.