(Image source from: Aljazeera.com)
Israel has announced that it has targeted approximately 40 locations within Iran. They report that Iranian assaults have resulted in the deaths of 24 individuals, while Israeli offensives aimed at Iran have claimed over 240 lives. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has declared that the nation would reject any “imposed war” and cautioned that American involvement in the aggression against Iran would lead to “irreparable consequences.” This statement comes as Trump hints at the possibility of US engagement in the conflict with Iran.
In Gaza, Israel has persisted with lethal strikes, resulting in 144 fatalities reported at hospitals over the previous 24 hours. At least 70 Palestinians lost their lives when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of individuals awaiting food aid near Khan Younis. In response to Trump’s assertion that Iranian officials sought a meeting at the White House, Iran refuted the claim by stating, “the only thing more contemptible than his untruths is his cowardly threat to ‘eliminate’ Iran’s Supreme Leader.”
The Israeli armed forces reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down in the northern region of the country earlier today. There has been no information released regarding any possible damage or injuries resulting from the incident. The atmosphere in Tehran depicts a state of turmoil: travelers dragging suitcases along the streets, a single mother clutching her child in one arm while managing a blanket and pillow with the other, making her way into a subway station for yet another night underground. With no designated shelters, alerts, or evacuation strategies, many young Iranians are retreating to the remaining safe space accessible to them during Israel's attacks on their country: the internet and social media platforms such as Discord and WhatsApp. This perspective comes from Adam Clements, a former official at the Pentagon, who observed that the stance of the Trump administration thus far has not been “as clear-cut as some would prefer.”
Clements shared with Al Jazeera from Washington, DC, that “current signals indicate a reluctance from the US to become entangled in another Middle Eastern conflict.” He pointed out the divided opinions within the Republican Party on Capitol Hill regarding this issue. “There are definitely some proponents of a hardline stance on Iran who believe this has been long overdue,” he stated. He added that the specifics of US involvement in the conflict would hinge on the objectives of the Trump administration. “It comes down to understanding the true aim,” he explained. “If the United States were to get involved, how might it disengage from such a conflict?” The organization Airwars, which tracks civilian casualties resulting from various strikes in global conflict zones, has published a report revealing that US airstrikes in Yemen over the past 52 days have resulted in civilian deaths comparable to those occurring over the last 23 years of US operations in that region.
The United States had previously stated that its weeks-long campaign of airstrikes targeting the Houthis, in response to their assaults on Israel and maritime traffic in the Red Sea, was conducted with “detailed” intelligence while prioritizing “the reduction of risk to civilians.” However, a new report reveals an unprecedented level of casualties. “From the initial US strike in Yemen up until the onset of Trump’s campaign in March, Airwars has recorded at least 258 civilian deaths attributed to US military actions,” according to the report. “In just under two months of Operation Rough Rider, Airwars has noted at least 224 civilian fatalities in Yemen resulting from US airstrikes—effectively nearly doubling the total number of civilian deaths due to US activities in Yemen since 2002.” Human rights organizations have urged inquiries into two particularly lethal events, namely the US airstrike on Ras Isa Port and the bombing of Saada’s Remand Detention Prison, which reportedly resulted in a total of 152 civilian deaths and injured close to 200 individuals.
