Tel Aviv [Israel] / Tehran [Iran], June 17: Israel has attacked civilian targets in Iran, striking a hospital and an Iranian state TV building as the intensive strikes against the other rage for a fourth consecutive day, with the military confrontation between the longstanding enemies showing no sign of ending.
After those attacks, an Israeli military statement later Monday evening said air raid sirens' alerts were activated in several areas in the north of Israel following missile launches from Iran. A live broadcast on the Iranian TV station captured its most famous presenter on air saying a missile was incoming and scrambling away as an explosion took place and debris flew through the air. There are reports of casualties among journalists in the building.
The strike came after a warning on Monday from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said: "The mouthpiece of Iranian propaganda and incitement is on the verge of disappearing".
Iran also said Israel targeted a hospital on Monday in the country's west, condemning it as a "war crime". "Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran was targeted by the Israeli regime's aggressive attacks," said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that "attacking hospitals alongside attacks on residential areas is a gross violation of international law and a war crime".
Video footage published by local platforms and verified by the Sanad fact-checking agency shows bloodstains, indicating casualties from the strike.
Israel has repeatedly bombed hospitals and medical facilities in the Gaza Strip during its 20-month-long military campaign in the Palestinian territory, despite those being protected under international law.
Iran's Fars news agency also reported on Monday that an Israeli attack targeted a military base in western Tehran. Iranian media also reported explosions in eastern parts of the capital, which comes after the Israeli army issued a threat to parts of Tehran after bombing several areas of the city on Sunday.
Iranian media reported that air defences had been activated in western Tehran.
Katz had threatened on Monday that "the residents of Tehran will pay the price - and soon" for killing Israeli civilians in Iran's overnight missile attacks.
Earlier, Iranian attacks on Israel on Monday morning killed at least eight people and wounded dozens, officials reported, while Tehran said Israeli attacks overnight hit military and civilian targets.
The ongoing attacks, started by Israel on Friday and followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes, pushed the death toll in four days of open conflict between the foes close to 250.
Raised rhetoric emanating from both countries following the exchange of strikes suggested there is little prospect of the hostilities halting soon, with the risk of an escalation into a wider regional conflict looming.
Iran announced it had launched some 100 missiles and pledged further retaliation for Israel's sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure, which have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday.
In Israel, state broadcaster Israeli Army Radio reported that eight people were killed - five in the central part and three in the port city of Haifa.
That takes the total death toll in Israel to more than 20 since it launched air attacks on Iran four days ago. Some 300 others are reported wounded.
A branch of the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv sustained "minor damage" as a result of the attack, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said.
On Sunday, Iran said Israel had struck oil refineries, killed the IRGC's intelligence chief and hit population centres in intensive aerial attacks.
Much of the world has urged restraint since the conflict broke out on Friday when Israel launched an attack on Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, killing military commanders and scientists.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he hoped the adversaries would "make a deal", but added that they might have to "fight it out" first. A staunch ally of Israel, Trump has maintained erratic messaging since the strikes began, raising concern that the conflict could escalate.
Iran has said the US is complicit in the Israeli military action, and suggested it could target US forces in Syria and elsewhere in retaliation.
Trump has insisted that Washington has "nothing to do" with Israel's bombing campaign, but also threatened to unleash "the full strength and might" of the US military if Iran attacked its interests in the Middle East.
Source: Qatar Tribune
