Al Jazeera and Iran’s Fars news agency reported “powerful” and “unprecedentedly loud” explosions in Tehran, shortly before Israel announced a new wave of attacks on the Iranian capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened the “destruction of Iran” after an attack on the Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona wounded 180 people.
Iran, in turn, threatened the “complete closure” of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on U.S. bases and economic interests in the region if Donald Trump carries out his threat to strike Iranian power plants. On Saturday, Trump set a 48-hour ultimatum for the opening of the strait. Iran responded that it was closed “only to enemies.” 90 ships had passed through the strait in the last three weeks.
Elsewhere in the region, a series of arson attacks on Palestinian homes and cars by Jewish settlers triggered another wave of violence in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported nine people were wounded on Sunday evening near Nablus, while a clinic was set on fire near Ramallah.
In Lebanon, the demolition of the Qasmiyeh bridge between Tyre and Sidon, a key crossing for southern Lebanon, marked the start of a broader operation by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). IDF was ordered to destroy all bridges over the Litani River in the south.
In fighting with Hezbollah in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army used phosphorus bombs, Lebanon’s state news agency said. White phosphorus causes burns, and international law bans its use where people could be harmed. Human Rights Watch documented Israel’s use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon earlier this month.
In Iraq, the Victory military base on the outskirts of Baghdad, where U.S. and NATO troops are stationed, was temporarily evacuated after a series of attacks by the pro-Iranian Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah. According to reports, the group gave the United States five days to close its embassy in Baghdad or face attack.
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Source: Polish Radio