As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its eighth day, both countries traded barrages of missiles and drones on Friday. Israel bombed nuclear infrastructure in Iran. Tehran retaliated by firing missiles armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing conflict, including a strike that damaged an Israeli hospital. The exchange marks a sharp escalation in a week-long air war with no clear signs of de-escalation or a diplomatic off-ramp.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran’s leadership would pay the full price for the hospital strike. He added Israel is ahead of schedule in its military campaign against Iran, exceeding prior expectations.
Meanwhile, the White House said US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will back Israel militarily. This comes as the White House said definitively that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in “a couple of weeks” once given the go-ahead from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Behind the scenes, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly held several phone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
TOP DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
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The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continued strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear sites, targeting infrastructure linked to Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is ahead of schedule in its military campaign against Iran. He said Israel has the capability to target all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordo site.
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Iran also launched barrages of drones and missiles targeting Israel. The Israeli military on Thursday accused Iran of firing a missile armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Earlier, Iran hit a medical building in southern Israel, causing extensive damage. Israel’s Health Ministry said 71 people were wounded in the attack, most of them suffering light injuries or panic attacks as they rushed for shelter.
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The White House also said that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a couple of weeks if approved by Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Earlier, the White House said that President Donald Trump will make a decision within the next two weeks on whether to launch a military strike against Iran. The announcement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Israel-Iran conflict.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, quoted message from Trump, “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
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Iran has appointed a new head of intelligence at its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), days after Israeli strikes killed his predecessor. According to the Iranian state media, Brigadier General Majid Khadami has been named as the new intelligence chief by IRGC commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour. He succeeds Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday along with two other Revolutionary Guards officers, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri, in an Israeli strike.
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Amid escalating tensions, nearly 40 US military aircraft have disappeared from the tarmac at a major American airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks, in what appears to be a preemptive move to shield US assets from potential Iranian strikes.
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