(NewsNation) — Missile alerts sounded across Israel on Friday morning as Iran launched another attack, and residents in Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv were urged to take shelter.
As the conflict between Israel and Iran enters a second week, the Israel Defense Forces targeted dozens of military targets overnight and Iran launched counterattacks.
Thousands of Iranians were marching in the streets on Friday in support of Iran’s efforts to strike back against Israel.
Israel has focused on military and nuclear targets, as well as targeting Iran’s nuclear scientists and government and military leaders. Citizens have fled Tehran as strikes hit the city.
In Israel, the Iron Dome has provided defense, but some Iranian strikes have gotten through, including one in Beersheba in southern Israel. Officials said about half a dozen people were injured.
In the same region, a hospital took a direct hit from an Iranian missile overnight Wednesday, sparking outrage in Israel, which has called Iran a terror regime for targeting civilians.
Efforts to negotiate with Iran
European leaders are set to meet with Iran in Switzerland on Friday in hopes of de-escalating the conflict, but Iran has said there can be no negotiation while Israel continues to strike the country.
Diplomats from the United Kingdom, France and Germany are set to attend the meeting, but the U.S. will not be present.
Prior to Israel’s attack, the Trump administration had been pursuing talks with Iran in hopes of reaching a nuclear deal.
The administration said it was aware of Israel’s intention to strike Iran before it happened, with Iran breaking off negotiations shortly after the first strikes.
President Donald Trump pulled out of a previous deal during his first term.
Trump promises decision in ‘two weeks’
The White House said Thursday that Trump will decide whether to involve the U.S. in the conflict within the next two weeks.
Trump is set to have another national security meeting Friday, the latest in multiple such meetings since he left the Group of Seven summit early in light of the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for the U.S. to enter the conflict sooner. There are reports the U.S. is considering the use of “bunker-buster” bombs to target Iranian nuclear facilities buried underground.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s goal is still diplomacy but warned the U.S. could use force if Iran doesn’t come to the table.
“Iran is in a very weak and vulnerable position because of the strikes and the attacks from Israel,” she said. “And with respect to the president’s statement, I shared that with all of you, and he has been very direct and clear: Iran can and should make a deal. We sent a deal to them that was practical, that was realistic, or they will face grave consequences.”
Trump himself has made conflicting statements about the conflict, saying that “nobody knows” what he will do. As for a deal, he has stressed that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and must stop enriching uranium. He has also demanded the country’s “unconditional surrender.”
The White House maintains Iran has never been closer to having a nuclear weapon, though sources have told NewsNation that the intelligence community is divided about how close the country actually was.
Source link
https://findsuperdeals.shop/
