NEW DELHI: The Israeli defence forces declared early Thursday that they had executed nocturnal aerial operations within Iranian territory, hitting a nuclear research center close to Arak and another site near Natanz, which was described as a hub for nuclear arms advancement. Additionally, strikes were reported near Iran’s Khondab facility, formerly identified as the Arak reactor, a key component of the nation’s atomic programme.
In a swift reprisal, Iran unleashed a volley of missiles, one of which slammed into a healthcare facility in Israel, causing destruction to surrounding residential complexes. Emergency crews described the incident as a “direct impact,” though no immediate loss of life was recorded.
Simultaneously, approximately 100 Indian nationals, mostly students, were safely brought back to New Delhi from Iran on Thursday morning as part of Operation Sindhu, a government-led evacuation mission.
The Israeli offensive has been focused on critical nuclear and defence installations, resulting in the deaths of top-ranking military commanders and atomic experts. A human rights organisation headquartered in Washington disclosed that the conflict has so far claimed at least 639 lives in Iran among them 263 civilians while more than 1,300 individuals have sustained injuries. In response, Iran has fired nearly 400 missiles and deployed hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles into Israeli territory, causing the deaths of at least 24 civilians and leaving many others wounded.
In the midst of growing international anxiety, US President Donald Trump has refrained from committing to a military alliance with Israel in the ongoing conflict. “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody really knows what I’m going to do,” Trump remarked, adding that while Iranian leadership had sought diplomatic engagement, “it’s a little late now.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel was “methodically advancing” in its effort to dismantle Iran’s strategic capabilities and expressed gratitude to Trump for his political backing. On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump’s overtures, cautioning that “any American military involvement will inevitably bring irreversible consequences.”
