Iran launches missiles and drones at Israel within the wake of US strikes on its nuclear targets | EUROtoday

Iran fired a salvo of missiles and drones on Monday at Israel whereas additionally warning the United States that its navy has been given a “free hand” to assault American targets within the wake of the Trump administration’s huge strikes on Iranian nuclear websites.

Israel mentioned its protection programs have been working to intercept the menace, apparently focusing on north and central areas, and instructed folks to go to shelters. Iran described the assault a brand new wave of its Operation “True Promise 3,” saying it was focusing on the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, based on Iranian state tv.

There have been no speedy reviews of injury.

The assault got here the day after the United States inserted itself into Israel’s warfare by attacking Iranian nuclear websites, prompting fears of a wider regional battle.

Iran mentioned the U.S. had crossed “a very big red line” with its dangerous gambit to strike the three websites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

On Monday, Iranian Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of joint workers of armed forces, warned Washington its strikes had given Iranian forces a “free hand “ to “act against U.S. interests and its army.”

Mousavi described the American assault as violating Iran’s sovereignty and being tantamount to invading the nation, the state-run IRNA information company reported.

In the wake of the American assaults on Iran, calls got here from throughout the globe for de-escalation and the return to diplomacy to attempt to resolve the battle.

On Monday, the European Union’s high diplomat mentioned the bloc remained “very much focused on the diplomatic solution.”

“The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge,” Kaja Kallas mentioned in the beginning of a overseas ministers’ assembly in Brussels the place Iran has jumped to the highest of the agenda.

“Especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody,” Kallas mentioned, referring to a maritime route essential for oil transport.

After Sunday’s assaults, Iranian officers repeated their longtime threats of presumably closing the important thing delivery lane.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was assembly on Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, certainly one of Iran’s key allies.