Israel Strikes Tehran; Casualties, Evacuations Mount

Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes on Iran, including a direct hit on Tehran’s District 3, home to government offices and the state TV studios, causing widespread panic and mass evacuations. The attacks also damaged the Farabi hospital in Kermanshah, and Iran’s health ministry reports at least 224 dead and hundreds more injured. As residents sought shelter in metro stations, Iranian authorities condemned the attack as a war crime and called on the UN to intervene. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Tehran’s residents would pay for Iran’s actions before clarifying there was no intention to harm civilians, although these remarks have faced international criticism. Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged immediate evacuation of Tehran and left the G7 summit early in response to the escalating conflict. The ongoing airstrikes by both sides have heightened fears of a broader regional war.