Israel Launches Extensive Airstrikes on Iran Killing Senior Commanders, Sparking Regional Condemnation

Israel launched extensive air strikes on Iran's military and nuclear facilities, killing senior commanders including IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strikes as a targeted operation to eliminate threats to Israel's survival, while some media and analysts highlighted the attacks' impact on residential areas, causing civilian casualties and sparking concern over the widening conflict. The strikes have intensified fears within Iran, where officials vowed retaliation, and analysts warn the attacks could hinder Iran-US nuclear negotiations and push Iran closer to developing nuclear weapons. Reactions across the region have been mixed, with groups like the Jewish Democratic Council of America supporting Israel's right to self-defense and urging diplomacy, while Afghanistan's Islamic Emirate and former leaders condemned the strikes as violations of international law that threaten regional stability. The Israeli assaults have prompted drone counterattacks from Iran and raised alarm about the potential for broader Middle Eastern war. Media coverage has been contested, with some accusing mainstream outlets of downplaying civilian deaths in Iran compared to coverage of casualties in Western countries.