Israel activated air defenses on Wednesday after detecting multiple missile salvoes from Iran, while Iranian Revolutionary Guards targeted Israeli and US military sites across the Middle East. Civilians near Tel Aviv reported injuries, highlighting rising tensions and the widening scope of the regional conflict. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
North Korea backs Iran’s new supreme leader, criticizes US and Israel
“We respect the rights and choice of the Iranian people to elect their supreme leader,” Pyongyang’s unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The official said the United States and Israel are “destroying the regional peace and security foundations and escalating instability worldwide”.
The spokesperson accused Washington and Israel of violating Iran’s “political system and territorial integrity” and attempting to “overthrow its social system”.
Such actions “deserve worldwide criticism and rejection as they can never be tolerated,” the official added.
Iran targets Israeli and US bases
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a satellite communications center in Haifa, along with military bases in Israel and US targets elsewhere in the Middle East, including Iraqi Kurdistan and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain.
“We will continue our sustained attacks with purpose and power, and in this war, we contemplate nothing but the enemy’s complete surrender,” the Guards said on their website, Sepah News.
Israel detects multiple missile salvoes from Iran as air defenses are activated
Israel’s military said on Wednesday that it had detected multiple salvoes of missiles heading towards the country from Iran and had activated air defenses, as it pressed a “wave” of strikes against Iran and Lebanon.
“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said on its official Telegram account.
AFP journalists heard air raid sirens sounding in Jerusalem and the sound of explosions in the distance.
Yesterday’s key developments:
G7 energy leaders prepared to hold a video conference on Wednesday to discuss the Middle East.
The US destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels and Iran vowed to block regional oil exports.
Israel launched fresh strikes on Beirut, continuing the mass displacement of over 100,000 people in Lebanon.
