At least 10 members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting Yazd province on Sunday, according to Tasnim news agency. The report also mentioned that several other IRGC personnel were injured, though the exact number remains unclear.
Israel claims it has eliminated two dozen Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists since launching its surprise offensive on June 13.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to mount, with Iran vowing retaliation for the recent US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, while US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of regime change in Tehran.
In his first public remarks since the US joined Israel’s military operations against Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed to punish “the Zionist enemy.” His comments come amid ongoing cross-border attacks between Israel and Iran.
Speaking on the situation, President Trump questioned Iran’s political future, saying, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?” His remarks have fuelled further speculation about Washington’s broader intentions.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused the US of "waging war" under what he described as an "absurd pretext" following American strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The escalating conflict has rattled global energy markets, with oil prices surging. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to use its influence on Tehran to prevent the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route.
In light of the heightened tensions, the US State Department has issued a worldwide security alert for American citizens, warning of potential retaliatory attacks.
Uncertainty remains regarding the scale of damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear programme. While President Trump has claimed the strikes effectively crippled Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating the US action took "the 'bomb' right out of their hands," the UN’s nuclear watchdog says it is still unable to assess the current situation at the Fordo site.
Despite the US strikes, hostilities between Israel and Iran have continued over the past day, raising concerns of an escalating regional conflict.
Iranian officials report that over 400 people have been killed and at least 3,056 wounded since Israel began its offensive on June 13. In response, at least 24 people have been killed in Israeli territory due to Iranian counterattacks, according to reports.
With inputs from Al Jazeera