Israel has threatened residents of Tehran, saying they will “pay the price” after Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa killed eight people.
Israel’s National Emergency Service said 23 people have already been killed in Iranian attacks on Israel since June 13, when Israel struck nuclear and military sites across Iran over the country’s nuclear programme. Iranian authorities say Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people in the same period.
Rescuers continue to remove rubble and debris in the northern coastal city of Haifa after Iran launched attacks in the early hours of 16 June that wounded more than 100 Israelis, and in Tel Aviv, rockets hit several residences, some of which are near the US consulate.
“The people of Tehran will pay for this, and soon,” Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz said, accusing Iran of targeting residential homes.
The Israeli attacks on residential homes in Tehran, where high-ranking military officials and top nuclear scientists are rumoured to live, have caused panic in the capital, with long queues of cars reportedly lining up at the northbound exit of the city.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei on 16 June called on the United Nations to “recognise and condemn Israel’s aggression”, accusing the US of complicity in the attacks.
President Donald Trump said on 15 June that the United States was not involved in the conflict, but as the sides continued to launch airstrikes against each other, he acknowledged that this could “possibly” change.
Speaking to reporters before departing for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, Trump said the United States would continue to support Israel, but did not detail further actions.
Earlier on 15 June, Trump was asked in an interview with ABC News whether the United States would intervene more in the conflict, which began three days earlier. He replied, “We’re not involved in it. It’s entirely possible that we could be involved. But at the moment we are not involved.”
He added that he still hoped for an agreement to end hostilities.