News Desk: Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically overnight on Monday as airstrikes hit residential areas, leaving a trail of civilian casualties and sparking fears of a broader regional conflict. Global leaders have expressed alarm over the worsening violence, urging both nations to step back from the brink. The most recent flashpoint came with reports that Israeli airstrikes killed Mohammad Kazem, the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, on Sunday. The strike, which targeted a high-level command site, triggered immediate retaliation. In a fierce response, Iran launched waves of missiles over the weekend, killing 10 people, including children, and wounding 380 across Israel. This followed Israel’s preemptive strikes on Friday, aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, which Iran says have killed at least 230 people. The total death toll has now risen to 13 in Israel and over 230 in Iran, with hundreds more injured on both sides, marking one of the deadliest exchanges in recent memory between the longtime adversaries. The violence comes at a fragile diplomatic moment. Iran on Sunday cancelled a scheduled sixth round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, citing ongoing Israeli attacks. “There can be no diplomacy under bombardment,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing Israel of deliberately trying to “undermine diplomacy and derail negotiations.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but struck a controversial tone. “They might need to fight it out first,” he said, before urging both countries to eventually “make a deal.” Israel, for its part, remains defiant. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed calls for de-escalation, stating, “The issue here is not de-escalation, but stopping Iran from developing its nuclear capability.” International observers warn that the conflict risks spiralling beyond bilateral hostilities, drawing in other nations and militias across the Middle East. The United Nations, European Union, and Arab League have all called for an immediate ceasefire and restraint from further provocations. As missiles continue to fly and diplomatic channels fall silent, the world watches anxiously, fearing a wider regional war that could further destabilize an already volatile region.
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