Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday that 78 people had been killed and over 320 injured in Israeli airstrikes.

Addressing the council, Iravani condemned what he described as Israel’s "barbaric and criminal attack," stating that the strikes targeted senior military officials and nuclear scientists. However, he asserted that "the overwhelming majority" of casualties were civilians, including women and children.

The Iranian envoy accused Israel of continuing "acts of aggression," saying multiple civilian and military sites across several cities were struck on Friday.

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, deploying warplanes and drones allegedly smuggled into the country to strike key facilities and eliminate senior figures. 

Israeli officials claimed the operation was a preemptive measure aimed at halting Iran’s progress toward acquiring nuclear capabilities.

In retaliation, Iran fired scores of ballistic missiles at Israel late Friday, triggering explosions over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, shaking buildings and raising fears of wider regional escalation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a recorded message, vowed revenge, stating, "We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed."

Witnesses reported seeing smoke rising over Tel Aviv following a suspected missile strike. 

A hospital in the city confirmed treating 15 injured civilians. Meanwhile, a U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said American ground-based air-defense systems in the region had been deployed to intercept Iranian missiles.

With Israeli airstrikes continuing and Iran retaliating, concerns of an all-out war have intensified, further destabilizing an already volatile region.

Source: Agencies 

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