Dozens injured in Israel after Iranian missile strikes target areas near nuclear research centre
Cairo (AP): Iran struck two communities near Israel's main nuclear research site late Saturday, leaving several people seriously injured, hours after its own Natanz main nuclear enrichment site was hit, as the war spun into a dangerous new direction at the start of its fourth week.
It marked the first time in the war that Israel's nuclear research centre has been targeted.
The Israeli military said its defences were not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad. Dozens of people were injured, emergency services said.
“The war is not close to ending,” said Israel's army chief, Gen. Eyal Zamir.
Iran's health ministry said more than 1,500 people have been killed there so far, the state broadcaster reported.
Earlier, Iran targeted the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean about 4,000 km away, suggesting that Tehran has missiles that can go farther than previously acknowledged -- or that it had used its space program for an improvised launch.
Residents said Iran's capital saw heavy airstrikes as they marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Iran's leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs and its support for armed proxies. There have been no signs of an uprising, while internet restrictions limit information from Iran.
The war's effects are felt far beyond the Middle East, raising food and fuel prices.
It is not clear how much damage Iran has sustained in the US and Israeli strikes that began February 28 -- or even who is truly in charge. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being named to the role.
**Israel denies responsibility for attack on Natanz
There was no leakage after the strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 220 km southeast of Tehran, the Iranian judiciary's official news agency, Mizan, said.
The UN nuclear watchdog has said the bulk of Iran's estimated 440 kg of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility. The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X it was looking into the strike.
Israel's military said it was “not aware” of a strike by it there. The Pentagon declined to comment. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said such strikes posed a “real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.”
Iran later retaliated, targeting Israel's nuclear program. Israel is believed to be the only Middle East nation with nuclear weapons, though its leaders refuse to confirm or deny their existence.
The IAEA said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli centre or abnormal radiation levels.
The Natanz facility was also hit in the first week of the war and in the 12-day war last June.
**US can use Diego Garcia base to protect Strait of Hormuz
UK officials did not give details of the strike that targeted the Diego Garcia base Friday, which was unsuccessful. Britain's Ministry of Defence described Iran as “lashing out across the region.”
It's unclear how close the missiles came to the island. Iran previously asserted that it has limited its missile range to below 2,000 km.
But military experts said Iran may have used its space launch vehicle for an improvised firing. “If you've got a space program, you've got a ballistic missile programme,” said Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore.
Israel's army chief, however, said Iran had fired “a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile.” There was no statement from Iran.
Britain has not participated in US-Israeli attacks but has allowed US bombers to use its bases to attack Iran's missile sites. On Friday, the UK government said bombers could use Diego Garcia to attack sites used to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
**Global pressure increases to get shipping back on track
As Iran threatens shipping on the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates joined 21 other countries including the UK, Germany, France and Japan in expressing "readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage.”
The Trump administration announced it was temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil that was already loaded on ships as of Friday, but that does not increase oil production, a central factor in surging prices. The oil ministry of Iran, which has evaded sanctions for years, replied that it “essentially has no crude oil left in floating storage.”
The head of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, asserted that Iran's ability to attack vessels on the strait had been “degraded." He said 2,270-kg bombs were dropped earlier in the week on an underground facility along Iran's coast used to store anti-ship cruise missiles and mobile missile launchers.
The US is deploying three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East, an official told The Associated Press. Two other US officials confirmed that ships were deploying, without saying where they were headed. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the operations.
Gulf countries reported more attacks. A missile alert sounded Saturday night in Dubai. Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in its east, home to major oil installations.
In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missiles and four others have died in the occupied West Bank. At least 13 US military members have been killed, along with well over a dozen civilians in Gulf nations.
**Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants clash in Lebanon
Israel's military said it was conducting a “targeted ground operation” in southern Lebanon and at least four militants were killed. Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with troops in the southern village of Khiam.
Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million, according to the Lebanese government. Hezbollah's civilian assets also have been targeted.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
