<2> Israel Launches Air Strikes on Iran: Live News Updates
<3> Tensions Escalate as Defence Minister Claims ‘Pre-emptive’ Strike Needed to ‘Remove Threats’
<4> Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz has confirmed that the country has launched air strikes on Iran, citing the need to ‘remove threats’ after weeks of escalating tensions between the US and Tehran.
<5> The development comes as the international community remains on high alert following a series of confrontations between the US and Iran in recent weeks.
<6> According to reports, the air strikes were carried out in the early hours of the morning, with multiple explosions heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
<7> The BBC reports that the strikes were focused on Iranian military targets, including a research facility and a missile factory.
<8> The US has been a key ally of Israel in its dealings with Iran, and the two countries have been working closely together to counter what they see as Iranian aggression in the region.
<9> The situation is currently fluid, with reports emerging of further strikes and counter-strikes between Israel and Iran.
<10> The international community is watching the situation closely, with many leaders calling for calm and restraint.
<11> The