The Middle East situation has erupted violently after Israel announced the start of attacks on Iran, while Iranian media reported multiple explosions in Tehran, the country's capital.
Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, stated that Israel has launched a preventive attack operation to eliminate threats against the Israeli state and declared a special and permanent emergency situation nationwide.
It was reported that warning sirens sounded throughout Israel at approximately 08:15 local time to alert the population of possible missile attacks.
Iran's Fars News Agency reported hearing at least three explosions in central Tehran and that several missiles targeted the Republic area of the capital city.
Initial photos released by the BBC show smoke rising above Jomhuri and Hassan Abad squares, while later reports indicated new explosions in northern and eastern parts of Tehran.
These attacks occurred amid diplomatic efforts between U.S. and Iranian officials to reach an agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program and avoid war, with negotiations scheduled to continue next week.
However, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously threatened attacks on Iran to pressure it into accepting a deal, expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of talks and ordered the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Previously, in June last year, Israel launched attacks on Iran that led to a 12-day conflict, during which the U.S. joined operations targeting sites linked to Iran's nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of threats from Iran's long-range missiles and opposed agreements focusing solely on nuclear restrictions without addressing missile programs and support for proxy groups in the region.
Iran has rejected demands to limit its missile program and end support for allied groups in the region, declaring it will respond to attacks with force.
The situation continues to develop amid concerns that this crisis could escalate into a wider conflict across the Middle East region.
:SourceBBC
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