A journalist for Israel’s Haaretz newspaper and a resident of Tel Aviv, Gideon Levy, has just spoken to the BBC about Iran’s missile attacks on the city earlier this evening.
In an interview for Newshour, Levy, who had been seeking refuge in a public shelter in the city, said: “We heard quite loud the explosions. Not a very pleasant feeling.”
Asked whether the Iranian missiles had been intercepted or hit the ground, he added: “Part were intercepted, but part fall (sic).
“There were at least two cases where they fell directly on buildings and destroyed them partially. There are no casualties but people were injured. And quite a lot of destruction.”
Netanyahu Urges Iranians To Revolt Against Regime
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to stand up to the Islamic Republic, in an address on Friday evening, June 13.
“Israel’s fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,” Netanyahu said.
“The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime,” he added.
“This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.”
Israeli Strikes Really Didn’t Destroy Much -Experts
Nuclear experts have said the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities from Israel’s initial wave of air strikes early on Friday appeared to be limited.
The initial goal appears to have been to smash Iran’s military chain of command, with the killing of Army Chief of Staff, Maj.Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which oversees the strict execution of the ideals of the 1979 Revolution which overthrew the Shah, General Hossein Salami, killed alongside other senior members of the group; top nuclear scientists, as well as about 78 other persons.
Satellite imagery did not yet show significant damage to nuclear infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing several experts.
According to David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security: “The first day was aimed at things that you would get through surprise – killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defense systems, the ability to retaliate.
“We can’t see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz,” said Albright, referring to Iranian nuclear sites.
But “there’s no evidence that the underground site was destroyed”, he said.
Albright noted that there may also have been drone strikes on tunnels to underground centrifuge plants and cyber attacks that did not leave visible traces.
“In terms of visible damage, we don’t see much and we’ll see what happens tonight,” he said, adding that he believes Israel’s strikes were still in an early stage.
There Was Destruction, But Iran’s Vital Underground Facilities Safe –IAEA Chief Confirms
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has told the UN Security Council that the “above ground plant where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% uranium has been destroyed”.
Grossi also said that radiological contamination is manageable with appropriate measures, as well as that there is radiological and chemical contamination inside facilities at Natanz.
He added that there is no indication of attack on underground enrichment halls at Natanz but attacks on power supply may have damaged centrifuges.
‘ US Aiding Israel Shoot Down Iranian Missiles’
The U.S military has helped shoot down Iranian missiles that were headed toward Israel, according to U.S officials.
The U.S interceptions have so far been carried out by ground-based systems, Reuters reported, citing one of the officials.
The official said fighter jets and warships had not been used so far. Both U.S Air Force fighter aircraft and destroyer-based missile defences have intercepted missiles in previous attacks, according to Associated Press.
The Pentagon moved a number of military assets into the region in recent days, including navy destroyers to be positioned off the Israeli coast to help shoot down missiles and other aerial attacks expected after the Israelis launched their initial attack, NBC News reported, citing a U.S official.
