Iran confirmed on Tuesday that at least 610 civilians had been killed and more than 4,700 injured since the start of the open war with Israel, which began attacks on nuclear facilities and several military targets on Iranian territory on 13 June, while Trump warned Israel not to continue its bombings after Tel Aviv and Iran accused each other of violating the ceasefire that theoretically came into force today.
“They are all civilians,” said Hossein Kermanpour, spokesman for Iran’s health ministry, quoted by international agencies and media, updating the previous death toll from Israeli attacks to more than 400 dead and some 3,050 wounded. “Over the past 12 days (of bombing) hospitals… have been confronted with extremely harrowing scenes,” added Kermanpour, who said the dead included 13 children – the youngest just two months old – as well as five doctors and members of the rescue services. In addition, seven hospitals and nine ambulances were reportedly damaged by Israeli shelling.
US President Donald Trump has insisted in recent hours that the ceasefire that Iran and Israel have reportedly agreed to remains “in effect”, although he criticised both sides for violating the agreement. Trump especially called on Israel not to respond to alleged attacks launched by Iran since the ceasefire went into effect: “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS … BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” the US president wrote on his Truth Social network, after the Israeli military ordered “powerful strikes” on Tehran, accusing the Iranian government of violating the truce.
Israel bombarding Tehran despite ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged that Israel had attacked at least one radar installation outside Tehran, since Tel Aviv accused Iran of launching several missiles about three hours after the ceasefire went into effect. Witnesses in the Iranian capital confirmed to media reports that they heard two loud explosions this morning.
Turkey, which in a statement welcomed the agreement announced by Trump for a cessation of hostilities, after 12 days of conflict that have raised tensions in the Middle East to new highs and threatened traffic in the vital Strait of Hormuz, stressed however that it was following reports of possible ceasefire violations and called on both sides to “fully comply with the ceasefire in the critical period ahead“.
The Iranian government, meanwhile, announced following the US attack on its nuclear facilities that it had taken the “necessary measures” to ensure the continuity of its nuclear programme. “Plans had been prepared in advance, and our strategy is to ensure that production and services are not interrupted,” Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said in a televised message.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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