Israeli Strikes On Iran Ongoing Through Friday As Death Toll Surpasses 100
Update(1330ET): There are reports that Israeli strikes on Iran have continued through Friday, with the WSJ reporting that up to two weeks of attacks could be coming.
"Israel's operation against Iran's nuclear program, military leadership and arsenal of missiles is nowhere near over, with Israel having planned out 14 days of operations, a senior Israeli official said," WSJ writes.
"The likely duration of the campaign fits with analysts' expectations that a single wave of strikes wouldn't be able to do enough damage to Iran's nuclear program and Israel's comprehensive approach of attacking Iran's facilities, leadership and arsenal at the same time to limit the possibility of a retaliatory strike," the report says.
Israel is bracing for potential big counterattack, and yet clearly Iran is struggling to even get its air defenses active in thwarting the Israeli airstrikes. Still, air defenses appear very active over the capital on Friday.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1933568249037287471
According to more:
ISRAEL SAYS AIR FORCE CONTINUES TO ATTACK IRAN: REUTERS
IRAN WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS WITH US SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY: IRAN STATE TV
TRUMP SAYS NOT SURE US-IRAN MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE: REUTERS
Update0930ET: There are emerging reports of possibly more waves of Israeli attacks, with state media reporting new, loud blasts heard near an airbase in west Iran. Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the attacks 'as long as necessary' to degrade and destroy Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran has long defended as only for peaceful nuclear energy purposes.
Importantly, Iranian leaders have made clear their intent to continue enriching uranium, and even to potentially expand its nuclear activities. Israeli attacks "will not affect our determination" to continue nuclear activities in Iran, state TV reports, as cited in Bloomberg.
Iran’s spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization Behrouz Kamalvandi confirmed damage as a result of Israel's attack on Natanz nuclear site. He claimed that most of the damage is limited to the surface, and that there were no casualties at the stie. There have been no signs of a radiation breach as of yet, the IAEA has said in follow-up. And Al Jazeera writes:
Fars news agency reports “unofficial statistics” saying that more than 70 people were killed and more than 320 were injured in Israel’s attacks.
Fars is managed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and considered semi-official state media of the Iranian government.
Trump to WSJ on the impact on markets:
"I think ultimately, it would be great for the market because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. … Iran won't have a nuclear weapon that was a great threat to humanity."
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/over-200-israeli-warplanes-used-against-iran-trump-warns-even-more-brutal-attacks