❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran has blamed Israel for multiple car bombs, which reportedly killed several Iranian nuclear scientists..
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian nuclear scientists.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The bombings were reported on Sunday, June 15, by Iranian media.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that make the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima look tiny in comparison. We could not remain passive. This is truly an existential war.” – Benjamin Netanyahu
🎯IMPACT: The killings suggest that Israel still has agents operating covertly in Iran, adding another layer to the ongoing conflict.
Iranian authorities have blamed Israel for at least five car bombings that took place on June 15, with Iranian media additionally claiming that several nuclear scientists were killed as a result. The apparent killings come after Israel has specifically targeted nuclear scientists and senior Iranian military officials in recent days.
Since Friday, June 13, around 15 nuclear scientists have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks as both Israel and Iran continue to trade blows. Israeli officials have denied being behind the car bombs in Tehran, however.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained why he gave the green light for strikes on Iran, which began last week, saying, “Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that make the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima look tiny in comparison. We could not remain passive. This is truly an existential war.”
The death toll on both sides has continued to rise since Friday, with reports in Iran claiming at least 224 deaths and 1,200 injured, while Israel has reported 24 people killed since the conflict between the two countries began. However, some activists claim as many as 406 people in Iran may have been killed in Israeli strikes.
Israel now claims to have air superiority over Tehran, Iran’s capital, with Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin stating that Israel has struck over 120 launch pads for missiles, destroying a third of them overall. Despite this, Iran has been able to attack Israeli targets and at times penetrate Israel’s multi-layered drone and missile defence systems.
So far, the United States is not offensively involved in the conflict, but President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. could become involved if Iran strikes U.S. targets in the region. President Trump said, “[If] we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.” Additionally, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its carrier strike force are en route to the region.
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