At least 30 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza – report
At least 30 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on several houses in northern Gaza, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The attacks were said to be in Beit Lahiya.
Citing “local sources”, the news agency reports women and children are among the dead, with “many others” injured.
Number of Iranian soldiers killed in strikes rises to four – report
The number of Iranian soldiers killed in Israel’s overnight attack on Iran has risen to four and is “expected to rise further”, Iranian news agency Tasnim News is reporting.
It reports that the conditions of others who are wounded is “critical”.
The IDF is still yet to comment on the reports of deaths in its strikes.
Iran playing down attack is good news, says analyst
The fact that Iran is downplaying Israel’s strikes on the country is “good news,” an analyst has told NBC News.
Iran said earlier that the attacks caused only “limited damage in certain areas”.
Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa programme, said that while the full extent of the damage is still unknown, the initial response opens the door to de-escalation.
“By them being dismissive about the damage, it gives them space to say ‘that’s done, scores are settled’,” he said.
Mr Mekelberg added that the end of any direct conflict with Iran, alongside the killings of leaders in the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups, could open a path to move from military action “to the diplomatic, political sphere”.
“Whether Israel and Iran will think like this is a different matter,” he added.
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