As many as 10 people were killed and 20 others were injured in Iranian strikes in Israel's Beit Shemesh on Sunday. This development comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint precision strikes by the United States (US) and Israel.
Beit Shemesh is a city in central Israel, which is 30 km or 19 miles from west of Jerusalem. Israel's medical emergency teams have arrived at the spot for the rescue operation. A helicopter has also been called to airlift the wounded from the site.
"Four people were killed in a direct hit on Beit Shemesh," said Magen David Adom spokesman Zaki Heller.
The missile strikes come after Iran warned of strong retaliation following Khamenei's killing. Iran has also targeted US bases in the Middle East, and warned that it would continue attacking Washington and Tel Aviv's assets in the region.
Netanyahu says Israel to continue strikes
However, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country would also continue its strikes against Iran, which he said has called for "death to Israel and death to America" for the past 47 years. He also called for a regime change in the Middle East nation. Similarly, US President Donald Trump has also said that Iran should avoid escalating the situation further.
"Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!" the Republican president posted on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, world leaders have urged peace and said all sides should resolve the differences through dialogue. During the UN Security Council on Saturday, the UN chief and many countries urged a halt to attacks and a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from expanding further into the region and beyond.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that everything must be done to prevent an escalation. The alternative, he warned, is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.
