Austria
IAEA Seeks Urgent Ceasefire In Israeli/Iranian Conflict
The International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, has called for urgent cessation of military fire power in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The plea was made today by the Director -General of the agency, Rafael Grossi in a chat with the media in Vienna, Austria.
Grossi said that effective cessation of hostilities was the only way accurate assessment of the effects of America’s Saturday night assault on Iran s nuclear facilities in Isfahan Natanz and Fordow could be carried out.
According to him, there was still no evidence of an increase in the level of radiation at the sites struck by America ‘s B-2 Bombers, though they attacks might have caused extensive damage to the targets
Syria
At Least 20 killed In Attack On Church
More than 20 Christians were killed and many more injured in the late Sunday attack on worshippers in a church in Syria.
It was the first major terrorism assault on the minority Christian community at their shrine since the fall of the Assad regime some eight months ago.
The motive for the attack remained unknown but it marked a significant setback for the new administration in the country which had vowed to protect minorities.
Christians are a minority in Syria and had enjoyed special protection during the Assad regime.
Belgium
EU Foreign Ministers Meet on Israeli/Iranian War
Foreign Ministers of the European Union, EU, meet later today to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Iran.
The war centres on the enrichment of Iran ‘s nuclear programme, and began after Israel launched a June 13 military attack on the Persian state.
The war is into the second week, and both countries have exchanged high calibre military fire power.
Following America’s direct military involvement on Saturday night, tensions have dramatically risen after Iran and its allies, the Houthis of Yemen, vowed swift reprisals for the American attack on the nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow.
The tension has heightened the necessity for dialogue among stakeholders, and calls for intervention.
Today’ s EU Foreign Ministers meeting is a follow up to the calls, and it comes days after the foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, UK, David Lammy, and his colleagues from a few other Western countries held a meeting with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi in Geneva.
Those talks made no tangible results and today ‘s efforts appear to be a strident attempt to rekindle hope in diplomacy as well as etch relevance for the EU which had become increasingly sidelined in global affairs since the Trump Presidency was inaugurated.
Trump ordered the strategic strikes on Iran on Saturday and Lammy and Araghchi were still talking in Geneva.
Iran
Israel Sustains Strikes on Iranian Targets
Israel, overnight, sustained its heavy military strikes on targets in Iran.
The strikes targeted multiple sites, including military and other security- related ones
The Israeli Defence Force, IDF, said it targeted multiple targets across the vast country.
It claimed to have destroyed 50 Iranian mlitary aircraft in the sorties, although the claims could not be independently verified.
Unofficial sources said more than 700 Iranians have been killed and many more injured in the Israeli bombardments which entered their tenth day today.
Israel
Iran Hits Targets In First Daily Strikes on Israel
For the first time in 10 days, Iran, this mornnng, struck several targets in Israel.
It was the first daytime strike on the Jewish state by Iran, and the development points to its attempt to cause maximum disruptions in Israel.
There were no immediate reports of casualties but emergency services said that at least seven targets had been hit in no fewer than four cities, including Tel-Aviv,Ashkelon, Ashdod and Jerusalem.
Experts say Iran used both missiles and drones in the attacks which hit Jerusalem for the first time since the conflict began.
Today’ attacks come against the backdrop of a similar scenario yesterday in which more than 80 persons, were injured in attacks by Teheran, according to figures made available by the emergency services.
By official accounts some 25 persons have died and 1,300 others wounded by Iranian gunfire on Israel.
Britain
Ukrainian President Meets British PM Today In London
The President of Ukraine , Wladimyr Zelensky, is due in London today for a meeting with the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
The meeting is expected to focus on Ukraine’ s war with Russia.
The war, now in its third year, is weighing heavily on the military of Ukraine which has seen its military and financial support from American dwindle after American President, Donald Trump, put a knife to it.
Though America still provides actionable intelligence for Ukraine, Trump’ s sudden action has seen the European Union, EU, struggle to fill the huge funding deficit created by America’s fund strap.
Trump had urged the EU and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, to rise up to adequately fund the security organization.
Though Britain is no longer a member of the EU after the Brexit, it remains a strategic member of NATO, and the meeting of the two leaders is expected to seek ways to enhance financial and military assets support for Ukraine which has been losing territory and core assets in battles with Russian forces.
Russia has taken either full or partial control of at least four regions in Ukraine, and is massing up troops around its Sumy Region in a hint at an imminent Winter offensive.
Ukraine
Seven Killed, Scores Injured In Russian Kiyev Attacks
At least seven persons were killed and scored of others wounded in Russia’s massive overnight aerial attacks on the capital of Ukraine, Kiyev.
Two other persons also died in attacks elsewhere, according to emergency workers.
The overnight strikes involved more than 350 drones and 16 cruise missiles, according to the President of Ukraine, Wladimyr Zelensky.
They marked a continuation of increasing Russia strikes on Kiyev and other parts of Ukraine, and they come as President Zelensky is due to hold talks in London with British Prime Minister,Sir Keir Starmer.
The talks are expected to focus on the prospects of enhanced British support for Ukraine which has been under ceaseless military onslaught by Russia for more than three years.
