Foreign Tit bits
Compiled by Yadnom Awu Asaba
France
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has called for an end to the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran.
He said only diplomacy, rather than military might,could enduringly end the conflict.
Macron spoke shortly after his meeting with the country’s military and intelligence chiefs in Paris.
He spoke ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European Union, EU, in Brussels, Belgium.
The French President spoke as fighting intensified between Israel and Iran over the nuclear programme of the latter.
Iran
Israel continued its heavy military strikes on Iran overnight, with a total of 58 air assets, especially fighter jets, involved.
Targets hit include the strategic Arak Heavy Water Reactor, a core component of Iran ‘ s nuclear programme, and multiple others, including in Teheran.
The strikes come as unofficial sources said Israel had killed nearly 500 persons and wounded about twice that number since its bombing of the Persian state began seven days ago.
Israel launched its campaign on Friday allegedly after getting the all clear from America, which officials were due to resume their talks with Iranian delegates on the nuclear programme.
America
British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy , is set to meet his American counterpart, Marc Rubio, today, on the escalating military crisis between Israel and Iran.
The meeting comes as both nations continue to haul heavy weapons at each other.
Britain, like France and its other European Union, EU, members, favours a diplomatic solution to the conflict which began on Friday when Israel, apparently green lighted by America, began its assault on Iran
The crisis has split global opinion, with most of the global community backing the diplomatic option, while Israel, backed by America, insists only potent military action to compel Iran to opt for dialogue and be honest about it.
American President, Donald Trump,much to the surprise of the rest of the world, hadbcalled for Iran to surrender unconditionally, for the talks to resume.
But the offer has roundly been rejected by Iran via its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump had also, in a recent social media post, threatened to kill Khamenei, but said the time was not rife.
Israel
Government officials and emergency workers continued to count the cost of the damage caused by Iran’ s overnight strikes across the country.
Officials said several targets were hit in the attacks which came in three broad waves, the last, as day broke this morning.
One of the targets was the Beersheba Hospital , where structures were destroyed and at least 50 persons were injured, some seriously,according to official accounts.
Israel has a strict censorship policy regarding its military and other security engagements.
However, its official casualty figures show at least 24 killed and 300 wounded in the attacks the past week.
Unofficial tally is much higher, with some estimates holding that as many as 800 persons have been wounded, and as as many as 20,000 building, vehicles and other assets either damaged or destroyed.
Iran is deploying its upgraded missiles in the attacks to enhance their evasion of Israel’ s air defence systems, particularly the Iron Dome.
America
American President Donald Trump is still undecided regarding the Israeli request for America to join the ongoing military campaign against Iran.
Israel, which has vowed to dismantle Iran’ s nuclear programme, recently launched an unprecedented military assault on Teheran, seeking to dismantle and destroy its nuclear programme by targeting the enabling facilities.
But its efforts , though partially successful, are incapable of destroying the facilities and erasing the programme for lack of the required military capacity to destroy the underground nuclear facilities buried below 300 feet of solid rock under mountains.
Experts say only the 30,000 tonne Bunker Burster Bombs can do that, hence the Israeli plea with Washington for help
However, White House sources say Trump had yet to take a decision on Israel ‘s prayer because of its possible effects.
Experts warn that the direct military involvement of America in the conflict could anger Iran and make it attack American military bases in the Gulf.
