Russia condemns the escalation, while President Putin is receiving real-time updates, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
© Getty Images/David Clapp
Russia “is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation of tensions” between Israel and Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, commenting on the Israeli strikes.
Earlier on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a series of attacks targeting both military and nuclear sites in Iran. Central Tehran was also hit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The attack came just two days before the sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
Peskov told reporters on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is monitoring the situation through the Defense Ministry, Foreign Intelligence Service, and Foreign Ministry.
“President Putin receives real-time reports on events in the region,” Peskov said.
Read more
Iranian media reported that several top-level military commanders, including Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami and Deputy Chief of Army Staff Gholam Ali Rashid, and at least six nuclear scientists were killed in the strikes.
According to state news agency IRNA, Tehran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following the airstrikes on its territory, which it described as “blatant aggression” by Israel. The Iranian Army earlier warned that “a bitter lesson awaits Netanyahu.” Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Friday morning that Israel “should expect severe punishment.”
In light of the rapidly deteriorating security situation, the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv has advised Russian citizens to refrain from traveling to Israel and urged those already in the country to stay near shelters.