Israel and Iran trade more strikes on fifth day of conflict

Israel and Iran are trading strikes on a fifth day of conflict, with civilians in flashpoint areas facing waves of attacks. In Iran, at least 224 people have been killed since hostilities began. In Israel, 24 people have been killed, CNN reported.

The foreign ministers of 20 Arab and Muslim countries denounced Israel’s attacks on Iran and called for de-escalation in a joint statement, according to Egypt’s official news agency MENA.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Turkey, Chad, Algeria, the Comoros, the UAE, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, and Mauritania expressed their “grave concern over the dangerous escalation in the region.”

The ministers “asserted the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the principles of good neighborliness, urging all parties to settle their disputes by peaceful means,” the statement said.

They also “underscored the importance of creating a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction,” and urged countries to accede to the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons treaty.

Israel is not a party to the treaty – an international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

The ministers stressed that the conflict should be resolved with diplomacy and “cannot be resolved by military means.”

President Donald Trump is back in the US after leaving the G7 summit early, having directed his team to attempt a meeting with Iranian officials as quickly as possible. Trump denied he left to work on a ceasefire and said something “much bigger” is in the works. Yesterday, Trump warned Iranians to evacuate Tehran, underscoring the danger to its 10 million residents.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he believes Israel’s strikes have significantly set back Iran’s nuclear program. “I estimate we are sending them back a very, very long time,” he said. Israel has targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities, with the extent of the damage unclear.