Israeli military announces 'wave' of air strikes on Iran

JERUSALEM, Apr 7: Israel's military announced a "wave" of air strikes on Iran after US President Donald Trump's said that a truce proposal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran from international mediators was not yet enough.

"A short while ago, the IDF completed an air strike wave with the aim of damaging Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran and additional areas across Iran," the Israeli military wrote on its official Telegram channel.

Iranian authorities said a bridge outside the city of Qom and a rail bridge in central Iran were hit, killing two people. A key highway linking Tabriz to Tehran was also shut down following an attack, while railway tracks near Karaj were struck.

Explosions were heard across Tehran and surrounding areas, with Iranian media reporting that at least 18 people, including two children, were killed in strikes in Alborz province. Local outlets also said a synagogue in the capital was "completely destroyed".

Strikes were also reported on Kharg Island, the hub of Iran's oil export industry located in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media said several explosions were heard, while US officials cited by international media said the attacks targeted military facilities rather than oil infrastructure.

Kharg Island hosts Iran's largest oil terminal and is a key pillar of its economy. Previous US strikes in March targeted dozens of military sites on the island without hitting energy facilities.

The conflict has also spread across the wider Gulf region. Overnight, attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in the eastern industrial city of Jubail, triggering a fire and prompting evacuations. Saudi authorities said air defence systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom's eastern region, with debris falling near power facilities.

Authorities temporarily closed the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as a precaution, before reopening it hours later.

On the ground in Iran, fear is mounting among civilians. A university student in Tehran said people were increasingly alarmed by the escalating threats.

"Some people think they are a joke, but death is not a joke," she said.    �"AFP