By Desmond Nleya
Conflicting signals emerged over potential diplomacy between the United States and Iran as fighting across the Middle East escalated sharply, leaving dozens dead and raising fears of a wider regional war.
US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were underway, a claim swiftly rejected by officials in Iran, who dismissed the remarks as “fake news.”
Meanwhile, continued US and Israeli air strikes on targets in Iran have resulted in mounting civilian casualties. At least 12 people were killed and 28 others wounded in a strike in southern Tehran, according to local reports.
In retaliation, Iranian forces, alongside the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, launched a fresh wave of missile attacks targeting Tel Aviv and northern regions of Israel. The strikes reportedly killed at least one person and injured more than a dozen others.
On the northern front, Israeli troops advanced deeper into southern Lebanon after outlining plans for a broader military occupation of the area. The latest escalation has pushed the death toll from the past 24 hours to at least 33.
The intensifying exchanges mark a significant deterioration in regional security, as diplomatic uncertainty and military action continue to unfold simultaneously.
Source: Aljazeera
