Israeli Foreign Minister Condemns Iran for Deliberate Civilian Attacks
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has issued a stark condemnation of Iran's recent missile strikes, labeling them as clear war crimes. Speaking from the site of an attack in Arad, Sa'ar accused the Iranian regime of intentionally targeting civilian areas with the sole objective of inflicting harm on non-combatants.
Sa'ar's Statement at the Attack Site in Arad
Addressing the media in Arad, Sa'ar emphasized that the strikes show no military purpose. "You can see here very clearly the war crimes of the Iranian regime," he stated. "This is a totally civil neighbourhood, with no military dimension, and the Iranian regime is solely and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian populations." He highlighted that over the past three weeks, all casualties from Iranian attacks have been civilians, with no military losses reported.
Pattern of Attacks and Civilian Casualties
Sa'ar pointed to a disturbing pattern in the attacks, suggesting it is part of a calculated strategy. "The strategy is to shoot on civilian populations in order to increase the number of civilian casualties," he explained. He cited recent strikes in multiple locations, including:
- Arad: Where over 80 people were injured, including children severely hurt.
- Dimona: Another attack site with children among the injured.
- Tel Aviv: A strike that occurred just before his statement, lacking any military significance.
He described a harrowing incident in Arad where a child was thrown from a third-floor bed due to the impact, underscoring the human toll.
IDF Confirmation and Broader Context
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) corroborated Sa'ar's claims, reporting that the missile strike in Arad injured more than 80 people. Brigadier General Elad Edri, Chief of Staff of Israel's Home Command, visited the site and noted the direct hit on a populated area. "Once again, the Iranian enemy aims its missiles into civilian population centres," he said, adding that dozens were severely injured in the evening attack.
Sa'ar concluded by reiterating that these actions constitute war crimes, stating, "So it is clearly a war crime." The ongoing conflict, now in its fourth week, has seen a focus on civilian areas, raising international concerns over humanitarian violations.
