Israel-Iran Conflict: Khamenei Declares War Amid Rising Casualties – A Turning Point in Middle East Tensions

The Israel Iran conflict has now taken the form of a war. After attacking each other for 6 days, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has officially declared war. Khamenei said that the war has started now and Iran is not going to show any mercy.

Earlier, Donald Trump said that everyone should immediately vacate Tehran and Iran should surrender unconditionally. He also said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will not be killed now, although America knows where he is hiding and he is an easy target. While Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz says that Khamenei can have the same fate as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone regarding the continuously worsening situation.

How many people have died so far?

More than 1300 people have been injured in the Israel-Iran war. News agency AP has quoted a human rights group as saying that 585 people have been killed and 1,326 others injured in Israeli attacks on Iran. At the same time, more than 16 Israelis have died.

America sent fighter jets to West Asia

According to a Reuters report, the US is sending fighter jets to the Middle East amid the Israel-Iran war. Three US officials said that the US military is deploying more fighter jets in the Middle East and increasing the deployment of other warplanes, which will strengthen US military forces in the region amid the war between Israel and Iran.

An official said that the deployment includes F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. Two officials stressed the defensive nature of the deployment of fighter jets, which have been used to shoot down drones and projectiles.

US closes embassy in Jerusalem
The US has closed the embassy in Jerusalem until Friday. The US Embassy in Jerusalem said it would remain closed until Friday and instructed government employees to stay in safe places. In a statement posted on its website, the embassy said on Tuesday evening that the embassy closure was a result of the current security situation and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Donald Trump called a National Security Council meeting on Iran. AFP has given this report quoting a White House official. US President Donald Trump is calling a meeting of the National Security Council to assess the growing Iran-Israel conflict, AFP quoted a White House official as saying. The high-level talks come at a time when Trump is stepping up his rhetoric against Iran's supreme leader, fuelling speculation about whether the US could consider direct military intervention.