Israel, Iran Strikes Kill 78, Spur UN Conference Delay

Israel launched air and drone strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and military sites, with Iran's UN ambassador reporting 78 dead—mostly civilians, including women and children—and over 320 injured. The strikes were justified by Israel as necessary to halt Iran's atomic weapons progress. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel, causing explosions in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and injuring at least 34 people. The escalation has led to the postponement of a key UN conference on the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution and heightened fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran accused the US of supporting Israel and warned that any nation backing Israel would be viewed as complicit, urging UN Security Council intervention. The situation remains volatile as both sides cite existential threats and international actors seek to de-escalate tensions.