Israel wants to gain three objectives in attacking Iran

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is ‘changing the face of the Middle East’ with its military campaign against Iran, which could lead to ‘radical changes’ in Iran.

Israel is pursuing three main objectives: the elimination of the nuclear programme, the elimination of ballistic missile production capability, and the elimination of the axis of terrorism”, he said, referring to Iranian-backed militant groups in the Middle East.

“We will do what is necessary to achieve these goals, and we are well coordinated with the United States,” he said.
He also did not rule out killing Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Netanyahu has said the Israeli offensive aims to thwart the “existential” threats posed by Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes.

More than 600 foreigners flee Iran into Azerbaijan

Hundreds of foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan since Israel began striking the country.

“Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan,” an unnamed government official told an agency.

The evacuees, who crossed the border via the Astara checkpoint on the Caspian Sea coast, are being transported to Baku airport and “flown to their home countries on international flights”, the source said.

Among those evacuated are citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China and Vietnam.

Inputs taken from Al Jazeera