Tehran, MINA – An Israeli airstrike targeted a building associated with Iran’s influential Assembly of Experts in the holy city of Qom on Tuesday, according to Iranian and Israeli media reports, as the conflict continues to target the Islamic Republic’s political and religious infrastructure.
Iran’s Press TV reported that the old building of the Assembly of Experts in Qom was hit in the US-Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency clarified that the structure struck was an old auxiliary building that was not used for official meetings.
A significant claim was made by a senior Israeli official who told Israel’s public broadcaster KAN that the army attacked the Council of Experts “while they were convening to choose a new supreme leader.” No casualties have been reported from the strike as of yet.
The attack on the Assembly of Experts comes at a critical moment for Iran’s leadership. The body, composed of senior jurists and clerics, holds the constitutional responsibility of selecting, supervising, and if necessary, dismissing Iran’s highest political and religious authority. The strike follows Iran’s confirmation on Sunday of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial wave of US and Israeli attacks.
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The broader regional conflict escalated dramatically on Saturday when the US and Israel launched a large-scale offensive on Iran, which has reportedly killed nearly 800 people. In retaliation, Tehran has launched sustained drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Gulf countries that host US military assets.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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