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Israel acknowledged the strikes but disputed Iranian characterizations of civilian targeting. A United States Central Command spokesperson stated early in the conflict that the protection of civilians was of “utmost importance” and that American and Israeli forces had never and would never deliberately target civilians. Iranian officials rejected these assurances, with the deputy health minister insisting that the vast majority of those killed were civilians going about their daily lives.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel have been substantial, though Israeli air defenses have intercepted the majority of incoming threats. Iran launched nine separate salvoes of missiles at Israel over the course of the conflict. Israeli authorities reported that falling debris and cluster munitions from intercepted and unintercepted Iranian missiles caused widespread damage across central and northern Israel. The deadliest single strike on Israeli territory came on March 1, when nine civilians were killed in a residential neighborhood in Beit Shemesh. Missile fragments fell in the Old City of Jerusalem, causing damage near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Later in the conflict, Iranian ballistic missiles broke through Israeli defenses to directly strike the cities of Dimona and Arad in the south, wounding more than 100 people in those two strikes alone.

Israel strikes intended to ‘cripple’ Iran’s nuclear program, destabilize regime: Experts

On the diplomatic front, Israel’s operation has attracted a complex mixture of support and condemnation. The United States has been Israel’s most significant partner throughout the campaign, providing military assets, intelligence, and political cover. The United Kingdom authorized the use of British bases to support the strikes. But the international reaction has been far from uniformly supportive. The United Nations Secretary-General condemned the initial strikes. Multiple countries questioned their legality under international law. Spain refused to allow American forces to use its territory. Several nations urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire, though those calls have not produced results.