TEHRAN -- A top Iranian military commander said Thursday that Iran prefers and prioritizes the path of diplomacy for resolving the nuclear issue, but is also ready for war if threatened, according to the official news agency IRNA.
"Our preference and priority regarding addressing the nuclear issue is the path of diplomacy and a fair manner, far from the atmosphere of threat. However, we are ready for any war on any scale," Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Hossein Salami said at a commemoration ceremony in the northeastern city of Mashhad. (Iran-US-Nuclear Issue)
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GAZA -- At least 21 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the Civil Defense in Gaza said.
Nine people, including children and women, were killed when Israeli warplanes attacked a residential house in the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua. (Gaza-Israeli Attacks-Casualties)
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KHARTOUM -- At least three children were killed and four others injured on Thursday in a drone strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman city, northwest of Sudan's capital Khartoum, according to a volunteer group.
"An RSF drone struck a home in District 16, west of Omdurman, killing three children and injuring four others, who were transferred to the hospital for medical treatment," the Sudanese Doctors Network, a volunteer group, said in a statement. (Sudan-RSF Attack-Child Casualty)
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BEIRUT -- One person was killed and eight others injured on Thursday in the Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon's southern city of Nabatieh, said the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health.
According to the National News Agency (NNA), a tense and anxious atmosphere prevailed among residents in the city of Nabatieh and its surrounding areas following the Israeli airstrikes that targeted the highlands and woodlands between the village of Kfar Tebnit, Upper Nabatieh, and the city of Kfar Remen. (Lebanon-Israel-Strikes) ■



