Scott Detro, Host:

Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the third day today. The Iranian Health Ministry has put casualty numbers in more than 220, but activists say it could still be more. Official Israeli Search and Rescue Service says that 13 people have been killed in the Iranian airstrike since Friday. Here is the NPR’s accident in Tel Aviv with the latest, where Siren has voiced. Welcome.

Headel al-Shalchi, Byline: Thanks.

Detrow: Where are you now? How are you?

Al-Shalchi: Yes, I’m fine, thank you. I am currently talking to you with a bomb shelter, and that’s why I can echo a little bit. This is the second attack of the day so far. The siren bus moved, followed by a huge boom, which means that Iranian missiles are usually intercepted by the powerful air defense system of Israel, called The Iron Dome. We only received a notice from the Israeli army, however, had a hit in many places, but it is still very early that it is really very early to tell it. I mean, overnight, we really experienced the worst attacks coming from Iran. The sirens closed for some time around 3 pm, and we were in shelter for a short time. The explosions were fierce, and some missiles dodged the iron dome and killed many neighborhoods yesterday.

This morning, I visited the worst hit area called Bat Yama to the south of Tel Aviv. There, I saw the search and rescue teams wearing orange vests. They were all around a large -scale high -growth that was completely tickled from one side – debris, metals from inside buildings, glass on the streets were shattered. The paramedics I had talked to, he said that he was still searching for three people trapped under the rubble. Six people were killed there. I met 61 -year -old Kopchia Ilana. She said she was in her home bomb shelter when the missile hit nearby.

Kopchak Ilana: Everything is moving. I do not know what to say, speechless. This is a disaster. I can’t eat I can’t sleep

Al-Shalchi: I mean, accidental, Israelis rocket fire and sirens and bombs are not strangers for shelters. But given some images of this destruction, it seems at least, different from here.

Al-Shalchi: Yes. Well, and of absolutely – I mean, Israel is actually non -Achukas in general about missile fire, or they are formed in this way. You know, they live near Gaza, where Hamas has removed rockets for years in Israel, Lebanon, where Hizbullah has also removed rockets. But it is different. Residential infrastructure and military goals and people who have been killed have such destruction that many Israelis have not seen before. And, you know, I talked to an Israeli friend today on coffee, and he said, I think we have got a taste – a small taste of Palestinians in Gaza is experiencing a daily basis from Israeli air strikes on a daily basis and at any moment.

Detrow: What is happening in Iran, what do we know about it at this time?

Al-Shalchi: Okay, we know that Israel is going to energy sources from last night. Iran’s oil ministry said that a fuel and gasoline depot was killed in North Tehran, so Tehran was one of the country’s largest oil refineries. In addition, two main Iranian energy sites in the south of Iran were also targeted. And then the Israeli army said that it killed Mashhad Airport in East Iran. He said that it was the deepest strike in the country that he has done. And, you know, today, President Trump called Israel and Iran to make a deal. And he said that, quotation, “many calls and meetings are now being held.” But neither Iran nor Israel have said anything about those calls or meetings. And so, for now, they are both committed to exchanging fire.

Detrow: This is the accident of NPR in Tel Aviv. thank you so much.

Al-Shalchi: You are very welcome.

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