Bangladesh has opened a hotline for its citizens in Iran, where at least 10 cities have been affected in Israeli missile attacks, as tension between the countries has escalated since June 13.
The Foreign Ministry also confirmed on Sunday that there have been no reports of casualties among Bangladeshis so far.
The hotline numbers are +989908577368 and +989122065745, which are reachable via WhatsApp.
According to official statistics, there are 672 Bangladeshis, including students and patients, in Iran. However, the number of Bangladeshis with irregular status is between 8,000 and 14,000.
Bangladesh does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. In April, the interim government reinstated the written instruction prohibiting travel to Israel. The ban persisted during the Awami League tenure, but in 2020, the government removed the mention from passports.
Loss of lives
The three days of fierce attacks have resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, across Iran.
Iran’s state media and the Health Ministry cited 224 deaths till Sunday as the attacks on nuclear programme sites and military installations continued.
Other sources, like the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, cited up to 406 deaths, including military personnel and civilians. Over 1,200 injuries were reported, with 320 to 654 wounded, according to various accounts.
Key figures of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and aerospace chief Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in Israeli strikes on June 13, alongside nuclear scientists.
The cities outside Tehran where Israel attacked with missiles are Isfahan, Natanz, Kermanshah, Bandar Abbas, Karaj, Qom, Mashhad, Arak and Bushehr.
Official Israeli figures and emergency services reported a total of 13 deaths, including 10 resulting from overnight strikes on June 15, with specific cases involving four women and children in Bat Yam and three individuals in northern Israel. Injuries ranged from 21 to 435, with 140 wounded in central Israel alone.
These numbers are drawn from Iranian and Israeli official statements and the media, but discrepancies exist due to differing reporting and verification challenges.
Multifaced arsenal
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has employed a multi-faceted approach in the war against Iran, which includes manned aircraft, drones, precision weapons, and intelligence operations for a broader offensive.
On the other hand, Iranโs retaliation primarily involved ballistic missiles (e.g., Fattah-1, Kheibar Shekan) and drones.
Airstrikes: Over 200 Israeli aircraft conducted five waves of strikes, dropping more than 330 munitions on approximately 100 targets, including nuclear facilities (e.g., Natanz, Isfahan), military bases, and missile infrastructure.
Drones: Covert drones, smuggled into Iran and operated from a base near Tehran, targeted air defenses and missile launchers. Explosive drones were used in precise attacks.
Precision-Guided Munitions: GBU-39/B Slim Bombs were documented on F-16s, alongside Spike anti-tank missiles and Ankor missile family (Blue Sparrow, Rocks) for targeted strikes.
Covert Operations: Mossad executed sabotage missions, with commandos infiltrating Iran to disrupt air defenses and missile systems.
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