A massive banner featuring the image of US President Donald Trump appeared on a central highway in Tel Aviv on Sunday, containing the message “Thank you, Mr. President”, just hours after American airstrikes had targeted three key nuclear sites in Iran.In a video message, the Israeli prime minister has said, “Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”“In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed. It has done what no other country on earth could do.”“President Trump, I thank you. The people of Israel thank you. The forces of civilization thank you.”This comes amid rising hostilities between Iran and Israel, and with the USA carrying out airstrikes on three of Iran’s most critical nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz, and Eshafan, on Sunday. On his Truth Social platform, US president Donald Trump had said, “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!”On Monday, Israeli fighter jets carried out retaliatory strikes in Tehran shortly after Iran had launched ballistic missiles targeting the Israeli city of Ashdod. Iran’s underground enrichment site of Fordow was again attacked, as reported by Iran’s state television.Iran has warned that its military now has a “free hand” to attack American targets following the Trump administration’s large-scale strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, as reported by AP. The region hosts tens of thousands of US troops across various bases in the Middle East.At an emergency meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi had condemned the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites by the US and Israel, calling them an “unprecedented act of aggression”. He stated that the attacks “delivered a fundamental and irreparable blow” to the international non-proliferation regime. Najafi had said that Iran reserves its right to self-defence.
