Explosions were heard around midnight Monday in multiple locations in Tehran, capital of Iran, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered its 38th day. Also on Monday, Iran's Fars news agency reported that a residential house in the central city of Qom had been attacked by the U.S. and Israeli forces, resulting in five deaths. The death toll may rise further as cleanup is still underway.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said that they had detected missiles launched from Iran on Monday morning and they were intercepting, while air raid sirens were triggered in several parts of central Israel.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Sunday that it had carried out the 97th wave of attacks against U.S. and Israeli targets under its "True Promise 4" operation.
According to the statement, the IRGC launched large-scale missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, including a secret assembly point of U.S. officers near the Mohammed Al-Ahmad Naval Base in Kuwait, causing heavy casualties.
The statement also said that an Iranian cruise missile had struck an Israeli-linked vessel near the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.
It added that an attack on a U.S. military personnel assembly point in the United Arab Emirates had resulted in 25 casualties.
Explosions heard in Iranian capital; residential house in Qom attacked
Explosions heard in Iranian capital; residential house in Qom attacked
Explosions heard in Iranian capital; residential house in Qom attacked
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
