Movses Keshishian, editor-in-chief of the Tehran-based Arax newspaper, has confirmed that there are no casualties among the Armenian community in Iran following the overnight Israeli attack, reports Factor.am .

He stated that Israeli strikes were far from Armenian-populated neighborhoods and primarily targeted military facilities. According to him, despite civilian casualties and injuries, as well as damage to residential buildings, the strikes were not directly aimed at civilians.

At present, he emphasized, there is no need to evacuate members of the Armenian community.

“Israel is targeting military and nuclear centers, and military officials. Among the dead are mainly military personnel and scientists working in the nuclear sector. Civilians have not been intentionally targeted, although, as I mentioned, there have been casualties. No embassy buildings were hit, so evacuation is currently unnecessary,” Keshishian explained.

He also added that the Armenian community had anticipated such an attack.

“In recent days, the U.S. had already issued a statement indicating an Israeli strike was expected. Israel had also signaled this, and now we see it has happened. Naturally, Iran will respond. Tehran cannot let this pass. Iran will definitely retaliate,” he stated.

Israel’s air force targeted at least six military bases near Tehran. According to Iranian state media, strikes also affected residential areas in Tehran and several other cities. Reports indicate that the central building of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran was damaged. Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces has declared that the country will respond firmly and decisively to Israel’s attack.