Israel-Iran conflict: On call, Putin, Xi term West Asia 'top priority'; condemn Israeli strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping "strongly condemned" Israeli aerial strikes on Iran, urging both parties to "end hostilities through diplomatic means"."Parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war," Xi said, reported news agency AFP citing Xinhua.Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that "Both sides adhere to identical approaches, strongly condemn Israel's actions." Xi and Putin also acknowledged in the call that cessation of hostilities in West Asia was the "top priority"."Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes," Xi said, according to Xinhua.The talks between the two leaders come as the West Asian region continues to boil amid escalating kinetic actions between the Jewish state and Tehran.In an out-of-proportion retaliation, an Iranian missile on Thursday struck the Soroka Hospital in southern Israel. "Several hits were identified as a result of the missile barrage--one of them hitting the largest hospital in southern Israel. More details will follow," IDF said in a statement.Soon after the attack, the Israeli defence minister issued a chilling remark against Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, vowing his elimination for the first time out in the open since the conflict."Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed -- he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal," Israeli defence minister Israel Katz told AFP in Holon near Tel Aviv. "Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist," he added.Israel earlier launched a deadly strike on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, intensifying a conflict that has now raged for seven straight days. Before the assault, Israel issued a severe warning via social media, posting satellite images with the targeted facility circled in red and urging civilians to flee the area, a clear message of what was to come.The clash has spiralled into one of the most aggressive military face-offs between the two nations in recent history. Iranian state media reported fresh missile barrages aimed at Tel Aviv, with Fars News Agency describing the rockets as "roaring over" the heart of Israel's commercial capital. The toll on both sides has been devastating. Iranian strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel and left hundreds injured, with several missiles slamming into residential buildings in central cities. In response, Israeli forces have pounded key Iranian nuclear sites and military strongholds, reportedly inflicting hundreds of casualties and causing widespread destruction. The region now appears to be teetering on the edge of a much broader war.