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Five Killed in Attack in Iran’s Southwest

People burning the office of the representative of the supreme leader in Izeh (Twitter)
People burning the office of the representative of the supreme leader in Izeh (Twitter)
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Five Killed in Attack in Iran’s Southwest

People burning the office of the representative of the supreme leader in Izeh (Twitter)
People burning the office of the representative of the supreme leader in Izeh (Twitter)

Gunmen opened fire in a bazaar in the southwestern Iranian city of Izeh on Wednesday, killing at least five people, and wounding civilians and security forces, state TV reported. 

Video recordings showed mass rallies in the city on Wednesday evening, in line with a general strike called by activists across Iran to commemorate the 2019 nationwide protests.

A video showed that Molotov cocktails were thrown at the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s representative in the city. 

The state-run ISNA news agency said gunmen in a car opened fire on people, killing a child, a woman and three men. It said two members of the Basij were among those killed .

Media affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said that two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire from a Kalashnikov rifle.

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Israeli Military to Begin Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Seminary Students Next Week

Policemen try to lift up Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, as they protest, after an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires the state to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the military, in Bnei Brak, Israel July 16, 2024. (Reuters)
Policemen try to lift up Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, as they protest, after an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires the state to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the military, in Bnei Brak, Israel July 16, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Military to Begin Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Seminary Students Next Week

Policemen try to lift up Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, as they protest, after an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires the state to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the military, in Bnei Brak, Israel July 16, 2024. (Reuters)
Policemen try to lift up Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, as they protest, after an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires the state to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the military, in Bnei Brak, Israel July 16, 2024. (Reuters)

The Israeli military will next week begin the process of drafting candidates from Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, the military said on Tuesday.

The issue is especially sensitive amid the war against Hamas in Gaza and related fighting on other fronts that have caused the worst Israeli casualties in decades.

Israelis are bound by law to serve in the military from the age of 18 for 24-32 months. Members of Israel's 21% percent Arab minority and ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students have largely been exempt for decades.

In June, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the defense ministry must end that longstanding exemption for ultra-Orthodox seminary students, creating new political strains for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

An Israeli military statement said that starting Sunday "the process of issuing initial summons orders for the first call-up" ahead of the upcoming July recruitment cycle would commence.

Minor clashes erupted on Tuesday between ultra-Orthodox protesters and police as dozens blocked a main Israeli highway but were quickly dispersed.

Netanyahu's coalition includes two ultra-Orthodox parties that regard the exemptions as key to keep their constituents in religious seminaries and away from a melting-pot military that might test their conservative values.

The issue has prompted protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up 13% of Israel's 10 million population - a figure expected to reach 19% by 2035. Their refusal to serve in wars they generally support is a long festering schism in Israeli society.