Israeli police and first responders gather at the site of an Iranian airstrike in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Six people were wounded, some by shrapnel, at blast sites --AFP ISTANBUL, Mar 08 (AFP/Reuters): Turkey's foreign minister warned against efforts to stir up a civil war inside Iran, while cautioning Tehran after NATO intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran earlier in the week.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said any effort to stir up a civil war inside Iran in a bid to bring about regime change would be a 'historic' mistake.
"We are against all scenarios that aim to instigate a civil war in Iran, that target ethnic or religious fault lines," Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.
"This is the most dangerous scenario," he added.
Israelis head to shelters
after Iran fires missiles
Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties.
An Israeli military statement said air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel".
Alerts were activated across much of northern Israel including the port city of Haifa, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms.
The alerts were later lifted, with the military saying "it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country".
Pope Leo urges dialogue amid
Iran, Middle East violence
Pope Leo said on Sunday that deeply troubling news continued to arrive from Iran and across the Middle East, urging an end to the violence and renewed efforts to open space for dialogue.
Speaking at the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, the pope said the conflict was fuelling fear and hatred and raised concerns that it could spread further, dragging other countries, including "dear Lebanon".
"Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for dialogue in which the voices of peoples can be heard", Pope Leo said.
Kuwait intercepting 'hostile
missile and drone attacks'
Kuwait's military said air defence systems were intercepting missile and drone attacks on Sunday, as Iran continues its strikes across the region.
"Kuwaiti air defences are currently engaging hostile missile and drone attacks," the military said in a post on X, adding that explosion sounds were the result of interceptions by air defence systems.
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