The Israeli military said on Monday it had gained control of airspace over Tehran and destroyed a third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launch pads.The casualties mounted on the fourth day of the conflict between the two regional powers.Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said that more than 50 Israeli fighter jets and precision missiles were involved in the strikes overnight.

This was targeted and destroyed over 120 Iranian launch pads. Missile depots and production facilities were also hit, he said.According to Defrin, Iran launched 65 missiles and dozens of drones at Israel overnight apparently only about half of what Iran’s military had intended to fire.“We thwarted a significant portion of the planned attack.“We can now say that we have achieved full air superiority in the skies over Tehran,’’ he said.He added that Israeli forces were continuing to target units actively attempting to launch missiles or engage Israeli aircraft.Since Friday, Israel has carried out widespread strikes on Iranian territory, including nuclear sites, defence installations, urban targets, and oil and gas infrastructure.According to the military, the attacks have also killed several high-ranking officers and nuclear scientists.Defrin reiterated that the operation’s central aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.He said strikes would now expand further east into Iran.“We still have difficult days ahead,but we will get through them together and emerge victorious,” he said.Iranian strikes kill eightIsrael’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday promised harsh retaliation against Tehran following a fresh wave of deadly Iranian rocket attacks on Israeli cities overnight.Iran had carried out targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel, he said, adding that “residents of Tehran will pay the price and soon.’’According to emergency services, eight people were killed and 92 injured in the overnight attacks.The total number of fatalities in Israel since Friday now stands at 23.Emergency officials reported four strikes in the Tel Aviv area.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy’s branch office in Tel Aviv sustained “minor damage from concussions’’ caused by a nearby impact, but no injuries were reported.Iran casualties mountAt least 224 people have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attacks began last week, the Health Ministry said.Some 1,277 had been injured, a ministry official wrote on X on Sunday. More than 90 per cent of the casualties were civilians, the spokesman said.Iranian media reported that an Israeli strike hit a hospital in the western city of Kermanshah, with a video from the Shargh newspaper showing a damaged intensive care unit and a blood-stained bed.An Israeli army spokesman said the reports are under investigation.Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected civilian sites and may only be targeted if clearly used for military purposes. (dpa/NAN)

A Federal High Courtin in Lagos, on Monday, held that it would await the decision of the Court of Appeal in a suit by Ecobank challenging alleged sale of 6.3 billion shares in Barbican Capital Ltd.Ecobank had filed the suit against Obafemi Otudeko, Barbican Capital Ltd., and Honeywell Flour Mills of Nig.

Plc. as the first, second and third defendants, respectively. Also joined as defendants are: Siloam Global Services Ltd. , Oyeleye Foluke, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc., Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Nigerian Stock Exchange as the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, respectivelyThe plaintiff, through its counsel, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN), is seeking, among other things, an interlocutory order restraining the defendants, collectively or individually, from taking any steps to sell, transfer or otherwise deal with the N6.3 billion aggregate shares of Barbican Capital Ltd. in FBN Holdings Plc. pending determination of the suit.The bank is also seeking an interlocutory order to restrain the defendants from converting the shares of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. pledged to Ecobank in furtherance of a credit facility, into cash or any negotiable instrument, pending determination of the suit.The defendants had, however, filed preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.They filed the objections on the grounds that a similar suit was pending before Justice Yellin Bogoro.The defendants also raised objections on the grounds that there was a pending appeal on the matter before the Court of Appeal.They said that the pending suit and appeal deprived the court of the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.The defence had sought transfer of the case to the court’s administration judge since a similar suit was before Justice.In a ruling on Monday, Dipeolu held that the court would not entertain applications in a suit pending before an appellate court.“It will amount to judicial recklessness for the court to proceed,” he held.He held that it was trite law that once an appeal was entered and the court was notified, the lower court would be stripped of its jurisdiction.He cited the case of Okafor versus Attorney-General of Anambra State.He said that parties in the suit had already informed the court of the existence of a similar suit before Bogoro, adding that the issue had been resolved.He said that the court would not act on any application before it pending the court of appeal’s decision.Dipeolu adjourned the case until Dec. 1 for mention.Report says that Ecobank brought its suit marked FHC/L/CS/638/2025 pursuant to Order 26 Rules 5(1) and 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) 2019, and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.The suit is supported by a 38-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Mr Jafaru Kupa, a Financial Officer at Ecobank.At the last adjourned date, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Mr Ade Adedeji (SAN), and Mr Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) appeared for the first, second and third defendants, respectively.Mr Ademola Adesina appeared under protest for the fourth and fifth defendants, while Ms Abiola Ogundare and Mr Luqman Salman represented the sixth and seventh defendants.Explaining his appearance under protest, Adesina said that fourth and fifth defendants had not been personally served with the originating processes.He claimed that the defendants only became aware of the suit through media reports. (NAN)

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, has arrived Yelwata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, where scores were killed in a coordinated attack on Friday night.Report says that his visit followed the prolonged attacks on communities in the state by armed herders/bandits.

Musa is expected to meet with Gov. Hyacinth Alia in Government House before leaving. Report says that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, is also expected in Benue for a working visit. (NAN)