Israel strikes Arak reactor, no leak of radioactive materials confirmed

Now in its eighth day, the conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating.

Israel bombed Iran's nuclear reactor that is under construction, while Iran launched missiles armed with cluster munitions.

Park Hyo-been has more.

Multiple explosions rocked Iran's Arak heavy water reactor on Thursday, local time, following Israeli airstrikes.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Air Force aircraft hit targets of the nuclear weapons program, they hit the nuclear reactor in the Arak area, we are talking about a reactor that is not active but has the potential to produce enriched plutonium that is used to create the core of a nuclear weapon."

The International Atomic Energy Agency warned of the potential for radioactive materials to spread into the atmosphere, although no radiation leak has been detected so far.

The escalation has gone beyond the Arak strike.

On the same day, Israel initially claimed strikes on Iran's Natanz and Bushehr nuclear sites, but later called the Bushehr reference a mistake.

Still, the military has neither confirmed nor denied an attack there, leaving the door open for future strikes.

Meanwhile, Iran launched a ballistic missile armed with a cluster-bomb warhead — a weapon banned by many nations for its indiscriminate effects and high civilian risk, as it scatters dozens or even hundreds of smaller bombs.

At least 639 people have been killed in Iran this week by Israeli strikes, according to the Associated Press.

Israeli officials say 24 of their citizens have been killed in the conflict so far.

With tensions rising, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, local time, that he would allow two more weeks for diplomacy — before deciding whether to authorize a military strike on Iran.

''I have a message directly from the president and I quote: 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations, that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go, within the next two weeks.'''

For now, diplomacy is racing against time as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to mount.

Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.