Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, June 22
DAMASCUS -- A suicide bomber stormed a crowded church in the Syrian capital Damascus during Sunday mass, opening fire on worshippers before detonating his explosives, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more, security sources and a monitoring group said.
The Syrian health authorities put the latest official death toll at 13, with 53 others wounded. (Syria-Church Blast-Death Toll)
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TEHRAN -- Iran on Sunday reported explosions near the southern city of Bushehr, where a nuclear power plant is located, and in the central province of Yazd, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The explosions in Yazd were the result of Israel's "aggressions" against two military areas in the province, Fars quoted a statement by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as saying. (Iran-Israel-Attacks)
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RIYADH -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said on Sunday that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected across its member states following recent U.S. attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran.
In a statement released through its Emergency Management Center, the GCC General Secretariat confirmed that radiation and environmental indicators remain within safe and technically permissible limits. (GCC-Radiation-Report)
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TEHRAN -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that the United States must "receive the response to its aggression," following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from his office. In response to Macron's call for restraint, Pezeshkian said the United States must face consequences for its attacks on Iran. (Iran-President-Warning)
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