New targets appear to indicate an expansion of Israel’s war aims beyond the Iranian nuclear facilities that consumed the first days of the conflict.

The path to diplomacy appeared to narrow after officials called off talks that had been set for Sunday between Tehran and Washington on Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on the mission of his lifetime. For years, the veteran leader has made the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program his top priority.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she urged Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to work toward negotiating an end to Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon and to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.

Iran conflict could open opportunities for Russia to possibly become a power broker to help end the confrontation.

Israel and Iran have opened a new chapter in their long history of conflict when Israel launched a major attack with strikes early Friday on Tehran.

Israel has said it launched Operation Rising Lion to deal a blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that the strikes are essential to ‘roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival’ and that Tehran could build a nuclear weapon within a few months.

Israel’s military said it shot down 20 drones en route to Israel on Sunday. It comes after it reported striking 80 targets in Iran overnight, including the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense and the headquarters of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research,