Iran reports two air defense troops killed in Israeli strikes

Two members of Iran's army air defense force were killed during Israeli strikes Monday, Iranian state television announced Tuesday, as both sides said they have halted the latest exchange of fire.

The deaths mark a confirmed casualty toll from the ongoing military exchanges between Iran and Israel, which have formed a significant front in the broader Middle East war. Both nations reported a pause in the current round of fighting, the Korea Times reported.

Iranian state television said the two soldiers died Monday while on active duty, killed during what the broadcaster characterized as an Israeli assault, according to the Korea Times.

"These esteemed martyrs of the Army Air Defense Force attained martyrdom while carrying out their mission of defending the country's skies during yesterday's (Monday) aggression by the Zionist regime," Iranian state television said.

Both Iran and Israel separately said they had halted the latest exchange of fire following Monday's clashes, the Korea Times reported. No further details on the scope of the Israeli strikes were immediately available.

The fighting is part of the broader Middle East war, in which the two countries have engaged in repeated military exchanges. Iranian state media's announcement Tuesday marked the government's formal confirmation of casualties from the previous day's strikes.

The Korea Times reported Tuesday that both Iran and Israel said they had halted the exchange of fire that marked Monday's fighting.