Iranian missile barrage hits Israel, killing several people
A fresh wave of hostilities between Israel and Iran has resulted in significant destruction and loss of life, with both nations launching missile and drone strikes targeting strategic and civilian sites.
The conflict, which intensified over the weekend, has raised fears of further escalation as both sides issue stark warnings.
The human toll continues to mount. In Israel, emergency responders are combing through rubble to locate survivors, with fire-fighters and rescue teams working at multiple impact sites.
In Iran, operational teams are addressing fires and damage at struck facilities.
Videos circulating online show missiles streaking across the skies over Jerusalem and smoke rising from Tehran, underscoring the intensity of the exchanges.
Iranian missile barrage hits Israel, killing several people
Early Sunday, Iranian forces launched a barrage of missiles and drones targeting central and northern Israel, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The strikes caused significant damage to residential and agricultural buildings, with at least three fatalities reported in Israel’s Northern District.
Israeli news outlet Haaretz, citing emergency services, says three people have now been confirmed killed after an Iranian missile hit a building in the central Israel town of Bat Yam.
Israel’s Ynet also reported on the increased death toll.
Dozens of people have also been injured in the latest round of Iranian missile strikes.
An eight-story building in the Dan district near Tel Aviv was directly hit, and another residential structure sustained damage, Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service reported. In the Northern District, a four-story building suffered extensive destruction, with its upper floor partially collapsing.
Emergency responders rescued four trapped women, two of whom succumbed to their injuries. A woman in her 20s was also reported dead in the western Galilee town of Tamra.
Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom, shared videos showing a heavily damaged building surrounded by debris. Firefighters are actively searching for additional trapped individuals, with fires reported in open areas and an agricultural building in the Lower Galilee.
The IDF activated its Iron Dome air defence system, with sirens sounding across the country as residents were urged to remain near shelters and avoid public gatherings.
Israel retaliates with strikes on Tehran
In response, Israel conducted an “extensive series of intelligence-based strikes” targeting Iran’s capital, Tehran, and other regions. The Israeli Air Force struck the Iranian Ministry of Defence headquarters, the SPND nuclear project headquarters, and other sites allegedly linked to Iran’s nuclear program, according to an IDF statement. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X, stating, “Tehran is burning,” alongside footage of a large blaze. Iranian state media reported minor damage to an administrative building at the Ministry of Defence and a separate strike on the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research.
Additionally, an Israeli missile hit an oil storage facility and a fuel tank at the Shahran oil depot northwest of Tehran, though Iran’s oil ministry claimed the situation was under control.
A separate Israeli drone strike targeted Iran’s South Pars gas field in Bushehr province, the world’s largest natural gas field, causing a large blaze visible in geolocated social media footage. Iran’s air defences were activated in multiple cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad, with state media reporting interceptions of incoming projectiles.
Iran threatens further attacks
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement warning that Iran would intensify its attacks if Israel’s “hostilities and aggressions” persist. The IRGC claimed its strikes targeted Israeli “fuel production facilities for fighter jets and energy supply centres,” though these claims could not be independently verified by CNN. The operation reportedly involved a large number of drones and missiles.
Netanyahu meets security cabinet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his security cabinet late Saturday to address the escalating conflict. Images released by Israel showed the meeting, with a quote from the Book of Numbers displayed on screens: “Behold, a people that rises like a young lion, and lifts itself up like a lion,” used to code-name Israel’s strikes on Iran.
IDF Spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that the Israeli Air Force’s operation, ongoing for nearly 40 hours, targeted over 150 objectives, including military and strategic assets and high-ranking figures in Iran’s “terror leadership.”
Source: Al Jazeera, CNN