Death toll from Sunday night’s missile attack on Israel rises to eight
The death toll from Iran’s new wave of ballistic missile attacks on Israel on Sunday night rose to eight, with dozens more transferred to hospital for treatment for minor injuries.
The overnight barrage, consisting of approximately 100 missiles, killed at least eight people and wounded dozens, with medics reporting most injuries as minor.
Since Friday, Iran has fired around 350 missiles at Israel, with each wave comprising 30 to 60 projectiles. One missile struck near a US Embassy building in Tel Aviv, causing minor damage, according to Washington’s envoy.
The Israeli military’s Home Front Command reported that 24 people have been killed in Iranian missile attacks since Friday, noting that many victims were not in bomb shelters during the strikes.
A spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry says the country’s parliament is working on legislation to pull Tehran out from the Nuclear-Proliferation Treaty.
Israel’s Assault on Iran
In response, Israel intensified its military operations, launching airstrikes that have killed over 220 people in Iran since Friday, including 70 women and children. Among the casualties were the intelligence chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two generals, killed in attacks on Sunday.
Israeli strikes have targeted Tehran, Kermanshah, and other key locations, with a notable missile attack on Farabi Hospital and Medical Centre in Kermanshah at 9:00 AM local time, causing significant damage to the facility and surrounding buildings.
The Israeli military, deploying over 50 fighter jets, claimed to have destroyed 30% of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launchers, approximately 120 units, and asserted “full air supremacy” over Tehran’s airspace.
Brigadier-General Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesman, stated, “We have significantly weakened Iran’s missile capabilities.”
Nuclear concerns and international response
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no further damage to Iran’s Natanz or Fordow nuclear enrichment sites following earlier Israeli strikes, which destroyed an above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz and disrupted electricity infrastructure.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi emphasized that safeguards inspections in Iran will resume as soon as safety conditions allow, underscoring Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament is reportedly drafting legislation to withdraw from the NPT, raising global concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
Political rhetoric and civilian impact
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for national unity as Israeli strikes continue to devastate Iranian cities.
In Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz initially warned that Tehran’s residents would “pay the price” for Iran’s retaliatory attacks but later clarified that Israel has no intention of deliberately harming civilians.
“There is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does to the residents of Israel,” Katz posted on X, urging Tehran residents to evacuate areas near regime targets.
Gaza’s plight amid the conflict
Simultaneously, Israel has escalated its military operations in Gaza, particularly in the northern regions. The Gaza Government Media Office reports that over 60 per cent of the territory’s buildings have been destroyed, with Israeli ground operations targeting residential areas and pushing civilians toward the western edge of Gaza City.
Observers note that these attacks appear focused on inflicting further destruction rather than solely targeting Hamas.
A region on edge
As the cycle of retaliation continues, the international community watches with growing alarm. The destruction of critical infrastructure, loss of civilian lives, and threats to nuclear stability underscore the urgent need for de-escalation. Both nations remain locked in a high-stakes confrontation, with no clear end in sight.
