On Sunday, Israel escalated its military campaign against Iran, focusing its strikes on Tehran’s energy sector and the headquarters of its Defense Ministry. This new wave of attacks comes as Iran retaliated with a fresh series of missile strikes.
The confrontation marks an intensification of hostilities that began two days prior when Israel launched a surprise offensive aimed at crippling Iran’s advancing nuclear capabilities.
New blasts echoed throughout Tehran as Iranian missiles were fired towards Israel, with Israeli emergency services reporting fatalities across the nation, including four victims in an apartment complex in the Galilee region. A separate incident in central Israel claimed the lives of an elderly woman, a middle-aged woman, and a young boy, officials confirmed.
Casualty details from within Iran remained uncertain. Israeli forces targeted the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and other locations purported to be linked to the nuclear program. Iranian authorities, specifically the Revolutionary Guard, asserted that their missiles hit facilities involved in the production of fuel for Israeli aircraft, a claim Israel has not acknowledged.
As hostilities continued, anticipated negotiations between Iran and the United States concerning Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were abruptly cancelled, raising concerns about the potential for a resolution to the conflict.
“Tehran is burning,” declared Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz via social media.
Reports from both Israeli military sources and Iranian state media highlighted the continuous missile exchanges as explosions were discernible near midnight. This occurred as the Israeli security cabinet convened to discuss the unfolding crisis.
With the ongoing bombardment, Iranian leaders find themselves at a crossroads, deliberating whether to further engage militarily against Israel’s superior forces or pursue a diplomatic resolution.
World Leaders Urge De-escalation
Amid the chaos, international leaders made urgent appeals for de-escalation to avert a full-scale conflict. The assault on nuclear facilities has set a “dangerous precedent,” according to China’s foreign minister. The region is already in a precarious state as Israel intensifies efforts to dismantle the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has faced ongoing conflict for 20 months.
Israel, widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed nation in the Middle East, claims its recent strikes against Iran have resulted in the deaths of numerous high-ranking generals and experts linked to Iran’s nuclear initiative. Iran’s U.N. ambassador reported 78 casualties and upwards of 320 injuries due to the strikes.
Multiple U.S. intelligence assessments and the International Atomic Energy Agency have indicated that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon prior to Israel’s recent aerial campaign. Yet, with Iran’s uranium enrichment levels nearing that of weapons-grade, the U.N. nuclear watchdog publicly criticized Iran for failing to meet international obligations designed to curb its nuclear potential.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has prioritized the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, asserted that the current Israeli operations are “minor compared to what they will experience from our forces in the forthcoming days.”
Adding to the unfolding situation, semi-official Iranian news outlets reported that an Israeli drone attack resulted in a “substantial explosion” at an Iranian natural gas processing facility, marking a potential escalation by targeting Iran’s energy sector. Israel’s military refrained from commenting on these claims.
The extent of the damage inflicted on the South Pars natural gas field has yet to be determined, although air defense systems are reportedly in place at these facilities, which have been a focus of Israeli strikes.
Iran Brands Nuclear Talks ‘Unjustifiable’
The sixth round of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been called off by mediator Oman. A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, expressed hope for future negotiations stating, “We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon.”
In remarks made on Saturday, Iran’s top diplomat labeled the nuclear talks as “unjustifiable,” asserting that the Israeli airstrikes were fueled by direct support from the United States. However, the U.S. government has distanced itself from the strikes.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to reach an agreement regarding its nuclear program, remarking, “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
U.S. Aids in Countering Iranian Missiles
Iran initiated its first missile barrage towards Israel late Friday and early Saturday, leading to fatalities and injuries across the region, including at least three deaths and 174 injuries, with two individuals reported in critical condition. The Israeli military indicated that seven soldiers sustained minor injuries from a missile strike in central Israel, although specific details were not disclosed.
According to a U.S. official, ground-based air defense systems in the region are assisting in intercepting Iranian missiles.
Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel remains closed indefinitely as a precautionary measure.
Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors and clearing debris from a missile that impacted a residential neighborhood near Tel Aviv early Sunday.
First responders encountered streets littered with destruction, bombed cars, and shattered glass as they worked diligently to assist those affected. In some areas, drones were utilized to locate survivors in hard-to-reach locations as dislocated residents fled with their belongings.
Challenges Ahead for Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
Israel specifically targeted Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, as evidenced by satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press, which reveal extensive destruction at the site. Shots taken by Planet Labs PBC show multiple structures have been damaged or entirely destroyed, including buildings linked to supplying power to the facility.
The U.N. nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi, reported to the Security Council that the visible sections of the Natanz facility have sustained severe damage. Though the main underground centrifuge complex appears intact, the loss of power could have significant repercussions for its operations.
Israeli forces also hit a nuclear research site in Isfahan, targeting components related to enriched uranium conversion. Dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran were also destroyed, according to Israel, a claim Iran confirmed regarding the Isfahan strike.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed four significant buildings at the Isfahan site were impacted, including the uranium conversion facility, stating, “No increase in off-site radiation expected.”
An anonymous Israeli military official indicated that initial assessments suggest the restoration of operations at the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites will take “much more than a few weeks.” The source cited “concrete intelligence” indicating that activities in Isfahan were aimed at military objectives.
Despite the turmoil, Israel denied conducting strikes on the Fordo nuclear enrichment site, located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
The attacks have reportedly resulted in the deaths of three prominent Iranian military figures: Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, who oversaw Iran’s armed forces; Gen. Hossein Salami, leader of the Revolutionary Guard; and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard’s aerospace division managing its ballistic missile program. Following these losses, Supreme Leader Khamenei has appointed Gen. Majid Mousavi as the new head of the Guard’s aerospace division.
