TEL AVIV/DUBAI. Israel launched a broader wave of attacks on Iran overnight into Sunday, striking the Iranian Defense Ministry headquarters and nuclear-related facilities. At the same time, Tehran responded with a new missile barrage that killed at least four people in Israel and injured dozens more.
The latest escalation marks the most direct military confrontation between the two nations to date and has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict. Israel’s campaign, which began two days ago, is aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure.
Explosions echoed across Tehran as Israeli strikes targeted facilities believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear operations, including the Natanz and Isfahan enrichment sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed damage to key infrastructure, though it reported no rise in radiation levels. Iran also reported that its Defense Ministry headquarters and energy infrastructure, including the Shahran oil depot and the South Pars gas field, had been hit.
Iranian officials acknowledged fires at the sites and minor damage to the defense ministry building, while semi-official agencies said a gas plant had also suffered a “strong explosion” from what was believed to be an Israeli drone strike. Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Isfahan site had been producing enriched uranium for military purposes and that the damage would take “more than a few weeks” to repair.
As missiles fell on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel’s air defense systems intercepted many incoming rockets, though some struck residential areas. A missile strike on a Galilee apartment building killed four people, including a woman in a separate attack on a two-story home in the north, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service. More than a dozen others were wounded.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said its latest missile and drone attacks targeted Israeli energy and fuel production infrastructure for fighter jets, warning of further retaliation if Israeli strikes persist. Iranian media reported air defenses were active in several cities, and explosions were heard in both eastern and western Tehran.
The casualty toll in Iran remains unclear, but its UN ambassador confirmed that at least 78 people were killed and over 320 wounded since the start of Israel’s operation. Among the dead are reportedly three top military officials: Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran has since appointed Gen. Majid Mousavi as the new head of the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division.
The rising hostilities led to the cancellation of U.S.-mediated nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, which had been scheduled to take place in Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called the talks “unjustifiable” amid what he described as Israel’s “barbarous” attacks, blaming the United States for providing “direct support.” The U.S., however, denied involvement in the strikes, though it confirmed that its ground-based air defense systems were assisting in intercepting Iranian missiles.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the strikes so far are “nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days,” reiterating that dismantling Iran’s nuclear program is a national priority. Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, accuses Iran of nearing weapons-grade uranium enrichment—an allegation Iran denies, insisting its program is for civilian use.
In a symbolic post, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote, “Tehran is burning,” as explosions lit up the capital. Israeli air force officials reported that more than 400 Iranian military and missile-related targets had been hit, with 40 of those in Tehran alone.
The conflict has drawn global concern. China’s foreign minister warned that the Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities set a “dangerous precedent,” and world leaders have called for de-escalation to avoid an all-out war in an already volatile region. The Israeli military also confirmed that its operations are ongoing, and the nation’s main international airport remains closed until further notice.
With Iran warning it may close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, and Israel hinting that its campaign could last weeks, the international community now faces growing pressure to intervene diplomatically before the crisis spirals further.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
