DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Sunday, Israel significantly ramped up its military operations against Iran, focusing on key targets such as the Iranian energy sector and the headquarters of the Defense Ministry. This action coincided with Iran retaliating by launching a series of lethal missile strikes. This escalation marks another violent episode following Israel’s recent offensive with the goal of dismantling Iran’s accelerated nuclear advancements.
Tehran was rocked by explosions caused by the Israeli attack, while Iranian missiles penetrated Israeli airspace, resulting in casualties across the nation. Among those killed were residents in an apartment block located in the Galilee, and central Israel witnessed the tragic deaths of an elderly woman, another senior, and a young boy. Although immediate casualty reports from Iran weren’t available, attacks targeted Tehran’s Defense Ministry and sites linked to the nuclear initiative. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed their missiles aimed at Israeli military fuel facilities, an assertion unconfirmed by Israeli forces.
As tensions persisted, impending talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions were abruptly canceled, leaving the path to peace uncertain. “Tehran is in flames,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on social platforms.
With both Israeli and Iranian authorities acknowledging the missile exchanges and with detonations occurring near midnight, Israel’s security cabinet convened to assess the situation. Iran finds itself at a crossroads, confronted with the choice between escalating hostilities or pursuing diplomatic resolutions amidst ongoing Israeli offensives across the country.
Global leaders appealed for calm and an avoidance of further conflict. The assault on nuclear sites, according to China’s foreign minister, sets a perilous standard. This unrest coincides with Israel’s substantial effort to dismantle Hamas, an Iran-supported group, following prolonged conflict in Gaza.
Israel, speculated to be the region’s sole nuclear-capable nation, boasts of numerous strikes that have resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials and scientists linked to nuclear activities. In contrast, Iran’s representative to the U.N. reported significant Iranian casualties and injuries.
American intelligence and the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog consistently found no nuclear weapon pursuit by Iran prior to Israel’s air assault, despite Iran enriching uranium to nearly weaponizable levels. Recently, the U.N. censured Iran for non-compliance with preventative measures against weapon production.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the current military actions are only a fraction of what Iran might face soon. Meanwhile, reports of an Israeli drone striking an Iranian natural gas facility emerged, although Israeli officials have not confirmed this potential new phase targeting Iran’s energy sector.
The aftermath at the South Pars gas site remains uncertain. Noteworthy is that these facilities are typically shielded by air defenses, which are among Israel’s targets.
Negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program faltered amid these developments, with mediator Oman confirming the cancellation of Sunday’s scheduled talks. While the U.S. expressed hopes for resumed talks, Iranian diplomats condemned the discussions post-Israeli assaults as “inexcusable.” Iran attributed these airstrikes to U.S. backing, a claim the U.S. denied.
On Friday, President Trump urged Iran to negotiate over its nuclear ambitions, emphasizing the urgency of an agreement.
Missile strikes originating from Iran began on Friday night, resulting in Israeli casualties and injuries. U.S. air defenses were reportedly deployed to intercept these attacks, providing support to Israel. The Tel Aviv airport remains closed indefinitely due to the conflict.
Emergency teams are still searching for individuals in missile-hit areas near Tel Aviv, with widespread destruction visible from bombings. Drones were deployed in particularly hard-hit zones, while residents evacuated swiftly with their possessions.
Israel’s attacks also targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, with satellite imagery revealing substantial destruction. These assaults damaged critical infrastructure, raising concerns about prolonged recovery. The U.N.’s nuclear chief asserted that while Natanz’s underground facilities were not directly damaged, the destruction of power supplies might have compromised its operations.
Israel additionally attacked a research center in Isfahan, including uranium-related structures, causing significant damage according to international assessments. The incidents did not increase radiation levels off-site.
Israel denied hitting Iran’s Fordo nuclear enrichment site, while Iran’s military leadership suffered fatalities, with several top generals killed in the ongoing conflict. This includes the leaders of the armed forces, the Revolutionary Guard, and the missile program division. In response, Iran appointed a new head for the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace unit.