Fresh exchanges of missile attacks between Israel and Iran continued overnight into Sunday, deepening an already spiralling conflict that has killed scores on both sides and derailed diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions.
As air raid sirens wailed across Israeli cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, residents sought shelter from an intense barrage of Iranian missiles. Israeli authorities confirmed at least seven people were killed overnight, among them a 10-year-old boy, a young girl and a woman in her 20s.
More than 140 people were injured, and dozens remained missing after a strike flattened an eight-storey building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) lifted a shelter-in-place order early Sunday morning after intercepting many incoming missiles, though not all. A second round of strikes was launched by Iran at approximately 2:30am local time.
Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities reported that 78 people were killed on Friday alone, the first day of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion.” The toll rose further on Saturday, with 60 people, including 29 children, reportedly killed when a missile struck a 14-storey apartment building in Tehran. State media also said Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s defence ministry and oil infrastructure, including the Shahran depot and a refinery near the capital.
Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen entered the fray for the first time, claiming responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at Jaffa in central Israel.
Tehran has responded to the bombardment by withdrawing from nuclear negotiations with the United States, which were due to begin a sixth round in Oman on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi declared talks could not proceed amid Israel’s “barbarous” campaign.
US President Donald Trump, who has taken a front-facing role amid the crisis, issued a stark warning to Iran on his Truth Social platform:
“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.”
However, he also suggested the possibility of diplomacy, saying, “We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that Israeli operations were far from over, warning that Iran had “seen nothing yet” in comparison to what could follow.
Since the start of Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Friday, Israeli officials say at least 10 people have been killed and more than 300 injured.
With nuclear diplomacy stalled, civilian casualties rising, and regional actors entering the fray, the conflict shows no sign of abating.
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