Iranians and Israelis awoke to devastation on Sunday following a night of intense cross-border attacks. Israel struck Iran’s Ministry of Defense and key nuclear infrastructure, while Iran responded with a deadly barrage of missile strikes.
In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, AFP reporters heard air raid sirens and explosions in the early hours. Israeli authorities reported at least eight fatalities, including children, and around 200 injuries nationwide.
Meanwhile, explosions rocked Tehran around 2:30 am local time. Iran has suspended nuclear negotiations with the United States, stating it cannot negotiate “under fire.”
This marks the most direct and severe exchange of hostilities between the two longtime enemies, igniting concerns about a broader Middle East conflict. Israel’s ongoing offensive, which began Friday, has targeted nuclear and military sites in Iran, reportedly killing dozens—including senior army commanders and nuclear scientists.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to strike “every target of the ayatollah regime.” In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any further Israeli attacks would provoke “a more severe and powerful response.”
Heavy Casualties on Both Sides
In Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, emergency workers pulled bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building. Victims included two elderly women, a young girl, and a 10-year-old boy. The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service reported 100 injured in that area alone, with 37 more in the Shfela region.
In northern Israel, a strike in the Western Galilee killed three women in a collapsed apartment building. Another woman in her 20s died when a missile hit a home in Haifa.
In Iran, authorities have confirmed 78 deaths and over 320 injuries from Friday’s initial Israeli strikes. No updated casualty figures have been released since then.
Strikes on Nuclear and Military Infrastructure
Israel’s military stated it targeted Iran’s defense ministry, nuclear weapons project sites, and fuel facilities early Sunday. One target was the SPND, a nuclear research facility believed to be central to Iran’s weapons development.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency confirmed a strike on the defense ministry in Tehran, which damaged one of its buildings. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by attacking Israeli airbases and refueling stations, vowing to escalate if Israeli aggression continues.
Iran’s oil ministry confirmed that two fuel depots—one in Shahran and another south of Tehran—were hit. An AFP reporter saw flames rising from the Shahran facility.
International Reactions
Netanyahu stated that Israel’s actions have “clear support” from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed in a call that the conflict “must end.”
Iranian President Pezeshkian, however, condemned U.S. “hypocrisy” in supporting Israel while holding nuclear talks. Oman, which had been mediating, announced the suspension of scheduled negotiations.
Western powers have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons—claims Tehran denies. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s strikes are dragging the region into a “dangerous cycle of violence.”
Notably, Israeli strikes reportedly killed top Iranian military leaders, including Mohammad Bagheri and Hossein Salami of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran said at least 30 military personnel died in one province alone.
Global Concern Grows
Leaders worldwide are urging restraint. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, warned against a regional “devastating war.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deployment of fighter jets and other military assets to the Middle East “for contingency support” while calling for de-escalation.
