According to international media outlets, Iran fired a new wave of missiles early Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 5 people and dozens more injured. Sirens were heard across the country, causing chaos among residents. The war entered its fourth day since Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear and defense officials in different waves of attack.
Iran announced that it had fired around 100 missiles and pledged more retaliation for Israel’s sweeping attacks on its sensitive infrastructure, which have killed at least 224 people in the country. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee wrote on X that one Iranian missile fell near the US consulate in Tel Aviv, which caused minor damage. All American personnel remained safe during the attack.
The death toll in Israel rose to 19 after these attacks. In response, the Israeli military officials said fighter jets had hit 10 command centers in Tehran belonging to Iran’s Quds Force that conducts intelligence and military operations outside Iran.
Significant explosions, presumably resulting from Israel’s defense systems intercepting Iranian missiles, reverberated throughout Tel Aviv shortly prior to dawn on Monday. It generated plumes of black smoke that ascended into the sky above the coastal city. According to Israeli officials in the central city of Petah Tikva, Iranian missiles had hit a residential building, burning concrete walls, ripping the walls, and shattering windows of several apartments.
Israel Targets Iranian Nuclear Sites and Key Officials
The Israeli Magen David Adom emergency service told reporters that 70-year-old two men, two women, and one other person were killed during the missile attacks that hit four sites in central Israel. Dean Elsdunne, an Israeli police spokesperson, said that they clearly see that Iran targeted civilians when a missile struck a building in Petah Tikva. There are other sites like this near the coast, located in the southern part of the country.
During the Sunday bombardment of Iranian missiles on central Israel, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran will cease its strikes if Israel does the same. But after one day, severe Israeli attacks targeted military targets, government buildings, and oil refineries. Iranians vowed that the next rounds of strikes would be more precise, intensive, forceful, and destructive than previous ones.
Iranian health officials reported that around 1277, including a large number of civilians, were wounded during the Israeli attacks. Human Rights Activists have posited that the Iranian government’s reported death toll constitutes a substantial undercount. It states that it has documented the deaths of more than 400 individuals, including 197 civilians.
Israel contends that its assault on Iran’s top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites, and nuclear scientists was necessary to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently argued that its nuclear program is peaceful, and the US and others have determined that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003.
However, Iran has enriched increasingly larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years. It is believed to have the capability to develop multiple weapons within months if it decides to do so.
