Hundreds Dead or Wounded as Tensions Risk Wider Regional War
TEL AVIV / TEHRAN: Iran and Israel exchanged heavy missile fire and airstrikes on Saturday, marking a dramatic escalation in their ongoing conflict. The exchange came just one day after Israel launched a wide-ranging aerial offensive targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, senior military commanders, and scientists, claiming it aimed to halt Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.
According to Iranian state media, at least 60 people, including 20 children, were killed when Israeli missiles struck a residential complex in Tehran. Additional strikes were reported across several Iranian provinces.
In retaliation, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles in four successive waves, an Israeli official confirmed. The missile barrage prompted air raid sirens across Israel, sending civilians scrambling to bomb shelters as interceptors attempted to shoot down incoming threats. At least three people were killed in Israel during the overnight attacks.
Israel claimed it struck more than 150 targets across Iran, in what it described as part of a broader campaign that could continue for weeks. The Israeli government also issued a call to the Iranian people to rise up against their leadership.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Israel’s strikes and issued a stark warning to Tehran, stating that far worse consequences could follow if Iran does not agree to significantly scale back its nuclear program. The warning comes ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks that had been scheduled to resume on Sunday.
With both nations vowing continued action and rhetoric intensifying, concerns are mounting that the confrontation could ignite a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing in global powers.
