Israel-Iran | The war between Israel and Iran escalates

In Tel Aviv, people are seeking shelter from Iranian missiles. On Sunday, warnings of possible attacks from Tehran were issued for the first time during the day.

The spiral of violence in the war between arch-enemies Israel and Iran is spiraling ever faster. Israel has once again targeted the Islamic Republic with several waves of airstrikes, primarily aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear program. According to media reports, explosions were heard near the airport and a luxury hotel in Tehran, a city of 15 million people. "Tehran is burning," wrote Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on the X platform.

Israel's military campaign against Iran is expected to last "weeks, not days," US television network CNN quoted officials in the White House and Israel as saying. According to Iranian media, more than 120 people were killed in the first two days of Israeli shelling. At least "128 people were killed in these military attacks," and around 900 injured people were hospitalized, the daily newspaper Etemad reported on Sunday, citing the Health Ministry. Among the fatalities were at least 40 women and numerous children.

Civilians killed in Iran and Israel

At least 13 people were killed in Iranian retaliation in Israel, and 370 were injured, according to media reports.

Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog describes the fight against Iran as a defense not only of his country. "Our goal is to change the reality in the Middle East," he said during a visit to Bat Yam in central Israel.

According to a military official, Israel still has an extensive list of targets in Iran. Last night alone, the military attacked approximately 80 targets. These included the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Ministry and a state nuclear research organization. In northwest Tehran, parts of an oil storage facility also caught fire. In Israel, parts of a refinery were destroyed following an Iranian attack.

Revolutionary Guard leadership hit

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has reported the deaths of six more generals. The elite military announced that these include high-ranking commanders. This brings the death toll among the military leadership to at least 14. Among them were the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, Hussein Salami, and Chief of General Staff Mohammed Bagheri.

Israel has been attacking targets in Iran since Friday night – including nuclear facilities, senior military officials, nuclear scientists, defense positions, targets in cities, and oil and gas fields.

US President Donald Trump warned the leadership of the Islamic Republic against attacks on US facilities. Should the US be attacked in any way by Iran, US forces would strike on an unprecedented scale.

The pro-Iranian militia Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq has threatened the United States with direct attacks on its bases in the event of military intervention in the war between Israel and Iran. "If the United States intervenes in the war, we will not hesitate to take direct action against its interests and bases throughout the region," the militia stated.

Israel wants US arms aid

Israel has asked the Trump administration in the past 48 hours to join the war against Iran, the US news site Axios reported, citing two Israeli officials.

According to the report, Israel lacks the so-called bunker-busting bombs and large bombers needed to destroy the Iranian uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, located deep in a mountain about 100 kilometers southwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.

Trump calls for agreement between Iran and Israel

Trump again called on Iran to conclude an agreement on its nuclear program. "However, we can easily reach an agreement between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict!!!" Trump wrote. Delegations from Iran and the United States, Israel's most important ally, were scheduled to hold talks on Iran's nuclear program in Oman on Sunday – but this round in the capital, Muscat, was canceled due to the military escalation.

Iran apparently no longer intends to continue its current cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. Deputy Foreign Minister Kasem Gharibabadi stated this, according to the state news agency IRNA. "It is absurd that the agency remains silent about attacks on peaceful facilities, yet its inspectors are supposed to continue to have a regular presence in Iran." He did not provide details.

The UN agency, which did not comment on the matter, has so far monitored Tehran's nuclear program. According to its findings, the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities have not yet resulted in elevated radiation levels outside the respective sites. dpa/nd

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