Iran's Missile Attack Wounds Several
Iran launched a fresh wave of missile attacks on central Israel early Monday, killing at least eight and injuring more than 100 others, according to Israeli emergency services. The coordinated assault marked the deadliest day of the conflict so far, as tensions between the two regional powers continue to spiral following Israel’s military offensive against Iran that began Friday.
Four of the victims were elderly — two men and two women in their 70s — who perished when missiles struck residential areas. Among the wounded was a 30-year-old woman in serious condition and a six-day-old infant pulled from the rubble.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported extensive damage across four central locations, including Petah Tikva, where a residential building was directly hit. Concrete walls were charred, windows shattered, and multiple apartments destroyed.
As rescue operations continued, Israeli authorities confirmed that the overall casualty count had risen to at least 24 dead and over 500 injured since the start of the conflict.
In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force launched a targeted response, striking 10 command centers in Tehran associated with the Quds Force, the elite arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Quds Force is known for its foreign operations, intelligence activities, and logistical support for proxy groups.
Explosions from intercepted missiles were felt in Tel Aviv shortly before dawn. One missile fell near the U.S. Embassy branch, causing minor property damage. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed that no American personnel were harmed.
Iran's Ministry of Health reported at least 224 deaths and approximately 1,300 wounded in Iranian territory since the Israeli offensive began. However, the U.S.-based watchdog Human Rights Activists stated the actual death toll is likely significantly higher, estimating over 400 fatalities, including nearly 200 civilians. Israeli strikes have extended beyond military targets to include oil refineries and government buildings.
Iran’s foreign ministry had previously indicated willingness to halt attacks if Israel ceased its offensive. However, after a punishing wave of Israeli strikes over the weekend, the IRGC vowed Monday that further retaliation would be “more forceful, severe, precise, and destructive than previous ones.”
At the heart of the confrontation is Iran’s nuclear program. Israel argues its actions were necessary to neutralize what it sees as a looming nuclear threat. Targets have included uranium enrichment facilities, nuclear scientists, and high-ranking military officials. Iran, in contrast, maintains its nuclear activities are purely civilian in nature — a stance echoed in recent assessments by both U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which state Iran is not currently pursuing a nuclear weapon.