Iranian Missiles Strike Israel, Claiming 10 Lives in Retaliation

• Long lines form at gas stations in Iran amid fears of shortages.
• Trump issues a warning of unleashing “full strength and might”.
• Cross-border violence continues despite international pleas for calm.
  

Overnight missile attacks from Iran on Israel resulted in at least ten fatalities, authorities reported Sunday, marking one of the most severe confrontations in their shared history.

A thick plume of smoke was visible over Tehran as Israeli jets targeted two fuel depots. In response, Iranians have been queuing for extended periods at gas stations due to fears of shortages.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the American government “had no involvement” in Israel’s extensive bombardment campaign, which commenced early Friday, aimed at critical military and nuclear installations in Iran.

However, Trump threatened to unleash “the full strength and might” of the U.S. if Iranian actions jeopardized American interests. He mentioned on his Truth Social platform that “a deal between Iran and Israel could be easily arranged to put an end to this bloody conflict!”

According to Israeli police, six individuals died and approximately 180 were injured due to an overnight missile strike in Bat Yam, a city near Tel Aviv along Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

First responders, equipped with helmets and headlamps, sifted through the rubble of the damaged building at dawn, while authorities indicated that at least seven people were still unaccounted for, likely trapped beneath debris.

“I heard an explosion and thought the entire building had collapsed,” remarked local resident Shahar Ben Zion. “It was nothing short of a miracle that we survived.”

In northern Israel, emergency teams confirmed that a missile strike on Saturday evening demolished a three-story building in Tamra, resulting in four additional deaths and raising the overall count of fatalities in Israel to 13 since Friday.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations reported that 78 people died and 320 were injured from the initial wave of Israeli strikes on Friday. Iranian authorities have yet to update the casualty figures, but have asserted that Israel has targeted prominent military leaders and nuclear scientists.

‘Crossing a red line’

This marks the first occasion that the two nations have exchanged fire with such vigor after decades of animosity and proxy conflict, raising concerns of an extended war that could engulf the entire Middle East.

In Tehran early on Sunday, AFP reporters reported hearing multiple explosions.

Israeli forces claimed responsibility for hitting the Iranian Ministry of Defense’s headquarters, which Iranian news agency Tasnim announced suffered damage. The ministry has not released an official statement.

The Israeli military also indicated that it had targeted nuclear facilities, including the secretive Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) and additional fuel tankers.

According to the Iranian oil ministry, Israel struck two fuel storage sites near Tehran.

An AFP journalist observed a depot ablaze in Shahran, a district northwest of the capital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to target “every installation of the ayatollah regime,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that further attacks would elicit “a stronger and more severe response.”

Israeli airstrikes have hit Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site, resulting in the deaths of high-ranking military personnel, including Mohammad Bagheri and Hossein Salami, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

On Sunday, the Israeli military urged residents to vacate areas near weapon facilities throughout Iran.

“The Zionist regime has crossed a significant red line in international law” by “attacking nuclear facilities,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a message to foreign diplomats, as reported by state television.

He further claimed that Tehran possesses “concrete evidence” of U.S. support in the Israeli strikes.

“We are defending ourselves; our response is entirely legitimate… If the aggression ceases, our responses will likewise come to an end,” he added.

Support from the UK

Violence continued despite worldwide calls for de-escalation, prompting Iran to withdraw from recent nuclear negotiations with the United States, stating it could not engage in talks while under attack from Israel.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced on Sunday that they had targeted sites utilized by Israeli warplanes for refueling, retaliating against earlier Israeli airstrikes.

The Guards vowed to respond “more aggressively and broadly” if Israel persists in its lethal campaign.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed to have fired several missiles at Israel, coordinating their actions with those of the Iranian military.

The Israeli military reported intercepting seven drones launched toward the country within an hour on Sunday.

Expressing global concern, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned against a “devastating war” with widespread regional implications during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Saturday that the UK would be deploying fighter jets and other resources to the Middle East “for contingency support,” while also calling for de-escalation.