Middle East Tensions: Over 220 Iranians Killed in Tehran; 8 Israelis Dead
Iran responds to Israeli airstrikes with missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Haifa; senior IRGC officials among the dead
- Israeli airstrikes kill over 220 in Tehran, including senior IRGC officials
- Iran retaliates with missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing 8
- U.S. embassy closes temporarily; tensions threaten wider regional war
Tensions between Israel and Iran have erupted into a deadly new phase, with both nations launching major strikes overnight.
Iran fired a fresh barrage of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least eight people.
The attack followed Israeli airstrikes on Tehran that left more than 220 dead, among them 70 women and children. Three senior Iranian military officials, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence chief, were confirmed killed.
In a stark warning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tehran’s population would “pay the price – and soon” for the Iranian attacks.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had targeted and struck Quds Force command centers inside Tehran.
The Quds Force is the IRGC’s elite unit responsible for overseas operations and supporting proxy forces.
The United States has responded cautiously. President Donald Trump said he remains “hopeful” a deal can be reached between the two nations but affirmed continued American support for Israel. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that the U.S. Embassy and Consulate would remain closed on Monday, citing minor damage from nearby missile impacts but no injuries to American personnel.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza continues with devastating impact. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 55,362 people have been killed and over 128,000 wounded since the conflict began.
The war was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,139 people and saw over 200 taken hostage.
As both fronts intensify, fears are mounting over a broader regional war. The international community watches anxiously as the Middle East teeters on the brink of a wider conflict.
