The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has seen both nations launch missiles and airstrikes, with no resolution in sight. So far, over 80 people have been killed in Iran — including 20 children — and four in Israel, while hundreds have been injured across both countries amid the ongoing retaliatory attacks, Al Jazeera reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled the operation could stretch on. “This will last as many days as it takes,” he said. A senior Israeli official, as quoted in The Wall Street Journal report, indicated the campaign is planned for 14 days.
On Saturday, Israel launched a second wave of intense airstrikes on Iran, targeting missile launchers, air-defense systems, and key sites in Tehran in what is now its deepest-ever offensive inside Iranian territory.
The Israeli military said 70 warplanes attacked over 40 targets in the capital, flying missions for more than two hours overnight.
“This is the deepest distance that we have operated so far in Iran,” said military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. “We created aerial freedom of action in western Iran up until Tehran.”
The strikes follow a surprise Israeli campaign that began Friday, targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Israeli drones continue round-the-clock surveillance, underscoring the country’s control over Iran’s skies.
Among those killed in the latest barrage are Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami and several top generals, dealing a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership. The death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to at least 78.
In addition to military targets, nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists were killed, and the Fordow enrichment facility was hit—marking successful attacks on all three key sites in Iran’s nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump has praised Israel’s pre-planned offensive and warned that far more severe consequences await unless Iran agrees to significantly scale back its nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US are unjustifiable while Israel continues what he called “barbaric” assaults on Iranian territory.
According to the Israeli military, its latest airstrikes have eliminated more than 20 senior figures within Iran’s army and the Revolutionary Guard.
