Iran launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Israel early Monday, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens more, as the war between the two regional powers entered its fourth day with no signs of de-escalation.
Loud explosions rocked Tel Aviv before dawn as Israeli air defenses scrambled to intercept incoming missiles. Black smoke rose above the city skyline, while air raid sirens sounded across the country. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack used a new method that disrupted Israel’s layered missile defense systems, causing some of them to mistakenly target each other.
Israel’s military said it had responded by striking Iranian command centers, but gave no further details. Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of targeting civilians and warned that Tehran would face the consequences. “The residents of Tehran will pay the price — and soon,” he said.
Iranian health officials reported that at least 224 people have been killed since Israeli airstrikes began Friday, with more than 90% of the victims identified as civilians. Iran said its intelligence chief and other high-ranking officials were among those killed in Israeli strikes on military and infrastructure sites.
The violence has prompted mass evacuations of foreign nationals. Diplomats and their families from Central Asia were evacuated from Iran via Turkmenistan. Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia also moved citizens out of Iran and Israel.
In Tel Aviv, the U.S. consulate sustained minor damage after a nearby Iranian missile struck. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed no injuries but said U.S. missions in Israel would remain closed for security reasons.
At the G7 summit in Canada, the growing conflict dominated talks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense would be key goals. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has praised Israel’s military actions while denying U.S. involvement, said Sunday, “Sometimes they have to fight it out,” though he also said he hoped a deal could be reached.
Two U.S. officials confirmed American forces had helped intercept Iranian missiles targeting Israel last week, though Trump warned Tehran against striking U.S. interests.
In parliament Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran does not seek to build nuclear weapons but would continue peaceful nuclear development.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced an emergency virtual meeting of the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers on Tuesday to coordinate diplomatic efforts and consider next steps in the crisis.
Adding to the tensions, a U.S. official revealed that Israel had recently presented a plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. President Trump reportedly vetoed the proposal, fearing it would push the conflict into a far more dangerous and uncontrollable phase.
