Israel and Iran exchanged fresh rounds of missile and drone strikes overnight into Sunday, killing scores on both sides, even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the conflict could be resolved quickly — while warning Iran not to target American assets.
In Israel, rescue crews worked through the night to recover victims trapped in collapsed buildings. At least 10 people, including three children, were confirmed dead after Iranian missiles hit homes in northern and central areas, including a deadly strike on the coastal town of Bat Yam where 35 remain missing.
Iran reported 138 fatalities since Israeli airstrikes began Friday, with more than 60 killed on Saturday alone when a 14-storey residential tower was brought down in Tehran. Half of Saturday’s victims were children, Iranian officials said.
Israel’s military said it had struck multiple “dual-use” fuel and weapons facilities in Iran overnight, and warned civilians living near suspected weapons sites to evacuate. A senior Israeli official said the strikes were part of a broader campaign with “a long list of targets” yet to come.
The escalation derailed a new round of U.S.-brokered nuclear talks with Iran, which were scheduled to take place Sunday in Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of intentionally sabotaging diplomacy and claimed the U.S. was complicit in the attacks, despite Washington’s denial of direct involvement.
Trump praised Israel’s offensive and issued a blunt warning to Iran via Truth Social: “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.” Still, he insisted a peace deal was “easily achievable” without providing details.
Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, has not signed the global Non-Proliferation Treaty. It views Iran’s atomic program as an existential threat. While Tehran maintains its nuclear work is for civilian use, the UN’s nuclear watchdog declared Iran in violation of its treaty obligations last week.
Iran said Israeli missiles hit the Shahran oil depot in Tehran and an oil refinery near the capital, sparking fires. Two suspects allegedly tied to Israel’s Mossad were reportedly arrested in Alborz province.
Israel also claimed responsibility for a strike targeting the chief of staff of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia, which said it had fired missiles toward Tel Aviv in solidarity with Iran — the first public instance of a regional proxy entering the conflict.
In Israel, air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tel Aviv throughout the night. Explosions echoed across major cities as interceptor missiles lit up the sky. In the Arab-Israeli town of Tamra, four women — including a mother and her two daughters — were killed when a missile struck a residential area.
So far, at least 13 Israelis have been killed and over 350 wounded since Iran began its retaliation.
In Iran, the strike on the South Pars gas field — the country’s main source of natural gas — forced a partial production shutdown, according to semi-official outlet Tasnim. The attack marked the first direct hit on Iran’s energy infrastructure and raised concerns about global energy markets. Oil prices had already jumped 9% Friday amid regional tensions.
Tel Aviv stocks opened slightly higher Sunday after an initial dip, while the Saudi bourse dropped 1.5%.
With Israeli leaders signaling that the operation could last for weeks, and Netanyahu urging Iranians to rise up against their clerical rulers, fears are mounting of a broader war that could draw in regional and global powers.
