Escalation: Iranian Missiles Strike Israeli Cities
A dangerous new phase in the shadow war between Iran and Israel erupted before dawn on Monday as Iranian missiles slammed into residential areas in Israel’s major cities, Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa. The barrage resulted in multiple casualties and extensive damage, sending shockwaves through the region and intensifying fears among global leaders gathered at the G7 summit of a wider regional conflict.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in the direct confrontation between the two long-time adversaries, following a recent series of strikes and counter-strikes that have pushed tensions to critical levels.
Impact and Casualties in Israel
The pre-dawn strikes proved deadly, with national emergency services confirming at least five people killed and over 100 wounded in the latest Iranian assaults. These fatalities bring Israel’s death toll to at least 18 since Friday, reflecting the intensifying nature of the conflict.
In Haifa, search and rescue operations were immediately underway, with around 30 people reported wounded. Media outlets observed fires burning near a power plant close to the port, highlighting potential infrastructure targets.
Tel Aviv also bore the brunt of the attack. Video footage captured missiles streaking across the sky, followed by explosions heard across Telability and even in Jerusalem. Several residential buildings in a densely populated Tel Aviv neighborhood were obliterated, windows blown out in nearby hotels and homes, mere meters from the U.S. Embassy branch, which sustained minor damage but thankfully no personnel injuries.
The human impact was starkly illustrated by residents caught in the crossfire. Guydo Tetelbaun, a 31-year-old chef, described the terrifying moments after alarms sounded just after 4 a.m. local time. “As usual, we went into the (shelter) that’s right across the street there. And within minutes, the door of the (shelter) blew in,” he recounted. Seeing injured people enter the shelter, he later returned to his apartment: “Walls are caved in, no more glass… It’s terrifying because it’s so unknown. This could be the beginning of a long time like this, or it could get worse, or hopefully better, but it’s the unknown that’s the scariest.”
Missiles also struck areas near Tel Aviv’s popular Shuk HaCarmel market, a residential street in the nearby city of Petah Tikva, and a school in Bnei Brak, underlining the broad reach of the attacks on civilian areas.
Iran Claims ‘New Method’ Evaded Defenses
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were quick to claim success, asserting that the latest attacks employed a “new method” which they credited with making the strikes more effective. According to their statement, this novel approach allegedly caused Israel’s advanced, multi-layered defense systems, including the renowned Iron Dome, to target each other.
The Revolutionary Guard stated that “The initiatives and capabilities used in this operation, despite the comprehensive support of the United States and Western powers and the possession of the most up-to-date and newest defence technology, led to the successful and maximum hitting of the missiles on the targets in the occupied territories.”
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the specifics of Iran’s “new method” claim. However, Israeli officials have previously acknowledged that their defense systems, while highly effective, are not 100% impervious and have warned the public to prepare for difficult days ahead.
Cycle of Retaliation and Direct Strikes
The Iranian missile barrage was launched in direct retaliation for Israel’s prior pre-emptive strikes. These Israeli actions on Friday had reportedly targeted key sites linked to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and eliminated top echelons of Iran’s military command. Israel stated at the time that its campaign would escalate.
The conflict has imposed a heavy human cost on both sides. An Iranian health ministry spokesperson reported that the death toll in Iran from Israel’s initial strikes had tragically reached at least 224, with a staggering 90% of casualties reported to be civilians.
The cycle of violence continued Monday morning. While Israel defended against incoming missiles, its military confirmed it had simultaneously launched counter-strikes targeting command centers belonging to the Revolutionary Guard and Iran’s military. This included reports of Israeli airstrikes hitting military targets in Tehran itself.
The exchange was accompanied by stark warnings from both leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to target “every target of the ayatollah regime,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that “further strikes would draw a more severe and powerful response.”
International Concern and Diplomatic Efforts
The rapidly escalating conflict was a dominant concern for world leaders gathering at the G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz articulated key goals for the summit, including preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, upholding Israel’s right to defend itself, urging de-escalation, and creating space for diplomatic solutions.
The United States, a key ally of Israel, has been closely involved. U.S. officials confirmed that the U.S. military had assisted Israel in shooting down incoming Iranian missiles during an earlier phase of the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump lauded Israel’s offensive while warning Iran against attacking U.S. targets. Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran could end the conflict by agreeing to tough restrictions on its nuclear program, a possibility complicated by Iran’s insistence that its program is for peaceful purposes and its recent cancellation of negotiations while under Israeli attack.
Adding another layer of complexity, two U.S. officials told Reuters that President Trump had recently vetoed an Israeli plan to target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, when asked about the report, declined to comment on specific conversations but affirmed, “We do what we need to do.”
Amidst the military and political tensions, the conflict also registered on global markets. Brent crude futures saw an uptick, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions to oil supplies, though broader stock markets in Asia remained relatively stable.
As Israel eventually eased nationwide emergency shelter alerts, signaling the immediate threat had subsided, the underlying tensions remain dangerously high. The direct exchange of missile attacks and counter-strikes targeting capital cities and command centers underscores the perilous potential for this conflict to spiral into a wider, devastating regional conflagration.
