Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates: Deadliest Exchanges Mark a New Phase

Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates: Deadliest Exchanges Mark a New Phase

 

The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its most volatile phase yet, with both nations launching unprecedented strikes against each other’s territory, military leadership, and critical infrastructure over the weekend. The escalation, which began with Israel’s surprise attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites, has now triggered a wave of retaliatory missile and drone barrages from Iran, resulting in mounting casualties on both sides and raising the specter of a broader regional war.

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The Times of Israel reports, “Iran has fired some 280 ballistic missiles at Israel in several barrages since the IDF began its operation against Tehran’s nuclear program early Friday morning, according to the military.

 

A Night of Fire: Strikes and Retaliation

Late Saturday into Sunday, Israel expanded its offensive campaign, targeting Iran’s vital energy infrastructure, including the world’s largest gas field at South Pars and key oil depots near Tehran. Israeli airstrikes also hit military bases, missile storage sites, and command centers, reportedly killing high-ranking members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including IRGC chief Hossein Salami and other senior commanders. These attacks, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “just the beginning,” aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions and military capacity.

 

The barrages struck targets in northern Israel, including Haifa and the Galilee region, and reached as far as Tel Aviv, where buildings were set ablaze and air raid sirens sent residents scrambling for shelter. Iran’s state media declared the attacks as part of “Operation True Promise III,” vowing further retaliation if Israeli strikes continued.

 

Casualties and Human Toll

The human cost of the escalation has been severe. Iranian officials reported at least 80 killed and more than 320 injured in the Israeli strikes, including women, children, and nine nuclear scientists.

In Israel, authorities confirmed at least ten deaths and over 200 injuries from Iranian missile and drone attacks, with emergency services working around the clock to respond to the devastation. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue and more information emerges from the affected areas.

 

Nuclear Negotiations Collapse

The violence has upended months of delicate diplomacy. Just days before the latest hostilities, U.S. and Iranian negotiators were set to meet in Oman for a sixth round of talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. However, Iran has now suspended all negotiations, insisting it will not return to the table until Israel halts its attacks and Iran completes its retaliation, according to the Institute for the Study of War report issued on Saturday night.

Omani mediators and U.S. officials confirmed the cancellation, with Washington expressing hope that talks could resume once the immediate crisis subsides.

President Donald Trump, who has warned Iran of “even more brutal” consequences if it refuses to scale back its nuclear ambitions, has so far resisted direct military involvement, instead focusing on protecting American personnel in the region and urging both sides to exercise restraint. Trump has argued that the conflict “can be easily ended” if Iran agrees to significant nuclear concessions, but Tehran remains defiant, vowing to continue its resistance.

 

This story was written by the GoLocalProv News Team with content from Perplexity and sources include: NYT, WSJ, The Times of Israel, and Reuters.