Israel-Iran Conflict: Key Updates and Escalations

Tensions between Iran and Israel intensified further on Sunday, as the two nations exchanged strikes for a third straight day. The ongoing hostilities have led to a rising death toll and an expanding list of targets, underscoring the most serious military confrontation the adversaries have engaged in directly.

The conflict began in earnest on Friday when Israel launched a widespread aerial campaign against Iranian military and nuclear installations. Iran responded with a series of retaliatory strikes, marking an unprecedented level of direct engagement between the two regional powers and heightening fears of a broader conflict across the Middle East.

Civilian Casualties Mount as Urban Areas Come Under Fire

Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Iran launched missile attacks on Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of at least ten people, including minors. Israeli emergency services reported that approximately 200 individuals sustained injuries in the strikes, which targeted major population centers.

Residents in cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were forced into shelters as warning sirens sounded across dozens of urban and rural areas. The Israeli military described the situation as one where millions of citizens had to seek cover during the attacks.

Earlier Israeli operations, which began on Friday, resulted in significant casualties on the Iranian side. According to Iran’s representative at the United Nations, 78 people were killed and more than 300 were wounded. As of Sunday morning, Iranian authorities had not released a revised tally for the following waves of strikes.

In addition to launching missiles, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that it had targeted infrastructure used by Israeli aircraft, specifically refueling facilities. Israel confirmed it intercepted seven drones headed for its territory during the night, as it simultaneously continued its air campaign inside Iran.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement, which receives backing from Tehran, claimed responsibility for launching multiple missiles at Israel, describing the attacks as coordinated with Iranian military efforts.

Israeli Campaign Broadens to New Strategic Targets

Following its initial strikes on military and nuclear sites, Israel expanded its offensive over the weekend. The list of targets now includes oil infrastructure and air defense systems across Iranian territory.

The Iranian Ministry of Oil stated that two fuel storage facilities in the capital region were struck by Israeli missiles. Local reports indicated fires at depots located in the Shahran district northwest of Tehran. Journalists on the scene confirmed visible blazes and smoke rising from the affected locations.

Israel’s military reported on Saturday that dozens of missile launch systems within Iran were under attack, following earlier strikes on Tehran’s air defense networks. Iranian news outlet Tasnim indicated that Israel had also hit a building within the compound of Iran’s Ministry of Defense in Tehran. While damage was reported, the ministry itself did not issue a formal statement.

Diplomatic Fallout and Nuclear Negotiations Stall

The military exchanges have disrupted nuclear diplomacy efforts that were underway between Iran and the United States. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Sunday that the Israeli strikes against nuclear infrastructure represented a breach of international boundaries. He accused Israel of deliberately attempting to sabotage any potential diplomatic resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

On Saturday, Tehran reduced its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, criticizing the watchdog’s lack of public condemnation of the Israeli air campaign. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, a claim challenged by Western governments that suspect a covert weapons program.

A sixth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, but Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the country would not participate while Israeli attacks continued.

Araghchi emphasized to foreign diplomats that Israel’s actions demonstrated its unwillingness to allow any negotiated solution, instead choosing to escalate tensions through military means.

Regional and Global Responses Reflect Widespread Concern

As the crisis deepens, global leaders have called for de-escalation to prevent the conflict from expanding across the region. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, with both agreeing that the fighting must come to an end.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran early Sunday. He declared that any attack on U.S. interests would prompt a full-scale military response, though he reiterated that the United States had no involvement in the Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.

Neighboring Iraq, which maintains ties with both Tehran and Washington, has taken a mediating role in an attempt to avoid becoming entangled in the widening hostilities. Officials in Baghdad are reportedly engaged in outreach to both capitals to urge restraint and prevent further escalation.