Iran launched a series of missile strikes on Monday targeting Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa, destroying residential buildings and stoking fears of a broader regional war.
According to Israel’s national emergency service, at least five people were killed in the latest attack, with over 100 more wounded. These overnight strikes come in retaliation for Israel’s earlier assault on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile facilities.
The missile barrage, one of the most severe escalations between the two countries in years, triggered emergency operations in both cities. In Haifa, 30 people were reported injured, and search and rescue teams were deployed across the city. Local media said fires broke out near a power plant close to the port.
Tel Aviv experienced multiple explosions before dawn. Several residential buildings in densely populated neighborhoods were destroyed, including homes and hotels located just a few hundred meters from the U.S. Embassy.
The missiles struck near Shuk HaCarmel, a bustling market popular among locals and tourists. Other areas hit included Petach Tikva and Bnei Brak, where a school took damage.
Iran claims success in bypassing Israeli defenses
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it used a “new method” in the attack, one that confused Israel’s advanced defense systems to target each other.
“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 defense technology, led to the successful and maximum hitting of the missiles on the targets in the occupied territories,” it stated.
Israel’s military has not yet commented officially on the strikes. Officials have previously warned that the country’s defense systems are not foolproof and that more difficult days lie ahead.
Iran’s losses have also been severe. In four days of Israeli strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, at least 224 people have been killed—90% of them civilians, according to an Iranian health ministry spokesperson. More than 1,200 people have been injured.
Israel reported hitting command centers of Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guard again on Monday morning.
The violence escalated following Israel’s surprise attack on Friday, which eliminated top Iranian military leaders and damaged critical nuclear infrastructure. Iranian officials confirmed that the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence division, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy were killed in those strikes.
Iran has promised major retaliation, vowing to “open the gates of hell.”
Global leaders call for calm as diplomacy stalls
The growing conflict is overshadowing the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the Canadian Rockies. Leaders of the world’s top economies are expressing concern over the escalation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted four key goals: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, securing Israel’s right to defend itself, avoiding regional escalation, and keeping diplomatic options open. “This issue will be very high on the agenda of the G7 summit,” Merz told reporters.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters before heading to the summit, said, “I hope there’s going to be a deal. I think it’s time for a deal,” adding, “Sometimes they have to fight it out.”
Despite U.S. efforts to contain the violence, Iran has reportedly told mediators from Qatar and Oman that it won’t negotiate a ceasefire while under Israeli attack. As a result, planned nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, which were set for Sunday, have been canceled.
Iran’s attack on Sunday included a rare daylight missile strike on Tel Aviv, followed by another barrage after nightfall that hit Haifa and cities in southern Israel.
In Washington, two U.S. officials said President Trump had recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
When asked about the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Fox News, “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that.”
“We do what we need to do,” Netanyahu added on Special Report With Bret Baier.
Although Iran accuses the U.S. of participating in the conflict, Trump has denied any direct involvement, while warning Tehran against expanding its retaliation to American targets.
Two U.S. officials confirmed that American forces helped intercept some of the Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
Trump continues to argue that the path to peace lies in Iran accepting strict limits on its nuclear program. While Iran claims its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have long feared it could lead to nuclear weapons development.
Adding to the international dimension, Iran’s official news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency, quoted Pakistan’s defense minister offering support, “In this crisis, we will stand by Iran in every possible way. We will protect Iran’s interests. Iranians are our brothers, and their pain and suffering is our shared pain.”
The latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, which had been scheduled for Sunday, was canceled after Iran said it would not participate while under Israeli attack.
