Tel Aviv/Tehran, 16-06-2025 –
The Middle East teetered on the brink as Iran launched a new wave of ballistic
missile attacks against Israel overnight, striking cities including Tel Aviv
and Haifa, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens. This assault came
mere hours after Israeli airstrikes devastated the Iranian capital, Tehran,
pushing the total death toll from Israel's recent attacks inside Iran above
220.
Escalation in the Shadow of Gaza
The tit-for-tat
violence marks a dangerous and unprecedented escalation in direct conflict
between the two regional adversaries, unfolding against the backdrop of
Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 55,362
Palestinians killed and 128,741 wounded since the conflict erupted following
Hamas's October 7th attacks on Israel, which killed approximately 1,139
Israelis and saw over 200 taken hostage.
Iran Retaliates for Israeli Strike on Tehran
Iran's latest
missile barrage was declared a retaliatory operation by its military. It
followed devastating Israeli airstrikes on Sunday targeting Tehran. Those
strikes reportedly killed the intelligence chief of Iran's powerful Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with two other generals, striking at
the heart of the Iranian security apparatus.
The broader toll
from Israel's attack on Tehran is staggering: Iranian state media reports at
least 220 people killed, including 70 women and children, with widespread
destruction reported across parts of the capital. Rescue workers continue to
search rubble.
Tel Aviv, Haifa Hit; Israel Vows Response
Iran's missiles
reached deep into Israel. Emergency services confirmed at least eight
fatalities and numerous injuries in the strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa. Air raid
sirens wailed across central and northern Israel as defenses intercepted some
missiles, but others caused significant damage on the ground.
Responding to
the Iranian attack, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark
warning: "The residents of Tehran will pay the price – and soon," he
declared, signaling an imminent Israeli counter-response.
International Reaction: Trump Hopes for "Deal"
The
international community watched with deepening alarm. Former US President
Donald Trump, commenting on the crisis, stated he was "hopeful"
Israel and Iran could "make a deal" to de-escalate. He reiterated
continued US support for Israel, a stance consistent with long-standing
American policy. Calls for restraint are likely to intensify from global powers
and the United Nations.
With both
nations suffering significant casualties and key military figures assassinated,
the cycle of retaliation threatens to spiral further. Israel's promise of an
imminent response to Iran's latest attack suggests the region faces more
violence in the coming hours and days. The direct exchange of ballistic
missiles and airstrikes targeting each other's capitals represents a perilous
new chapter in the Iran-Israel conflict, raising fears of a broader regional
war. The human cost, already immense in Gaza, now risks exploding exponentially
across the Middle East.
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