Middle East tension escalates as Iran launches fresh missile strikes on Israel

Tensions in the Middle East soared again early Monday as Iran launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on multiple Israeli cities, following Israel’s targeted attacks deep inside Iranian territory.

Both nations have issued threats of further devastating retaliatory actions as fears of a prolonged, destabilising conflict in the region grow.

AFP reporters captured images of charred residential buildings in Tel Aviv and fires burning on the outskirts of Haifa after Israeli authorities urged residents to seek shelter from incoming missiles. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, with air defence systems lighting up the night sky as they intercepted Iranian rockets.

The renewed hostilities mark the most intense exchange between the two long-time rivals after years of indirect conflict through proxy groups and covert operations. Israel claims its latest assaults have hit military and nuclear facilities in Iran, killing high-ranking commanders and atomic scientists.

A senior U.S. official disclosed that President Donald Trump had personally intervened to stop Israel from targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though he maintained that “sometimes they have to fight it out” before any diplomatic resolution.

In response to Israeli air raids on central Iran’s missile sites, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed it had successfully struck Israeli targets and vowed to launch more powerful and focused operations.

The Israeli emergency service, Magen David Adom, reported that five people lost their lives and 92 others sustained injuries in the latest Iranian strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Iran’s targeting of civilians, promising severe retaliation. “Iran will pay a very heavy price for the deliberate murder of civilians, women, and children,” he said while visiting a missile-hit building near Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities reported that Israeli attacks since Friday had left over 224 people dead and more than 1,200 injured, with five killed in a strike on a residential building in Tehran on Sunday. Iran’s military spokesman, Colonel Reza Sayyad, issued a stark warning that Israel’s cities would soon become uninhabitable.

Despite reports of evacuations in Tehran, some residents expressed determination to stay put. “It is natural for war to be stressful, but I will not leave my city,” said Shokouh Razzazi, a 31-year-old resident.

U.S. President Trump reiterated America’s neutral position in Israel’s offensive but warned of swift military action if American interests were attacked. He called for both countries to “make a deal” but admitted peace seemed distant.

Adding to the tensions, Iran suspended planned nuclear negotiations with the United States, calling talks “meaningless” while under attack. The Iranian judiciary also announced the execution of a convicted Mossad agent on Monday.

Both sides have vowed to continue their respective operations, raising the risk of an even broader regional conflict.