Explosions rocked Israel’s largest cities before dawn as Iran launched another wave of missile attacks, plunging the region deeper into conflict on what is now the fourth day of open warfare.
Air raid sirens echoed across the country as Israel’s air defences intercepted multiple incoming threats, but not all missiles were stopped. At least five people were confirmed dead, with dozens more injured, in the latest escalation between the two regional enemies.
Towering plumes of black smoke billowed over Tel Aviv as powerful detonations, likely from Israel’s Iron Dome defence system, jolted the city awake. The strikes came in retaliation for Israel’s aggressive weekend air campaign, which targeted Iranian oil refineries, population centres, and killed the top intelligence official of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Israel-Iran Conflict Reaches New Heights
The growing tit-for-tat exchange shows no signs of slowing. Iran’s Health Ministry says 224 people have been killed and 1,277 wounded since Israel began its bombardment on Friday, claiming that over 90% of casualties were civilians.
Israel, for its part, has confirmed 14 deaths and 390 injuries.
Tensions spiked even further on Sunday when a nearby Iranian missile blast caused minor damage to the U.S. Consulate in Tel Aviv. While no American personnel were injured, both the consulate and the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem have been closed for the day, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said.
Europe Scrambles for Diplomatic Intervention
In response to the escalating violence, the European Union has called an emergency meeting of its 27 foreign ministers for Tuesday. The meeting, to be held by video conference, will aim to coordinate diplomatic strategy and discuss “next steps” for reducing tensions, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
“We will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s office.
Secret Israeli Plot to Assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Blocked by Trump
In a dramatic twist, a senior U.S. official has revealed that Israel recently presented the Trump administration with a covert plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While Israel claimed the plan was viable, President Trump reportedly vetoed the move, warning it would dangerously escalate the conflict and destabilise the wider region.
The official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the White House viewed the proposal as a step too far, a potential spark for an uncontrollable regional war.
