Israel Says Initial Attacks on Iran Are Only the Beginning

On Saturday, Iran and Israel exchanged missile and air attacks, one day after Israel launched a major air operation against Iran. The offensive targeted top military leaders, nuclear scientists, and key nuclear sites. Israel said the goal was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes had seriously set back Iran’s nuclear program by years. He dismissed international calls for restraint and promised more attacks.

“We will strike every site and target connected to the regime. What they’ve experienced so far is only the beginning,” Netanyahu said in a video message.

Iranian state television reported that an Israeli attack on a housing complex killed about 60 people, including 20 children. Other attacks were also reported in different parts of the country. Israel said it had hit more than 150 targets.

In Israel, missile sirens forced people into shelters. Missiles were seen in the sky, and defense systems responded. Officials said Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. At least three people were killed in Israel overnight.

U.S. President Donald Trump supported Israel’s actions and warned that Iran must accept major limits on its nuclear program. Talks between the U.S. and Iran were scheduled to resume Sunday but now face uncertainty.

With Israel saying its operation may last for weeks and urging Iranians to rise against their government, fears are growing that the conflict could expand and involve other nations. Two U.S. officials confirmed that the U.S. had helped intercept Iranian missiles.

“If Ayatollah Khamenei continues firing at Israeli cities, Tehran will burn,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Iran had promised revenge for Friday’s airstrikes, which reportedly hit Iran’s top military and nuclear leadership, as well as critical sites. Iranian media warned that any foreign country helping Israel intercept Iranian missiles could also become a target.

However, Iran’s strongest allies in the region — Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — have been weakened by recent conflicts and may not be able to assist Iran effectively.

Iranian lawmaker and military officer Esmail Kosari said the government was considering whether to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.

Missile Attacks Leave Casualties in Both Countries

Israel said Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones overnight. Three people, including a couple, were killed, and dozens were injured, according to Israeli emergency services. In Rishon LeZion, near Tel Aviv, a baby was rescued from a house hit by a missile. Despite the attacks, Tel Aviv beaches were busy on Saturday.

In Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion Airport, a woman named Linda Grinfeld described how her apartment was hit: “We were in the shelter, then there was a huge boom. It was terrible.”

The Israeli military said it intercepted many missiles and drones and reported two rockets fired from Gaza as well.

In Iran, Israel’s two-day strikes destroyed several apartment buildings. Iranian officials said scientists and senior military officials were killed in their homes. One major incident involved a 14-story apartment building collapsing in Tehran, with state TV saying 60 people were killed there, though the number has not been officially confirmed.

Footage showed a collapsed building and debris scattered across the street. A neighboring building had parts of its structure hanging down.

“Smoke and dust filled the house. We couldn’t breathe,” said Mohsen Salehi, a 45-year-old resident of Tehran, after an overnight strike.

The Fars News Agency reported that two projectiles hit Mehrabad Airport, which serves both civilian and military use in Tehran.

With Iran’s air defenses reportedly damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar stated that the path to further strikes on Iran was now clear.

Israel began deploying reservists around the country, including along its borders with Lebanon and Jordan, in preparation for more potential conflict.

Damage to Iran’s Nuclear Sites

Israel considers Iran’s nuclear ambitions a major threat. A senior Israeli official said significant damage was done to Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan, but the Fordow site — built inside a mountain — was not targeted yet.

According to the official, Israeli forces killed top Iranian military commanders and nine nuclear scientists believed to be key figures in Iran’s nuclear development.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian use, as allowed by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and says it does not seek to build a bomb. However, Iran has hidden parts of its program in the past. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported Iran was violating NPT rules.

Talks between Iran and the U.S. aimed at resolving the nuclear issue have been inconsistent this year. Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the talks could not continue while Israel’s “brutal” attacks were ongoing.