Israel and Iran exchanged another round of strikes late on Saturday and into Sunday, June 15, with at least eight people killed in Israel when Iranian missiles penetrated air defences in the north and centre of the country as well as hitting a science institute near Tel Aviv.
The latest wave of Iranian attacks began shortly after 11 pm on Saturday, June 14, when air raid sirens blared in Jerusalem and Haifa.
Israeli media said at least 35 people were missing after a strike hit Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv, in a second wave of strikes for the night, which began after 2am.
A spokesperson for the emergency services said a missile hit an eight-storey building there and while many people were rescued, there were at least four fatalities.
An unknown number of missiles evaded Israel’s air defence system to hit Rehovot and Bat Yam, killing a 69-year-old woman, an 80-year-old woman, and two children including a 10-year-old boy, according to Israeli emergency services. More than 100 have been injured, and dozens still missing under rubble.
At least four people were killed in an Iranian strike on the Palestinian majority town of Tamra, in Israel’s north. All four were reported to be from the same family, including a woman and her two daughters aged 13 and 20.
Trump Warns Iran Of Dire Consequences
President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the U.S had “nothing to do” with the overnight attack on Iran, hours after Israel claimed an “extensive series of strikes” on the headquarters of the Iranian Defence Ministry and a nuclear project.
Trump also warned Iran that the “full strength and might” of the American Armed Forces will “come down on you at levels never seen before” if she tries to attack the U.S.
Iran had earlier accused the U.S of backing Israel in her conflict with Tel Aviv, helping the latter deflect the rain of ballistic missiles and drones targeted at Israel.
Iran warned that Tehran would be left with no option than strike at American bases and ships in the Middle East.
“The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He also said he can “easily” get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and “end this bloody conflict”.
Two Iranian Oil Facilities On Fire, Blaze Under Control
In Iran, Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted and set ablaze in an Israeli attack, Iran said, but added the situation was under control.
Israeli strikes also targeted Iran‘s Defence Ministry building, causing minor damage, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Sunday.
Iran has said 78 people were killed there on Friday, the first day of Israel’s shock attack, and scores more on the second, including 60 when a missile brought down a 14-storey apartment block in Tehran, where 29 of the dead were children.
Khamenei’s Close Adviser Dead From Strike Wounds
Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s top adviser to its supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has died in the hospital a day after Israel launched airstrikes across the country, Iranian media reports.
Shamkhani had previously served as Iran’s top national security official for a decade and had represented Iran in the China-facilitated rapprochement talks with Saudi Arabia.
Iranian authorities said that Israel’s airstrikes on Friday killed at least 30 military personnel in East Azerbaijan province, according to news agency ISNA .
“Following the Zionist regime’s aggression against this province since Friday morning, 30 military personnel and one Red Crescent member have been martyred in defence of the Islamic homeland, and 55 people have been injured,” ISNA reported on Saturday, quoting East Azerbaijan provincial authorities.
Iran Nabs 2 Suspected Local Spies For Israel
Iran said it has arrested two individuals it accused of being members of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in Alborz province while they were preparing explosives and electronic devices, Reuters reports, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
You Don’t Care -Iran’s Foreign Minister Tells UN Security Council
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, criticised the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Sunday, accusing it of “indifference” over Israel’s attacks on Iran.
In a meeting with foreign diplomats broadcast on state TV, Araghchi said the Israeli attack “is being met with indifference at the Security Council”, adding that Western governments have “condemned Iran instead of Israel despite it being the side that was violated”.
He said the attacks on Israel will end when its “aggression stops”.
