Nova Peris, Erin Molan trapped in Israel as Iran bomb hit
Former Australian Olympian and Labor Senator Nova Peris and media personality Erin Molan are both trapped in Israel as Iranian rockets rain down on the Jewish state.
The pair, posting to X, are both in Tel Aviv, which has been hit by bombs and rockets in the past 24 hours.
'The past 24 hours have been deeply confronting,' Ms Peris said.
'We spent the early hours of yesterday in a bomb shelter, and much of today there too.
'The last four to five hours have been extremely frightening and distressing.'
The Middle East is on edge after Israel launched what it called 'pre-emptive' strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran overnight.
Iran reportedly launched about 150 missiles in retaliatory strikes, nine of which landed in Israel.
Ms Peris said she had bunkered down with 11 other Australians in a bomb shelter.
According to The Australian, the other members of the group are Ms Peris' husband Scott Appleton, Aboriginal education manager Maurice Goolagong, eye surgeon Kris Rallah-Baker, Kimberley elder Ian Trust, Indigenous leaders Jody Hampton and Renee Fowlestone, The Australian's Indigenous affairs correspondent Paige Taylor, filmmakers Annette and Eliya Cohen, lawyer Fred Linker and Middle East expert Bren Carlill.
The group is reportedly touring Israel as part of a delegation hosted by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is reportedly in contact with the group.
'We can't wait to come home. But for now, we're safe, in bomb shelters, we're together, and our hearts are with all those living through this terror,' Ms Peris said.
'We've witnessed the unrelenting ballistic missile attacks in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and across Israel.
'There have now been three waves of missiles fired directly from Iran, targeting civilians, destroying homes and causing widespread devastation.'
Ms Molan, who was previously a Sky News host and Daily Telegraph columnist, said in a video recorded from her shelter that the past few hours had been 'like a movie'.
'I'm just in a shelter at the moment.
'Apparently, missiles have hit in Tel Aviv, I can hear the sounds around us.
'We're just kind of relying on different updates that are coming in, but there were Houthi missiles incoming, but I'm not sure if these are Houthi or if they're direct from Iran. But yeah, there's a significant amount of activity happening now in Tel Aviv where we are now. You can hear missiles hitting.'
Global leaders have called for de-escalation of the conflict including UN chief Antonio Guterres.
'Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites,' Mr Guterres said.
'Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv.
'Enough escalation.
'Time to stop.
'Peace and diplomacy must prevail.
Just last week Ms Peris posted on social media that she had 'returned to the Holy Land'.
This is her third visit to Israel since the October 7 attacks in 2023, which triggered war between Israel and Hamas.
The posts show a wide-ranging tour of the country, including a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Originally published as Nova Peris, Erin Molan trapped in Israel as Iran rocket terror hits
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The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
How Israel's assault unfolded – and how Iran responded
It was fast, targeted and deadly. In a split second, a quiet pre-dawn Tehran was rocked by explosions. Israel attacked several locations across Iran, including the capital, targeting nuclear sites, including its main enrichment facility, ballistic missile and other military capabilities, and commanders and nuclear scientists. Here's how it unfolded, moment by moment (note: all times in AEST). June 12 Trump withdraws US officials from the Middle East The White House orders the departure of all non-essential personnel from its embassy in Baghdad. It also gives non-essential officials in its Bahrain and Kuwait embassies the authorisation to leave if they so wish. This comes as US intelligence indicates Israel has been preparing to strike Iran while the Trump administration struggles to make progress on a nuclear deal with Iran. 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens,' US President Donald Trump says. June 13 Trump warns an Israeli strike 'could very well happen' if Iran doesn't reach a deal over its nuclear weapons capabilities. 'I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen,' Trump tells reporters at the White House. Israel attacks Iran at 3.30am local time, with explosions booming across Tehran. People in the city wake to blasts, which damage residential buildings. Smoke is seen rising from Tehran's western neighbourhood of Chitgar. 'Dozens' of nuclear and military targets hit An Israeli military official confirms 'dozens' of sites across Iran were targeted, including the country's Natanz nuclear complex, with footage on Iranian state TV showing black smoke rising from the facility. The deaths Iranian state TV reports that the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, was killed in the strikes, along with the commander-in-chief of Iran's army, General Mohammad Bagheri, and another top-ranking commander, General Gholamali Rashid. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, survived, but Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Khamenei was reportedly 'critically injured' in the strikes. Six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also reportedly killed. Iranian TV reports children were among the dead in the affected residential areas. The Israel Defence Forces shares news of the successful 'first stage' of its offensive on X. 'Dozens of IAF [Israeli Air Force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,' it posts. 'Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.' 11am: US not involved, avoids both endorsing and condemning strikes The United States declines to endorse Israel's strikes against Iran, noting in an official statement that it was aware of, but not involved in, the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers the first official US response to the attack, saying Israel 'advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence'. Later, Trump calls an emergency security meeting set for 11am Friday (1am AEST) and tells Fox News 'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb'. 11.19am: Netanyahu speaks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the strikes were aimed at hurting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and other military capabilities. 'This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,' he says in a recorded video message. 'As prime minister, I have made it clear time and again Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve their goal.' He says Israel has successfully 'struck at the heart' of Iran's nuclear weaponisation program by targeting 'their main enrichment facility'. 1.23pm 'Sworn enemies' to expect retaliation, says Tehran Israel will receive a 'harsh punishment' in response to the strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tells Iranian state TV. He says Israel has 'unleashed its wicked and bloody' hand in a crime against Iran that reveals its 'vile nature'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later release a statement, seen by Reuters, which says Israel 'will pay a heavy price' for killing their chief, Salami. The statement claims Israel's strikes were done with the knowledge and support of the 'wicked rulers in the White House' and the 'terrorist US regime'. 'Iran's sworn enemies should expect a decisive retaliation,' it says. 3.01pm: Iran launches 100-drone assault on Israel Israel's chief army spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, says: 'In the last few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, and all the defence systems are acting to intercept the threats.' A short time later, neighbouring Jordan says its air force and defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory. Defrin says the strikes are continuing. How has Australia reacted? Speaking from Fiji, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government wants the conflict solved 'through dialogue'. 'We, of course, are very conscious of the threat [that] Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent to peace and security in the region as well,' he says. Speaking to reporters minutes after the strikes were first reported, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was 'alarmed' by the attack. 'We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions,' Wong said. What becomes of the US and Iran's nuclear negotiations? A key mediator in Iran's nuclear talks with the US says Israel's attack 'threatens to eliminate diplomatic solutions and undermine security and stability of the region'. Oman was due to host US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and other key officials for a sixth round of nuclear deal talks with Iran on Sunday. After the strikes, Trump says he's hoping to get 'back to the negotiating table', according to Fox News. When asked in the hours before the attack how any strikes would affect the nuclear talks, Trump said: 'I think it would blow it', before reconsidering and saying, it 'might help it actually, but it also could blow it'. June 14 4.14am Iran's retaliation begins The Associated Press reports air raid sirens have sounded in Jerusalem as Israel says Iran has fired missiles. A few minutes later, an Israeli military official claims dozens of missiles have been detected. Explosions can be heard in Jerusalem and Israeli TV stations show plumes of smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent strike. 4.25am Iran's Supreme Leader vows revenge Ayatollah Ali Khamenei releases a defiant message to Iran in which he promises Israel will suffer a 'bitter fate' for its actions. 4.28am Major ballistic assault on Israel Iran's state-run news site says the country has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel. But the Israeli military says the missiles numbered fewer than 100 and most were intercepted or fell short. No casualties are immediately reported. 8.20am Sirens and a round of explosions, possibly from Israeli interceptors, can be heard booming in the sky over Jerusalem and the Israeli military says another attack is taking place. A witness tells Reuters that air-raid sirens had sounded again in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Israeli military urges civilians, already rattled by an earlier wave of missiles, to take shelter. The Iranian outlet Nour News, which has close links with the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, says a wave of attacks is being launched. With Reuters, AP
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Israel-Iran: How Donald Trump decided to back Israel's attacks on Iran
The first act of 'Les Misérables' had just ended at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night when Sen. Lindsey Graham (Republican, South Carolina) pulled President Trump aside for a quick conversation about Iran. Graham applauded the Trump administration's handling of the nuclear issue without people getting killed. 'Yeah, we're trying,' Trump said about the sputtering negotiations with Tehran. 'But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do,' he said. Graham took that remark to mean Trump was referring to the possibility of an Israeli strike on its longtime enemy. The encounter came midway through a week that would see Trump go from trying to head off an Israeli attack to backing its sudden campaign of air strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and senior military and civilian leaders, an abrupt shift that underscored the fraying prospects for a deal. Trump said Friday that he had been aware of Israel's attack plans and argued that the punishing operation makes a nuclear deal even more likely, though Iran said they were pulling out of a sixth round of talks scheduled for Sunday. 'They should have made a deal and they still can make a deal while they have something left — they still can,' Trump told The Wall Street Journal. Trump had seemed far less optimistic earlier in the week. On Sunday, he summoned his national-security team to Camp David and told them during a discussion on the Middle East that he was increasingly pessimistic Tehran would agree to a deal, according to US officials. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were due to speak the next day, and the president said he would tell the Israeli leader to delay any attacks until special envoy Steve Witkoff's diplomatic effort had run its course, US officials recounted. In a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March, Trump had set a two-month time limit once talks got under way to reach a deal, a deadline that was due to expire this week. But Khamenei rejected a US proposal to allow Iran to temporarily continue uranium enrichment in the country if it agreed to eventually halt its domestic centrifuge operation. Always in the background was Netanyahu's push to launch strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, a threat that loomed ever larger. In a call Monday with Netanyahu, Trump said he wanted to see diplomacy with Tehran play out a little longer, according to US officials. But even Trump was losing faith in his strategy. Netanyahu raised his oft-expressed objection that Iran wouldn't make the deal Trump wanted and that Israel needed to keep preparing strikes, the officials added. Trump seemed to internalise the message. 'I'm getting more and more — less confident about it,' he said of the prospects for a nuclear deal with Iran in a New York Post interview published Wednesday. 'They seem to be delaying, and I think that is a shame, but I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago.' Netanyahu had been seeking to head off a US-led negotiation with Iran over its nuclear program for years, arguing that only the destruction of its vast enrichment centrifuges and other facilities could guarantee Tehran wasn't secretly developing a bomb. The Israeli leader rejoiced when Trump in his first term tore up the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by then President Barack Obama, and he recoiled when Trump pushed for a tougher agreement during his second term in office. US intelligence agencies concluded in January that Israel was considering strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The intelligence analysis concluded Israel would push Trump's new team to back the assault, viewing the incoming president as more likely to join an attack than former President Joe Biden. The Israelis, according to the assessment, believed the window for halting Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon was closing. In a sign of mounting concern about an Israeli attack and Iranian response, the State Department on Wednesday ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel from the US Embassy in Baghdad and authorised the departure of non-essential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait. At the same time, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised the voluntary departure of military dependants from across the Middle East. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top US commander in the Middle East, cancelled a congressional testimony scheduled for the next day and returned to Central Command's headquarters in Tampa. As anxiety grew in the Middle East and Washington, Trump was enjoying the performance of his favourite musical at the Kennedy Center, joined by Graham and other supporters. When Trump and Netanyahu spoke again on Thursday, the Israeli leader told Trump that it was the last day of his 60-day timeline for Iran to make a deal. Israel could wait no longer, Netanyahu said, according to officials familiar with the call. Israel had to defend itself and enforce the deadline Trump himself had set. Trump responded that the US wouldn't stand in the way, according to administration officials, but emphasised that the US military wouldn't assist with any offensive operations. At the White House, Trump told reporters he wouldn't describe an attack as imminent, 'but it is something that could very well happen.' While the US and Iran were close to a deal, he claimed, Israeli strikes could 'blow it.' Israel launched its operation as Trump was at a picnic Thursday evening on the White House grounds for members of Congress. He later joined Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth, and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and other senior officials in the Situation Room to monitor events. Israel had acted unilaterally and the US played no role in the attack, Rubio said in a statement that acknowledged Israel notified Washington before the operation began. That was the only comment from the US as the attack unfolded. Bombs struck and damaged a key Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz, and senior military leaders including Major Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were killed. In all, Iran claimed that Israel's first attack killed 78 people and injured around 320 more in multiple waves of Israeli strikes. Netanyahu pledged that the operation would last for as long as necessary. Trump, who began the week resistant to an assault on Iran, quickly embraced it as a successful campaign that could boost his diplomatic effort. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,' he posted on social media Friday, 'and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.' Wall Street Journal Read related topics: Donald TrumpIsrael The Wall Street Journal The conflict in the Middle East is exacerbating a schism between conservatives over foreign policy. The Wall Street Journal Tehran's bruising fight with Israel has left its military weakened and unable to respond in kind to Israeli attacks.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Tehran will burn', Israel warns Iran after attacks
Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP Israel's defence minister says "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles after at least three people died and dozens were wounded in retaliation to Israeli air strikes on cities, military sites and nuclear facilities. In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex. In Israel, air raid sirens sent residents into shelters as waves of missiles streaked across the sky and interceptors rose to meet them, killing at least three people. An Israeli official said Iran had fired around 200 ballistic missiles in four waves. Iranian fire struck residential districts in Israel and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line. "If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement. Iran had vowed to avenge Friday's Israeli onslaught, which gutted Iran's nuclear and military leadership and damaged atomic plants and military bases, killing 78 people including civilians according to Iran's UN envoy. Tehran warned Israel's allies their regional military bases would come under fire too if they help shoot down Iranian missiles, Iranian state television reported. Iran's overnight fusillade included hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, an Israeli official said. Three people, including a man and a woman, were killed and dozens wounded, the ambulance service said. In Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, emergency services rescued a baby girl trapped in a house hit by a missile, police said. Video showed teams searching through the rubble of one home. And in the western suburb of Ramat Gan, near Ben Gurion airport, Linda Grinfeld described her apartment being damaged: "We were sitting in the shelter, and then we heard such a boom. It was awful." The Israeli military said it had intercepted surface-to-surface Iranian missiles as well as drones, and that two rockets had been fired from Gaza. With Iran's air defences heavily damaged, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said "the road to Iran has been paved". In preparation for possible further escalation, reservists were being deployed across Israel. Army Radio reported units had been positioned along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders. In Iran, explosions were heard overnight across the capital, state media reported. Fars News agency said two projectiles had hit Mehraband airport, located inside the capital, which is both civilian and military. State television reported that a 14-storey housing complex, Shahid Chamran, had been flattened by a missile. It said 60 people had been killed, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Israel's military did not immediately comment on that report. Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people had been killed in Israel's strikes on Friday and more than 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence, and said the bombing campaign was designed to avert the last steps to production of a nuclear weapon - even though US intelligence says it has seen no sign that this is imminent. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon called the strikes "an act of national preservation". A military official on Saturday said Israel had killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists, and that the damage to the nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz would take "more than a few weeks" to repair. Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian in line with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. However, it has repeatedly hidden parts of its programme from international inspectors, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported it in violation of the NPT. with AP
