Israel Iran death toll rises as sides exchange missile fire
Iranian missile attacks in Israel have now left 24 people dead as the two countries continue exchanging strikes.
At least eight were killed overnight as some Iranian missiles penetrated defense systems to hit Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities.
Meanwhile, Israel says it has killed the chief of Iran's armed forces intelligence unit with more strikes continuing into the morning.
Since attacks began on Friday, at least 224 people have been killed in Iran.
We also spoke to Sima Shine who was the head of research and analysis for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad from 2003 to 2007, and is now the head of the Iran programme at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
14 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Israel strikes state-run Iranian TV after Iranian missiles kill eight
In other developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a 'very, very long time'. He added that Israel is not attempting to topple the Iranian government, but said he would not be surprised if that happened as a result of the strikes. 'The regime is very weak,' Mr Netanyahu told a news conference. He added that he is in touch with US President Donald Trump daily. As he spoke, large numbers of explosions were heard in Tehran. Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people in the middle of Tehran to evacuate ahead of the strike against the TV station, which the military said provided a cover for Iranian military operations. The warning came on the fourth day of the conflict, when the Israeli military claimed it had achieved air superiority above the Iranian capital and could fly over the city without facing major threats. The military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. The warning affected up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. 'At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies,' said Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin. The military said it had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. The Israeli strikes 'amount to a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat', Brig Defrin said. Iran's state-run news agency reported that state-run television abruptly stopped a live broadcast after an Israeli strike. During the broadcast, an Iranian state television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after 'the sound of aggression against the homeland'. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, cutting the screen behind her as she hurried off camera. The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programmes. Iran, meanwhile, announced it had launched some 100 missiles and vowed further retaliation for sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure that have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday. One missile fell near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, with its blast waves causing minor damage, US ambassador Mike Huckabee said on X. He added that no American personnel were injured. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured, Israeli officials said, after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its long-time adversary from getting any closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, and the US and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.
Leader Live
15 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Israel strikes state-run Iranian TV after Iranian missiles kill eight
In other developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a 'very, very long time'. He added that Israel is not attempting to topple the Iranian government, but said he would not be surprised if that happened as a result of the strikes. 'The regime is very weak,' Mr Netanyahu told a news conference. He added that he is in touch with US President Donald Trump daily. As he spoke, large numbers of explosions were heard in Tehran. Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people in the middle of Tehran to evacuate ahead of the strike against the TV station, which the military said provided a cover for Iranian military operations. The warning came on the fourth day of the conflict, when the Israeli military claimed it had achieved air superiority above the Iranian capital and could fly over the city without facing major threats. The military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. The warning affected up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. 'At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies,' said Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin. The military said it had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. The Israeli strikes 'amount to a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat', Brig Defrin said. Iran's state-run news agency reported that state-run television abruptly stopped a live broadcast after an Israeli strike. During the broadcast, an Iranian state television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after 'the sound of aggression against the homeland'. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, cutting the screen behind her as she hurried off camera. The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programmes. Iran, meanwhile, announced it had launched some 100 missiles and vowed further retaliation for sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure that have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday. One missile fell near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, with its blast waves causing minor damage, US ambassador Mike Huckabee said on X. He added that no American personnel were injured. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured, Israeli officials said, after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its long-time adversary from getting any closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, and the US and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.
South Wales Guardian
24 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
British involvement in Iran-Israel conflict could end up like Iraq War, MPs warn
Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said Britain should be wary of any involvement, as they compared it to the British invasion of Saddam Hussein's country in 2003. Intelligence on Tehran's nuclear capabilities was treated with scepticism, as one MP said the Commons should have a vote on whether to engage in any military action. It came as Foreign Secretary David Lammy said any British nationals in Israel should register with the Foreign Office, so they can receive information about how to leave the country. He said it was tougher to help British nationals in Iran due to the closed airspace. The Government has long-issued 'do not travel' advice to the country. He also said the UK had had no role in Israel's counter-strikes. Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton (Surrey Heath) drew a comparison with the Tony Blair-era conflict. He said: 'A despotic Middle Eastern dictatorship, a rogue state, a terrorist state perilously close to achieving a weapon of mass destruction so serious that it could disrupt the entire region. 'Members, as well as the public listening at home, may hear echoes of 2003 in that description of current events. 'And with talk of regime change again in the air, can I ask the Foreign Secretary what he is going to do to personally talk back the authorities in Jerusalem, in Israel, because what they're doing at the moment strikes me as providing the Iranian regime with the best possible propaganda tool that they could possibly have.' Mr Lammy said: 'He's right to emphasise in his words a degree of caution. 'He will have heard what I said in the House this afternoon, which forms the bedrock of diplomacy that our officials are exercising in Israel, in Iran, and across the wider region.' Labour's Barry Gardiner (Brent West) asked the Foreign Secretary what he had done to get information from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to get a fuller picture of Iran's nuclear capabilities. He said: 'The failure to get transparent information from UNSCOM (United Nations Special Commission) and UNMOVIC (United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission) caused untold damage 22 years ago.' Mr Lammy said he had spoken to director general Rafael Grossi last week. Meanwhile his party colleague Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) asked: 'Given that Israel's claims have been challenged, even by US intelligence assessments, can the Foreign Secretary assure this House that no UK military support, whether direct or indirect, will be given without the clear and explicit consent of this House and that this Government has learnt the hard lessons of Iraq and Libya and will not repeat them?' Mr Lammy said: 'Categorically, the UK is not involved in Israel strikes.' He added: 'We do have an important regional role. We have UK assets, of course, in Cyprus, we have them in Bahrain, we have them in Qatar, and we have a role, an important role in Operation Shader, where we're dealing from terrible threats to us and our allies from Daesh and other things.' It came as MPs said they feared the conflict between Israel and Iran would distract from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's forces' actions against Palestinians in Gaza. The Commons heard renewed calls for the Palestinian state to be recognised, as a UN summit in New York has been delayed by the hostilities between Jerusalem and Tehran. Conservative MP Kit Malthouse (North West Hampshire) said: 'The Foreign Secretary said he was keeping his eye on Gaza. 'I'm not quite sure what that means. 'It's certainly the case that the eye of the world has been drawn to the footage that emerged as the missiles have flown of young children shot and bleeding out their lives in the sands of Gaza. 'As he said, 50 people hospitalised over the weekend or shot dead while begging for food. 'And just this morning, 38 people killed while queuing for food, or attempting to obtain food from the new American-sponsored distribution system. 'What comfort should all those bereaved families in Gaza take from the fact that he is keeping his eye on this situation?' Mr Lammy said he had met the family of a hostage who was killed by the terror group Hamas on Monday morning, who asked him to keep Gaza 'at the forefront of my mind'. He added: 'We are absolutely clear that the aid needs to get in, that those hostages need to get out, and we want to see a ceasefire.'
