Iran and Israel exchange fresh strikes as conflict escalates

Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes on Saturday as the conflict sparked by Israel’s attack on its regional rival’s nuclear programme entered a second day.

Israeli paramedics said that at least three people had been killed and dozens injured by Iran’s overnight salvos, with missiles slipping through the country’s air defences and destroying buildings in Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion.

Iranian media, quoting unofficial estimates, said that 78 people had been killed and 329 injured in Iran since Israel started its campaign on Friday.

Israeli military chiefs on Saturday warned that Tehran would be targeted in follow-up strikes after Israeli fighter jets conducted overnight raids against air defence systems around the Iranian capital. 

The latest conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed oil prices to a four-month high, was triggered by Israel’s attack on Tehran’s nuclear programme and military facilities that killed Iran’s top three military commanders as well as leading scientists.

A senior adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards said that Iran’s barrages had targeted 150 locations in Israel and were carried out in multiple waves.

The head of Israel’s air force said “dozens” of targets in Iran were hit overnight, including surface-to-air missile infrastructure, air defence systems around Tehran and “strategic” sites.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said strikes would continue until Israel had eliminated the threat from Iran’s nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Tehran to make a deal in talks on its nuclear programme “before there is nothing left”.

A senior adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards told state television that the country’s retaliation against Israel would go on for as long as necessary.