TEL AVIV: Early Monday morning, Iranian missiles targeted Israel’s major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, resulting in at least eight fatalities and significant destruction of residential areas. In response, Israel’s defense minister issued a stern warning that residents of Tehran would “pay the price and soon.”
As tensions escalate, concerns about further conflict hung over a Group of Seven leaders’ meeting in Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution, but fighting continued unabated on its fourth day.Since Friday, Israeli emergency services reported that the death toll has risen to 23, with over 100 others injured in the recent strikes. Iran’s health ministry claimed that Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 224 Iranian casualties, mostly civilians.
Rescue operations are ongoing in Haifa, where approximately 30 individuals were wounded amid fires at a nearby power plant. Emergency responders rushed to the scene as footage showed multiple missiles over Tel Aviv, with explosions audible across the city and in Jerusalem. Several residential buildings in Tel Aviv’s densely populated neighborhoods were destroyed, with windows shattered in hotels and homes just a few hundred meters from the U.S. Embassy branch. The U.S. ambassador confirmed the embassy sustained minor damage with no injuries reported.
Guydo Tetelbaun, a chef living in Tel Aviv, recounted his experience: “It was around 4 a.m. when we received the alert. We rushed into the shelter nearby. Within minutes, the shelter’s door was blown in. People came in bloody and injured. When we returned home, everything was destroyed—walls caved in, glass shattered.”
He expressed the uncertainty everyone feels: “It’s terrifying because we don’t know what’s coming next. This could be the start of a long ordeal, or it could worsen. The unknown is the scariest part.”
The missile strikes also hit near Shuk HaCarmel, a bustling market popular with locals and tourists, as well as bars and restaurants. Nearby, a residential street in Petah Tikva and a school in Bnei Brach, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish city, were also targeted.Iran Employs New TacticsIran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed that the latest missile attack utilized a new method that caused Israel’s layered defense systems to interfere with each other, enabling Tehran to reach multiple targets successfully. They did not provide further details.
Israel’s Defense Force has yet to comment on the specifics of the strikes. There have been no reports of interceptor missiles colliding mid-air, though Israeli officials have acknowledged the limitations of their defenses and warned of challenging days ahead.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned Tehran’s actions: “The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer, targeting Israeli civilians to deter our military efforts. The residents of Tehran will soon pay the price.”
On the other side, Iran reported at least 224 casualties, with 90% of those fatalities civilians, according to the Iranian health ministry. All the victims in Israel have been civilians, Israeli authorities confirmed.Israel’s military announced that it struck additional targets early Monday, targeting command centers belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and military forces
