Iran, Israel trade deadly missile attacks; conflict escalates for fourth day
Iran launched another wave of missiles into Israel early Monday, June 16, killing at least eight people and wounding nearly 100 more, according to The New York Times. The strikes targeted multiple locations in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Haifa and Bnei Brak.
Emergency workers reported damage to residential buildings, with some residents trapped under rubble.
Israeli officials said two men and two women in their 70s were among the dead. Four people died in Petah Tikva, three in Haifa and an 80-year-old man was killed in Bnei Brak when his home collapsed from a shockwave.
Iranian missiles also struck Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa Bay, igniting a fire and prompting rescue efforts, according to Israeli emergency officials.
What has Israel said about air superiority?
Israeli military officials claimed their air force has now gained control of the skies over parts of western Iran, including Tehran. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israeli jets destroyed more than 120 missile launchers and now operate freely across Iranian airspace. The Israeli Defense Forces also said it had struck 10 command centers tied to Iran’s Quds Force in the past 24 hours.
What has Iran’s response been?
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it launched approximately 100 missiles in retaliation. Officials vowed more attacks in response to Israel’s ongoing strikes on military and nuclear sites, which Iran’s Health Ministry said have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,400 since Friday. Health authorities in Iran also reported more than 1,200 wounded.
What are human rights groups reporting?
Iranian advocacy group Human Rights Activists said the government’s official death toll may be underreported. The group estimates over 400 people have died, including nearly 200 civilians.
How has the conflict impacted diplomacy?
The latest escalation has stalled nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., with talks canceled over the weekend. Iranian officials reportedly refused to proceed while Israeli strikes continued.
According to CBS News, Trump privately urged Israel not to target Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. WhileTrump has publicly called for a diplomatic resolution, he warned the U.S. would respond militarily if Iran targeted American forces.
Since Friday, June 13, Iran’s missile attacks have killed at least 21 civilians in Israel, according to the national emergency service.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
