WEBDESK: Tensions in the Middle East soared as an Iran strike hit Israel with over 100 missiles late Sunday night, killing three people and injuring dozens. The attack was in direct retaliation to an unprovoked Israeli assault on its nuclear and military sites just days earlier.
At least three Israelis were killed and more than 67 injured after Iran launched its largest-ever missile assault on Israel early Sunday morning, according to multiple Israeli media outlets including The Jerusalem Post, Channel 12, and Ynet News.
The barrage, which Israeli emergency services say included over 100 ballistic and hypersonic missiles, struck several key cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and occupied Jerusalem. The assault followed a day of escalating hostilities, during which Israeli forces reportedly targeted multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad.
In Tel Aviv, residents reported a night of panic and fear as explosions echoed through the city. “The booms this time were much, much stronger than ever,” Israeli journalist Gideon Levy told Al Jazeera. “Windows were shattered and sirens of ambulances and emergency workers soon followed. It was very, very strong and quite fearful.”
Fires break out at Haifa power plant after Iran strike
A power plant in Haifa caught fire following a direct missile hit, leading to widespread power outages in central Israel. Authorities said that several areas remained without electricity by Sunday morning. The Israeli army instructed residents across the north and centre to seek immediate shelter and remain indoors.
Earlier reports had focused on casualties and damage in central parts of the country, but new information now indicates that attacks are also occurring in the north.
According to the UK-based maritime security company Ambrey, flames were seen at the power plant located near Haifa’s port.
The firm also said it had reviewed video footage showing Israeli forces trying to intercept the strike, which was followed by the impact of two hyper-sonic missiles.
The Iranian strikes came in response to Israel’s unprovoked attack on Friday. Iranian media claimed that 90 per cent of those killed in Israeli attacks were civilians, including women and newborns. In Tehran, several buildings sustained damage, including the Foreign Ministry complex. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said in a video message that the ministry’s library windows were shattered in the assault.
The death toll from Iran’s attacks in the past 48 hours now stands at 17, according to CNN, while Iranian officials claim that at least 224 people have been killed in Israeli air raids on Iran during the same period, with more than 1,200 others injured.
