Iran Launches New Wave of Missile Attacks on Israel, Death Toll Rises

TEL AVIV, Israel - Iran fired a new wave of missile attacks at Israel early Monday, killing at least eight people, while Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people in the middle of Tehran to evacuate ahead of new strikes. 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 Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 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. Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said, “At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies.”

According to the Israeli military, over 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers were destroyed in central Iran, accounting for a third of Iran's total. Fighter jets also struck 10 command centers in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard. Defrin described the Israeli strikes as “a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat.”

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.

Iran announced it had launched around 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, causing minor damage, with no American personnel injured.

In Israel, 24 people have been killed and over 500 injured after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The Israeli Magen David Adom emergency service reported that two women and two men - all in their 70s - and one other person were killed in the attacks that struck four sites in central Israel.

The conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites, and nuclear scientists. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, while the US and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. However, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so.

The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region into greater upheaval. Powerful explosions rocked Tel Aviv shortly before dawn Monday, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky over the coastal city. Authorities in Petah Tikva reported that Iranian missiles hit a residential building, causing significant damage.

The Israeli emergency service reported that paramedics had evacuated 87 wounded people to hospitals, while rescuers were still searching for residents trapped beneath the rubble of their homes. Dr. Gal Rosen, a paramedic, described the scene as having "massive destruction" and said he had rescued a 4-day-old baby amidst the blazes.

In Iran, health authorities reported 1,277 wounded, and fuel rationing has been implemented. Human rights groups have suggested that the Iranian government's death toll is a significant undercount, documenting over 400 people killed, including 197 civilians.

The situation remains volatile, with both sides vowing further action. A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry signaled that Iran will continue its missile attacks on Israel as long as the Israeli strikes continue, calling for the US to condemn Israel's aggression.