Israel targets Iran’s Defense Ministry as Tehran responds with deadly missile barrage

Tensions in the Middle East escalated further on Sunday as Israel expanded its offensive against Iran, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure and the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran. In a dramatic counter-response, Iran unleashed a new wave of deadly missile attacks on Israeli territory, marking one of the most intense exchanges between the two regional powers in years.

Loud explosions rocked Tehran as Israeli airstrikes hit what Israeli officials described as military and nuclear-related targets. Iranian authorities confirmed strikes on key sites in the capital, including the Defense Ministry building. Simultaneously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for missile launches targeting Israeli fuel production facilities allegedly used by fighter jets — though Israel has not confirmed damage to such facilities.

Inside Israel, the missile barrage from Iran caused significant civilian casualties. Emergency services reported multiple deaths across the country, including four people killed when a missile struck an apartment building in the Galilee region. In central Israel, an 80-year-old woman, a 69-year-old woman, and a 10-year-old boy were also killed in separate attacks. Dozens more were injured as sirens wailed and residents rushed to shelters throughout the night.

“Tehran is burning,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on social media, as midnight explosions echoed across both capitals. Israeli state media confirmed the assault, and Iran’s state broadcaster reported incoming airstrikes, while both sides held emergency security meetings.

The violence erupted days after Israel launched a surprise offensive aimed at crippling Iran’s rapidly progressing nuclear program. Since then, both nations have traded heavy fire, with mounting casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides.

In a significant diplomatic fallout, planned nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States were abruptly canceled amid the spiraling hostilities. The breakdown in talks casts doubt over any near-term prospects for de-escalation or a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.