Tensions in the Middle East surged further on Monday as Iranian missiles struck the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, leaving a trail of destruction and deepening fears among global leaders that the crisis could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), confirmed that four people—two men and two women, all approximately 70 years old—were killed in the latest attacks, with at least 87 others injured across four locations in central Israel.
One of the missiles reportedly hit a residential building in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, causing extensive damage to several apartments. Concrete walls were scorched, windows shattered, and homes rendered uninhabitable.
In the northern port city of Haifa, emergency teams continued search and rescue operations amid reports that about 30 people were injured. Fires were seen blazing near a local power plant, according to Israeli media reports.
Iranian state television claimed over 100 missiles were launched as part of the country’s retaliation for Friday’s Israeli strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities and top military leadership. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards boasted that the latest attack used a new strategy designed to confuse Israel’s air defense systems—though this claim remains unverified.
The Israeli military has not officially responded to Iran’s latest assault but has acknowledged that its defense system is not completely foolproof. Officials have warned citizens to brace for further escalation.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes inside Iran killed Mohammad Kazemi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence unit, along with two senior officers. In retaliation, Iran vowed to continue its offensive, launching strikes that included targeting energy infrastructure. Videos shared from Tehran showed massive fires at a fuel depot following Israeli attacks on Iran’s oil and gas facilities—actions that could have broader economic consequences.
As of Monday, Israeli officials report that at least 14 civilians, including children, have died since the beginning of the conflict. Meanwhile, Iranian health authorities said the death toll in their country has reached 224, with 90% of those reported to be civilians.
World leaders convening at the G7 summit in Canada have made the conflict a top agenda item. U.S. President Donald Trump, prior to his departure for the summit, told reporters: “I hope there’s going to be a deal. I think it’s time for a deal. Sometimes they have to fight it out.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that his summit goals include preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, protecting Israel’s right to self-defense, and creating diplomatic space to de-escalate the crisis.
Diplomatic efforts appear to be stalling, however. Iran has reportedly informed mediators from Qatar and Oman that it will not enter ceasefire negotiations while under Israeli attack.
Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Israel had considered targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a plan that was allegedly vetoed by President Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed such reports, stating: “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that. We do what we need to do.”
The current conflict began with a surprise Israeli offensive on Friday that decimated Iran’s top military command and damaged key nuclear infrastructure. Tehran responded with a chilling warning that it would “open the gates of hell.”
While the United States has publicly denied involvement in Israel’s strikes, officials confirmed that the U.S. military assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles en route to Israel. President Trump continues to press Iran to agree to strict limitations on its nuclear ambitions—a program Iran insists is for peaceful energy production, though Western nations and the IAEA have raised concerns over its potential military applications.
As the violence intensifies, the international community watches closely, with fears growing that this conflict could engulf the broader region.