Iran has launched a new wave of missiles at Israel, with sirens sounding in several Israeli cities overnight. At least eight people were reported dead and 300 wounded in attacks on Haifa and Tel Aviv. Israel’s defense minister threatened to intensify attacks on Tehran, saying: “The people of Tehran will soon pay the price.” China has called on Iran and Israel to take “immediate” steps to reduce tensions. Iranian authorities have called on European countries to halt Israeli strikes.
The attacks damaged numerous buildings in central Israel, and fires have broken out at the sites of the attacks.
About 16 fire and rescue teams are working at several locations in the Dan and Central districts to locate and rescue trapped people, the Israeli fire service said, according to Channel 12.
Israeli police confirmed that missile debris fell in at least two communities in the Tel Aviv district, causing material damage, with no immediate reports of casualties.
Similar incidents occurred in the coastal district, resulting in additional material and infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, public broadcaster KAN reported that the Israeli military detected enemy aircraft in the Milvot area and on the northern coast, and drones were intercepted in Eilat in the south and Rosh Hanikra in the north, Channel 12 reported.
The Israeli military said this morning that it had detected a missile launch from Iran, which led to the activation of defense systems and sirens.
Residents were ordered to enter protected areas upon receiving the warning and remain there until further notice, following the instructions of the Home Front Command.
A military spokesman confirmed that warnings had been issued in several areas after the rockets were detected.
The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot later reported that explosions were heard in northern and central Israel.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that in this latest wave they used a new method that disrupted Israeli defenses and caused them to target each other.
Iran Calls on European Countries to Influence Israel to End Attacks
Iranian authorities today called on European countries to stop Israeli attacks, on the fourth day of military escalation between the two enemies.
“Germany, France and the United Kingdom should have condemned the crimes of the Zionist regime very clearly,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagaj.
According to him, Iran expects European countries to work to end “the aggression and to condemn the actions of the Israeli regime against Iranian nuclear facilities.”
Bagaj said he also expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to condemn the Israeli attacks on Iran.
“The country’s peaceful nuclear facilities that were under constant supervision by the IAEA were attacked. We expect the agency to take a firm stance and condemn this act during an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors scheduled for today in Vienna,” Bagaj said.
