Israel Vows More Strikes After Iran’s Deadly Retaliation/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ After Iran launched deadly missile strikes on Israel, killing three and wounding dozens, Israel pledged further attacks if Tehran continues its assault. The warning comes after Israel’s massive air campaign targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Regional airspace disruptions, global diplomatic appeals, and threats of escalation have intensified Middle East tensions.
Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates: Quick Looks
- Israel warns of more strikes following Iran’s missile and drone attacks.
- Iranian retaliation kills 3 in Israel and injures dozens more.
- Massive Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military assets killed 78, wounded 320.
- Iranian leaders killed, including top generals overseeing missile programs.
- Tehran fires second wave, with explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
- Global airspace closures and disruptions in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
- UN and Pope call for restraint, urging diplomacy over war.
- Gas exports halted as Israel suspends natural gas supply to Egypt.
- Nuclear talks collapse, with Iran calling further negotiations “meaningless.”
- U.S. confirms it was informed, denies direct involvement in Israeli operations.
Israel Vows More Strikes After Iran’s Deadly Retaliation
Deep Look
Israel Issues Fresh Threat After Iran Strikes
On Saturday, Israel warned of new military strikes on Tehran and other Iranian targets if missile attacks from Iran continue. This comes in the aftermath of a devastating Iranian retaliation that left three people dead and dozens wounded in central Israel. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and other urban areas as Iranian missiles breached Israeli airspace.
Iran’s Retaliatory Operation and High Casualties
Iran’s overnight missile barrage followed Israel’s Friday strikes on its nuclear and military facilities—an operation that Tehran claims killed 78 people and injured over 320. Among the dead were senior Iranian military leaders, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s missile division and other top officials.
In response, Iran fired a wave of missiles and drones, several of which hit targets in Tel Aviv and central Israel. One woman was killed in a Tel Aviv hospital, and Israel’s emergency services confirmed the deaths of two others from a direct hit in the center of the country. Nineteen others were wounded.
Israel’s Preemptive Strikes Spark Wider Conflict
Friday’s Israeli campaign marked a significant military escalation. Using warplanes and drones smuggled into Iran, Israel attacked nuclear enrichment centers at Natanz and Fordow, ballistic missile bases in Kermanshah and Tabriz, and radar systems near Tehran. Israel stated the strikes were necessary to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, despite international assessments indicating Iran wasn’t actively pursuing one at the time.
Israel’s military said the operation gave its air force “freedom of movement” in Iranian skies and signaled readiness for continued combat. Defense Minister Israel Katz added, “Tehran will burn” if missile attacks resume.
Airspace Closures and Civilian Impact
In the wake of the attacks, multiple countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel closed their airspace. Jordan reopened its skies early Saturday, while Lebanon and Syria followed hours later. Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv remains closed indefinitely.
Satellite imagery also confirmed widespread damage to Iran’s missile bases in Kermanshah and Tabriz, though Iran has yet to publicly acknowledge the full extent.
Meanwhile, a fire was reported at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. Videos circulating online showed smoke and flames rising from airport facilities. No casualties were immediately reported.
International Diplomacy and Energy Fallout
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to hostilities, stating “Peace and diplomacy must prevail.” Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, appealed for “respectful dialogue” and a renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament.
The international response extended to economic consequences. Israel halted its natural gas exports to Egypt, which forced Cairo to shut down some industrial gas operations and led to energy shortages amid peak summer demand.
Diplomatic Breakdown
Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared that further nuclear talks with the U.S. are now “meaningless” in light of the Israeli attacks. Talks were originally scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday. While Iran hasn’t officially canceled, officials stated that continuing under the current circumstances would be “impossible.”
The diplomatic rupture comes as both Iran and the U.S. prepared for renewed efforts to curb uranium enrichment, especially after the IAEA censured Tehran last week for failing to cooperate with international inspectors.
Global Religious and Political Response
Top Sunni institution Al-Azhar condemned the Israeli attack, labeling Israel “a rogue entity.” Iran, a dominant Shiite power, rarely finds alignment with Sunni governments, but its suffering in this conflict is triggering broader Muslim world concern.
Meanwhile, the Israeli public remains largely unified behind the military campaign. Opposition leader Yair Lapid voiced full support for the strikes. However, public sentiment could shift if retaliatory attacks from Iran escalate and casualties rise.
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