Israel and Iran traded large-scale missile and drone attacks over the weekend after Israel launched a surprise wave of airstrikes that killed at least 78 people and crippled key nuclear and military infrastructure in Iran, prompting fears of an all-out regional war. Iranian retaliatory fire struck central Israel, killing three civilians and wounding dozens.
The Israeli military said its assault killed several top Iranian generals and nine senior scientists connected to Tehran's nuclear program. Among those confirmed dead were Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the top commander of Iran's armed forces; Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Guard's ballistic missile program. Iran's state media later reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Gen. Majid Mousavi to replace Hajizadeh.
In response, Iran launched roughly 200 ballistic missiles and drones in multiple waves at Israeli territory, according to an Israeli official. The barrage lit up skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, injured more than 70 people, and damaged homes and infrastructure, including in Rishon LeZion and Ramat Gan. Israel's military reported that seven soldiers were lightly wounded, marking the first military casualties on its side in this latest escalation.
"If [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front - Tehran will burn," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared in a statement Saturday. He spoke after an emergency assessment with military leaders, during which plans for further operations inside Iran were discussed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that Israel's objective was the complete elimination of the Iranian threat and openly encouraged Iranian citizens to revolt against their rulers. "Israel would welcome the government's overthrow even if it is not actively seeking it," he added.
Iran's U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iravani confirmed that 78 people had been killed and over 320 injured in Friday's Israeli airstrikes, which targeted nuclear research centers in Natanz and Isfahan as well as air defense systems and military command posts across the country. Footage from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, which is used for both civilian and military purposes, showed black smoke rising amid reports of two projectile strikes. State media also reported that a 14-story residential building in Tehran, Shahid Chamran, was flattened, killing 60 people, including 20 children.
Israel's military said the airstrikes were aimed at halting what it described as the final steps in Iran's nuclear weapons development, though U.S. intelligence has maintained there is no sign Iran is imminently producing a bomb. An Israeli military official said the strike had delayed nuclear activities by months, and that it would take "more than a few weeks" to repair the Natanz and Isfahan sites.
"The road to Iran has been paved," said Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar, referring to Iran's heavily degraded air defenses. Israeli forces have also begun deploying reservists and shifting units to borders with Lebanon and Jordan.
The conflict threatened to derail nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, which were set to resume Sunday in Oman. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, "You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory." Iran has not officially canceled its participation but signaled talks are now unlikely.
Trump, speaking from his Truth Social platform, praised Israel's actions and warned Iran that failure to curb its nuclear ambitions would lead to devastating consequences. "Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left," he wrote. He added, Israel's attacks "will only get worse."
The United States, which has denied direct involvement in Israel's operation, nonetheless assisted in shooting down Iranian missiles, according to two U.S. officials. President Trump reiterated his full backing for Israel, warning Tehran not to provoke further escalation.
Meanwhile, the broader Middle East remained on edge. At least 27 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight. In the West Bank, a misfired Houthi missile injured five Palestinians, including three children, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Gulf Arab states, fearing spillover and oil supply disruption, called for restraint as Brent crude jumped 7% on Friday.
