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The conflict began when the Israeli military launched “Operation Rising Lion” and attacked Iran’s nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists last Friday
Israel and Iran on Saturday traded new strikes hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with European foreign ministers and said Tehran would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat.
The Israeli military, in a post on X around 2:30 am (2330 GMT on Friday), said sirens were sounded in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, due to “missile fire” from Iran. Some buildings were also reportedly on fire after Iranian strikes.
Israeli officials said that sirens were also sounded in southern Israel after Iran fired five ballistic missiles. They said that there were no immediate indications of any missile impacts.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), in a post around 3 am (local time), said it launched a “wave of attacks against missile storage and launch infrastructure” in central Iran.
The fresh attacks were exchanged hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his counterparts from the UK, France and Germany, as well as the European Union’s foreign policy chief, in Geneva to end the weeklong Israel-Iran war.
“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes,” Mr Araghchi told reporters after the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials since the conflict started last Friday.
The Israel-Iran war began when the Israeli military launched “Operation Rising Lion” and attacked Iran’s nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. It said it had concluded Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran, and more than 2,000 others injured, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.
Israel has said that Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, killing at least 24 people.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli military operations in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate the “existential threats” of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles.
President Donald Trump on Friday said he would take as long as two weeks to decide whether the US should enter the conflict on Israel’s side.
Tensions in the Middle East have surged once again as Israel and Iran engaged in a fresh exchange of missile attacks following Tehran’s categorical rejection of renewed nuclear negotiations. In a span of less than 24 hours, at least three confirmed strikes have occurred, setting off alarms not only in regional capitals but also among global powers wary of a wider conflict. The escalation comes at a particularly fragile time, as international diplomacy appears to be faltering and both sides are signaling a hardening of their positions.
This latest round of hostilities marks a significant escalation in the long-standing animosity between the two nations. While Israel continues to see Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential threat, Iran has accused Israel of engaging in provocative military operations designed to undermine its sovereignty. The refusal by Iran to return to the nuclear negotiating table, after months of diplomatic posturing, has now ignited a kinetic and dangerous phase of confrontation.
The current crisis was triggered by Iran’s announcement earlier this week that it would no longer entertain proposals for restarting the stalled 2015 nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran’s Foreign Minister, in a blunt statement, declared that the era of “Western pressure through negotiation” was over and that Iran would proceed with its enrichment plans “within the scope of peaceful resistance.”
This rejection came despite diplomatic efforts led by the European Union and back-channel communications initiated by several Gulf states hoping to prevent another regional conflict. Iran’s move has essentially dismantled years of negotiations and left no diplomatic cushion between Tehran and its adversaries.
In a swift and calculated response to what it called “Israeli provocations and illegal aerial surveillance,” Iran launched two medium-range ballistic missiles, which struck near Israeli military installations in the Golan Heights. Though no casualties were reported, the missiles caused structural damage and sent a strong message: Iran was willing to use force to make its point.
Israeli defense systems intercepted a third missile, which was believed to be heading toward Haifa, one of Israel’s key port cities.
The Iron Dome was partially activated, and air-raid sirens were heard across northern Israeli cities, triggering public fear of an incoming broader offensive.
Israel’s retaliation was swift. Within hours, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes on Iranian-linked military infrastructure in Syria, particularly around Damascus and Homs. These facilities are believed to be operational hubs for Iran’s Quds Force and the Hezbollah militia, both designated as terrorist organizations by Israel and the United States.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office released a statement saying, “We will not tolerate direct threats to our territory. Any attack on Israeli soil will be met with overwhelming and precise force. Iran must be held accountable for destabilizing the region.”
At least 7 Iranian personnel and 3 Syrian soldiers were reported killed in these strikes, with several others wounded. Satellite imagery confirmed that significant damage was done to weapons storage depots and a radar system used to track Israeli aircraft.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session following the missile exchange, urging both parties to exercise restraint and warning that further escalation could ignite a broader war across the Middle East. The U.S. Secretary of State called Iran’s rejection of nuclear talks “reckless” and accused Tehran of undermining regional stability.
Russia, traditionally a close ally of Iran, urged de-escalation but stopped short of condemning Iran’s actions, while China called for a return to the negotiating table. European Union leaders expressed concern that the window for diplomacy is “rapidly closing,” as military action appears to be taking precedence over dialogue.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have reportedly put their military forces on alert, fearing spillover from the confrontation. Several commercial flights in the region were rerouted or canceled, with oil markets reacting sharply to the news. Brent crude spiked by 4%, reaching its highest level in months.
In both Iran and Israel, the public response has been one of heightened anxiety. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, citizens have been stocking up on essentials, while bomb shelters have been opened in vulnerable communities. Public opinion in Israel strongly supports the IDF’s response, but there is also fear that Iran could escalate further, potentially through its proxy groups like Hezbollah or the Houthis in Yemen.
In Iran, the regime has used the crisis to bolster nationalist sentiment. State-run television aired footage of missile launches with patriotic music and messaging framing the conflict as “defiance against Zionist aggression.” However, sources inside Iran report growing unease over the possibility of wider conflict, especially among the urban middle class already reeling from economic sanctions.
Analysts believe that the involvement of proxy groups could be the next phase of this conflict. Hezbollah, with its arsenal of over 150,000 rockets, remains a potent threat to Israel’s northern border. The Houthis in Yemen have also voiced solidarity with Iran and could target Israeli interests in the Red Sea. There is concern that Iraqi Shia militias might enter the fray, further complicating the battlefield.
Cyberattacks are also being reported, with Iranian hackers allegedly targeting Israeli infrastructure networks, and Israeli intelligence units engaging in counter-cyber operations.
As both nations dig in their heels, the prospects for de-escalation seem remote. Without a clear diplomatic off-ramp, the Israel-Iran conflict risks entering a new and more dangerous phase. Military analysts suggest that unless international mediators intervene swiftly, the region could face a multi-front war involving state and non-state actors.
The Biden administration is said to be considering the deployment of additional naval assets to the Eastern Mediterranean as a show of force. Similarly, NATO intelligence reports have highlighted an uptick in Iranian military movements across southern Syria and western Iraq.
Despite the tensions, some glimmers of hope remain. Reports indicate that Oman and Qatar are quietly working through back channels to broker a limited ceasefire or confidence-building measures.
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