Israel-Iran Hostilities Continue With Both Countries Deploying Fresh Wave Of Missiles

The exchange of fire between Israel and Iran enters its second day with no signs of abating. On June 15, Israel’s military said it had conducted precision strikes at Iran’s defence ministry headquarters in Tehran. It added that the targeted sites were associated with Iran’s nuclear program.

"The targets included the Iranian Ministry of Defense headquarters, the headquarters of the SPND (Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research) nuclear project, and additional targets," the Israeli ministry said in a statement, reported AFP.

For the last 48 hours, an escalated military conflict between the country has resulted in deaths and casualties on both sides. The fresh wave of fire began with Israel launching its 'Operation Rising Lion', a massive aerial offensive at key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, including facilities in Tehran.

At the time, speaking directly to Iranian people, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were “pre-emptive”. He also called the Iranian people to rise up against their leaders. 

The first round of Israeli air strikes reportedly killed several top Iranian generals, including the military intelligence chief. 

Iran responded by raining down missiles on several Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Explosions were heard across these cities, reported Reuters. 

On Sunday, the exchange of fire continued with both countries claiming to have targetted key military infrastructure. The IDF since has, on Sunday early morning, said it targeted Iran’s Defence Ministry headquarters in Tehran. And, Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said that Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel's energy infrastructure and facilities for fighter jet fuel production, terming it Operation “Honest Promise 3”.

Emergency services in both countries have been containing the damage. Iran has said that the Israelis targeted its Shahran oil depot in Tehran, while adding a fire had erupted in an oil refinery in the capital, but that the situation was under control.

Early Sunday morning, air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, reported Reuters. Several missiles were seen streaking through the sky over Tel Aviv, while interceptor rockets were launched from the ground. 

Earlier, Tehran had said that there was no point in nuclear talks with the US and called them off. Washington had said nuclear talks were the only way to halt Israel's bombing; This would be the sixth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.

On Saturday, Netanyahu had vowed that the current attacks were “nothing compared with what Iran would see in the coming days.” Meanwhile, Jordan announced the closure of its airspace late Saturday for a second time since the start of the confrontations between its two neighbouring countries.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, in his statement to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday, confirmed that Israel's airstrikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site caused internal radiological and chemical contamination. However, radiation levels outside the site remain normal, posing no threat to the public or the environment.