Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates Into Third Night; Tehran Reports 224 Killed, Generals Among Dead
Tehran/Jerusalem, June 17 — Israel and Iran traded heavy missile fire overnight for the third consecutive night, plunging the region into deeper chaos despite growing international appeals for de-escalation. Tehran claimed that 224 people have been killed so far, including three top generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while Israel reported that Iran had launched over 270 missiles since Friday.
The conflict, which erupted on Friday with a surprise Israeli strike targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations, has quickly intensified, marking one of the most dangerous escalations between the two rivals in recent history.
According to Iranian officials, Israeli missiles hit multiple critical locations across the country, including oil refineries, government buildings, energy infrastructure, and military command centers. Among the dead, Iran confirmed the killing of Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, the intelligence chief of the IRGC, along with his deputy, General Hassan Mohaqiq, and another senior commander.
Iran’s Health Ministry reported that at least 1,277 people had been injured since the strikes began. Spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said 90% of the 224 fatalities were civilians. State TV aired grim footage from downtown Tehran, where rescue workers were seen pulling bloodied children from the rubble of apartment blocks struck during the latest wave of attacks.
Israel, meanwhile, claimed it had achieved near-total freedom in Iranian airspace during Sunday’s strikes. A senior Israeli official said targets included the Iranian Defense Ministry, missile launch facilities, and air defense component factories. Iran activated its air defense systems in the southwest, but the extent of the damage suggests many incoming missiles were not intercepted.
On Sunday night, air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Iran launched dozens more missiles toward Israeli cities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 270 missiles had been launched by Iran since Friday. Most were intercepted by Israel’s advanced multi-layered air defense system, but 22 breached the shield, killing at least 14 people and injuring 390 others. A 10-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl were among the dead in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, after a missile struck a residential high-rise.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said at least six people were killed in that attack and 180 others were wounded. Seven people remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams are continuing to search the rubble for survivors.
In a sharp indication of how far Israel was prepared to go, a U.S. official told the Associated Press that former President Donald Trump had previously blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the highest authority in the country.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh posted images of the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters in Tehran riddled with shrapnel. Explosions also engulfed the Shahran oil depot north of the capital and a major fuel tank to the south.
Despite international calls for restraint, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on Israel’s offensive strategy. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that “regime change in Iran could certainly be the result” of the ongoing military campaign. He also alleged that Iran was plotting to supply nuclear weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Meanwhile, India is closely monitoring the deteriorating security situation in Iran, where over 10,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, remain stranded. The Indian Embassy in Tehran is relocating students to safer areas with assistance from local authorities.
“In some cases, students are being relocated with the Embassy’s facilitation to safer places within Iran,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. “Other feasible evacuation options are under examination.”
Iran has allowed Indian nationals to exit through land borders into Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, as its airspace remains closed due to security threats.
Amid growing fears of regional spillover, Iran has reportedly warned the U.S., UK, and France that their military bases and naval vessels in the region could be targeted if they attempt to obstruct Iranian strikes on Israel. Although the U.S. denied direct involvement in the conflict, two American officials confirmed to the Associated Press that U.S. forces had assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles targeting Israel during Friday’s initial barrage.
As missiles continue to light up skies over Tehran and Tel Aviv, fears of a full-scale regional war are mounting — with devastating consequences for civilians on both sides.
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