Israel says current strikes on Iran minor compared to what's ahead

JERUSALEM,— A sharp military escalation unfolded on Saturday as Israel and Iran launched reciprocal missile attacks, following a sweeping Israeli air assault aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes, launched on Friday, had likely delayed Iran’s nuclear program by years. He vowed to expand the military campaign despite growing international concern.

“We’re targeting every facility tied to the regime in Tehran. What has happened is just a fraction of what’s coming,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.

Iranian state television reported that 60 people were killed, after Israeli missiles struck a residential complex.

Additional attacks were reported in several urban centers across the country. Israel claimed responsibility for more than 150 airstrikes, citing targets linked to nuclear development and military command.

In retaliation, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles toward Israeli cities in four separate salvos, an Israeli security source told reporters. Israeli missile defense systems intercepted many of them, but at least three people were confirmed dead.

The United States, which has backed Israel as its key regional partner, assisted in missile defense operations, two American officials confirmed.

President Donald Trump endorsed Israel’s right to self-defense and warned of harsher measures unless Tehran agrees to reduce its nuclear activities. Scheduled negotiations between the two nations were cast into doubt.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning: “If Khamenei keeps targeting our cities, we will respond by turning Tehran into a battlefield.”

Iran’s leadership responded defiantly, threatening that any nation aiding in missile interception would face attacks on its bases in the region. The Israeli strike reportedly killed top military and nuclear officials and damaged key sites.

Esmail Kosari, a senior Iranian military official, said authorities are weighing a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil passes.

Meanwhile, Arab Gulf nations, wary of Iranian power but fearful of a broader war, called for restraint. Oil prices surged by 7% amid fears that a prolonged conflict could disrupt global energy supply.

(With files from Reuters)