Saptrishi Soni: The military confrontation between Israel and Iran has entered its fourth consecutive day with alarming escalation, as both nations continue to exchange strikes with rising civilian casualties and widespread damage. The situation has reached a volatile stage, with Israel targeting critical infrastructure within Iran, including a hospital and the state television broadcasting building, prompting Iran to retaliate with a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities.
Late on Monday night, Iranian state media confirmed that a hospital in western Iran was struck by Israeli forces, calling it a “war crime” and condemning it as a deliberate attack on a civilian facility. Simultaneously, Iran’s state-run IRIB television headquarters was hit, reportedly during a live broadcast. One of the country’s most well-known news anchors was seen on air warning of an incoming missile before the screen went black. Several journalists are feared to have been injured, though casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
Shortly after the strike, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant defended the action, labeling the Iranian broadcaster as “a central arm of incitement and disinformation” and affirming that it was a legitimate military target due to its role in supporting hostile operations. Gallant’s statement followed earlier remarks from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who warned that “the mouthpiece of Iranian propaganda is on the verge of disappearing.” Israel has yet to issue a formal comment on the hospital strike.
In retaliation, Iran launched what it described as a “major coordinated strike” on Israeli infrastructure, with missile and drone attacks targeting Tel Aviv and the northern port city of Haifa. At least three people were killed in Haifa when a missile hit facilities operated by Bazan, Israel’s major oil refinery company. The plant was immediately shut down along with several subsidiary companies, as emergency services responded to the aftermath.
Iran’s state media also reported that Tehran has issued evacuation warnings for Israeli news channels N12 and N14, calling them “instruments of Zionist incitement” following what it termed as the “hostile and unjustified” Israeli strikes on Iranian broadcasting facilities. The Islamic Republic has vowed further retaliation, claiming that over 100 missiles were launched in the latest wave, with more to follow if Israel continues its offensive.
The violence, which began last Friday when Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran’s military and nuclear sites, has already claimed at least 224 lives in Iran and dozens more in Israel. With a combined death toll now approaching 250, regional tensions have surged to unprecedented levels. Both sides remain resolute in their positions, with rhetoric from leadership in Jerusalem and Tehran suggesting no imminent de-escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an emergency cabinet meeting, stated that Israel “will not tolerate threats to its national security and reserves the right to respond decisively to any aggression.”
Iranian leaders, meanwhile, accused Israel of crossing a red line by targeting civilian locations, asserting that their military response is justified and proportionate. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that Iran would continue to defend its sovereignty and “answer every unjust attack with equal or greater force.”
As the conflict intensifies, global powers have issued calls for restraint. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency closed-door session on Monday but failed to reach a consensus on a unified response. The United States and European Union have both urged immediate de-escalation, warning that further hostilities could engulf the broader Middle East region in open warfare.
With mounting casualties, destruction of key infrastructure, and an apparent deadlock in diplomacy, the Israel-Iran standoff appears poised to spiral into a protracted and far more dangerous confrontation. The international community now watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that seems increasingly elusive.
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