JERUSALEM/TEHRAN | June 15, 2025 — Israel and Iran launched fresh waves of attacks overnight into Sunday, marking a sharp escalation in a rapidly intensifying conflict that has already left scores dead across both nations. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran while asserting that a resolution could be reached swiftly—though he provided no details on what such a deal would entail.
On the ground, devastation unfolded on both sides. In Israel, emergency crews worked through the night, sifting through the debris of collapsed buildings as air raid sirens sent millions into bomb shelters in cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa. At least seven people, including children, were killed in Israeli territory overnight, with over 140 reported injured. Israeli media reported 35 people missing in Bat Yam after a missile hit an eight-storey residential building.
Shortly after 11 p.m. local time Saturday (2000 GMT), Iranian missile barrages triggered a new round of Israeli air defense responses. Explosions echoed across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, lighting up the skies as interceptors attempted to neutralize incoming threats. A second wave of missile alerts around 2:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) prompted further evacuations before the Israeli military lifted its shelter-in-place advisory an hour later.
Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities reported catastrophic damage following continued Israeli airstrikes. According to Iranian officials, 78 people were killed on the first day of attacks, with dozens more casualties reported on the second day. Among the dead were 29 children killed when a 14-storey apartment complex in Tehran collapsed following a missile strike.
Iranian state media also reported Israeli attacks on the Shahran oil depot and an oil refinery near the capital, with fires breaking out in both locations. A missile reportedly struck a section of Iran’s defense ministry compound, causing minor damage. In a significant escalation, Iran said it was forced to partially suspend operations at the South Pars gas field—the world's largest—after an Israeli strike caused a fire there.
The latest exchange comes amid the collapse of U.S.-brokered nuclear talks. Tehran canceled a scheduled round of negotiations with Washington in Oman, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stating that talks were untenable "while Iran is being bombarded in such a barbaric manner."
President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, issued a direct warning to Iran:
“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” he wrote. “However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict.”
While Trump offered no specific details, his comments come amid growing fears of a broader regional conflict. Yemen’s Houthi movement, aligned with Tehran, claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles toward central Israel—a significant development marking the first direct intervention by one of Iran’s regional allies.
Iran has also threatened that military bases of Israel’s allies in the region could become targets if they assist in intercepting Iranian missiles.
The strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil supplies, may also be in jeopardy. Iranian General Esmail Kosari said Tehran is reviewing whether to close the waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Friday's developments had already sent global oil markets surging, with prices jumping 9% on fears of disruption, even though Israel initially avoided striking Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure.
Israel has signaled that its military campaign could extend for weeks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Iran “has not yet seen the full force of Israel’s response,” and urged the Iranian people to rise against their clerical leadership. The Israeli government insists that the strikes are intended to prevent Iran from crossing the final threshold toward developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes. The United Nations nuclear watchdog recently reported Iran to be in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty, heightening international concern.
With regional tensions at their highest in years and diplomatic channels in disarray, the prospect of a prolonged and broader conflict looms large.
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