Israel Launches Third Day of Airstrikes on Iran, Escalates Threats Amid Heavy Casualties and Global Alarm

Israeli soldiers search for survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a missile fired from Iran, Sunday, June 15, 2025

Israel continued a third consecutive day of intense airstrikes across Iran on Sunday, vowing even greater force as missiles from Iran breached Israeli air defenses, striking populated areas. Planned diplomatic talks aimed at addressing Iran’s accelerating nuclear program were abruptly canceled, deepening fears of a prolonged regional conflict.

The hostilities intensified following Israel’s surprise attack on Friday that targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities, killing several high-ranking generals and nuclear scientists. Iran reported two of its major oil refineries were also struck, raising the likelihood of further assaults on the nation’s already heavily sanctioned energy sector, which could disrupt global oil markets.

An Israeli military working dog searches rubble for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 15. [AP/YONHAP]

The Israeli military issued a warning to Iranian civilians via social media, urging them to evacuate weapons manufacturing facilities, suggesting an expansion of its military campaign. Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons despite never officially declaring them, said the offensive was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms. The two countries have maintained hostile relations for decades.

Explosions were reported in central Tehran, including near Vali-e Asr Square and in a neighborhood housing Iran’s air force headquarters. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard confirmed strikes in these areas. Sirens wailed again across Israel at around 4 p.m., as Iran launched its first daytime missile attack since the conflict erupted. Israeli authorities reported no immediate casualties from that barrage.

Israeli rescue teams work at the site of a damaged residential area after Iranian ballistic missiles hit Rehovot, central Israel on June 15. [EPA/YONHAP]

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran’s retaliation would cease only if Israel halted its strikes. He accused the United States of complicity and warned it would bear responsibility for the attacks. Iran’s U.N. envoy said Saturday that at least 78 people had been killed and over 320 wounded. Israel, meanwhile, reported 13 fatalities and over 360 wounded. Israeli defense forces claimed Iran had launched more than 270 missiles, 22 of which struck targets.

Air travel and commercial operations remained suspended in Iran, with its primary international airport closed for the third consecutive day. Israeli airstrikes early Sunday targeted the Iranian Defense Ministry, military installations, and nuclear infrastructure, including two refineries—one near Tehran and another in the Persian Gulf region. These operations have revealed the depth of Israeli intelligence penetration within Iran’s top military ranks.

Flames and smoke rise, following what the Iranian Red Crescent Society says was an Israeli strike, in a location given as Tehran, Iran, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on June 15. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

An Israeli drone strike reportedly triggered a powerful explosion at the South Pars natural gas facility. The extent of the damage was unclear, but the site is known to be heavily fortified. In anticipation of continued attacks, Iranian state media announced that metro stations and mosques would be opened as emergency bomb shelters.

In Israel, six people, including two children aged 9 and 10, were killed when a missile struck an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 injured in a strike on Tamra, a predominantly Arab town in northern Israel. A separate strike on Rehovot wounded 42 and damaged buildings at the Weizmann Institute of Science. An oil refinery in Haifa was also hit, though no injuries were reported.

Smoke rises from an oil facility after being hit by an Israeli strike, June 15, 2025

Despite its sophisticated multi-layered missile defense systems, Israeli officials acknowledged that the system is not infallible. Calls for de-escalation have grown louder, with China condemning the attacks on nuclear sites as a dangerous precedent. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed international appeals, saying the scale of Israel’s operations so far is “nothing compared to what they will feel in the coming days.”

Iran has long insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful. However, recent uranium enrichment activities have brought it within months of potential weapons capability. The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently censured Iran, and a U.S. official confirmed Washington still seeks renewed nuclear negotiations. Iran, in turn, declared the talks “unjustifiable” amid ongoing Israeli attacks.

Israeli citizens and security forces stay in a shelter in a residential area hit by Iranian missile, in the city of Bat Yam, Sunday, June 15, 2025

Former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced support for Israel while cautioning Iran that any retaliation against the U.S. would provoke unprecedented force. He also suggested that a peace deal between Israel and Iran was still possible.

Satellite images confirmed extensive damage at Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site, including destruction of several above-ground buildings and critical infrastructure. IAEA officials confirmed four major facilities were hit at the Isfahan nuclear research center, including a uranium conversion unit, though no rise in radiation was detected.

An Israeli military source indicated the damage at Natanz and Isfahan could take “many months, maybe more” to repair.