Israel and Iran Trade Missile Strikes for Third Day, Civilian Death Toll Rises
Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated further on Sunday, marking the third consecutive day of cross-border missile strikes that have left hundreds dead and injured across both nations.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it had carried out a targeted airstrike on surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran. “The Air Force is currently attacking surface-to-surface missile sites in central Iran,” the IDF said in a statement posted on X.
Alongside the announcement, the military released video footage showing fighter jets striking a surface-to-air missile launcher in Tehran. Additional targets reportedly included ballistic missile production sites and a radar installation in the Iranian capital.
The strikes came in response to a wave of aerial assaults launched by Iran, during which Israeli forces intercepted over 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Open-source reports claim that Israel employed advanced defense systems, including THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), a U.S.-supplied missile defense system, to carry out the interceptions.
Despite Israel’s defenses, Iranian missiles struck civilian areas. A building in the northern city of Haifa and a location in the southern community of Zavdiel were hit during Sunday night’s barrage, according to Israeli authorities. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the moment a missile impacted Haifa.
The death toll is mounting. In Iran, at least 224 people have been killed and 1,481 injured since hostilities began, according to the country’s health ministry, with the vast majority of victims reported to be civilians. In Israel, 14 people have been killed and more than 380 injured.
As the violence intensified, world leaders called for diplomatic talks on Sunday to ease tensions between Israel and Iran.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, reaffirmed Europe’s “commitment to peace, stability, and diplomatic efforts leading to de-escalation” following a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump expressed hope for a deal between Israel and Iran, saying he believes “there’s a good chance” it will happen, but he said that “sometimes they have to fight it out” first.
Trump also clarified that the U.S. was not involved in Israel’s overnight attack on Iran as the two countries continue exchanging aerial assaults. “The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight,” he wrote on Truth Social. “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. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!”
In an interview with ABC News, Trump declined to comment on whether Netanyahu asked the U.S. for more involvement. “We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” the president said.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Israel and Iran to reach a deal, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Erdogan also highlighted the “irreversible economic, civilian damage” suffered by both sides and emphasized the need for de-escalation.
