OPERATION RISING LION (DAY 3)
(To see Day 1-2 click here)
Reports are emerging of additional Israeli strikes in Tehran and the destruction of the regime's nuclear headquarters. Meanwhile, an Israeli security source warns that Iran will likely intensify its attempts to target Israeli civilians.
In response to the attack on its nuclear facilities, Iran continued to fire missiles.
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran launched a catastrophic missile assault on Israel overnight, claiming at least 10 lives and injuring over 100. The attack, which targeted residential areas, left a trail of destruction, with a 10-story building in Bat Yam reduced to rubble and a family of five killed in the Galilee. Israel responded with ferocious airstrikes on Tehran, targeting nuclear facilities and a critical fuel terminal, intensifying the conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the attack site in Bat Yam, where he declared: "Iran will pay a very heavy price for the murder of civilians, women, and children that they committed intentionally."
Netanyahu added: "We are here because we are in an existential battle—something that is now clear to every Israeli citizen. Just imagine what would happen if Iran possessed nuclear weapons to launch against Israeli cities."
Devastation in Bat Yam and Beyond
The Iranian missile barrage struck multiple cities across Israel, causing unprecedented damage. In Bat Yam, a missile demolished a 10-story residential tower, injuring 32 people and trapping others under debris. ZAKA rescue teams recovered six bodies from the site, including a woman around 60, a man around 70, a boy around 10, a girl around 8, a woman around 55, and a teenage boy around 18. Rescue operations continue as the Home Front Command reports "a few remaining missing persons" are unaccounted for, following earlier reports of approximately 35 missing people.
In the Galilee, a missile strike claimed the lives of five members of a single family, including two women in their 40s and daughters aged 13 and 20. In Gush Dan, a 60-year-old woman perished, with 20 others injured. The Shfela region reported 24 wounded, and in Rehovot, a building hit by a missile caught fire, raising fears of collapse. Magen David Adom treated 140 victims across the affected areas, with six in critical condition, 19 in moderate condition, and 111 in stable condition.
Israel's Retaliation: Rising Lion's Might
The Iranian attack followed Israel's Rising Lion's Might, a series of precision strikes targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Israeli Air Force jets hit a fuel terminal in Tehran's Shahran district, which processed 8 million liters of fuel daily and could supply the capital for three days. The IDF also struck key nuclear sites, including the headquarters of Iran's defense ministry and a research center in Tehran, as reported by Iranian sources to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
In addition to the airstrikes, the IDF intercepted seven unmanned aerial vehicles launched toward Israel in the past hour. The Home Front Command urged residents in northern and central Israel to stay near protected spaces, emphasizing the ongoing threat.
Voices from the Ground
The Home Front Command chief, speaking at the Bat Yam disaster site, underscored the importance of safety protocols: "This tragic incident reminds us how vital it is to follow Home Front Command instructions. We face challenging days, but our resolve is unbreakable – we have the spirit and strength to protect you and save lives."
Residents of the struck building in Bat Yam described harrowing scenes. "Ain't no floor, the shelter door flew off," one survivor told reporters, capturing the chaos of the attack.
US Response and Global Reactions
The United States, denying involvement in Israel's strikes, issued a stern warning to Iran. President Trump wrote: "If we are attacked in any way by Iran, the full might of US military forces will fall upon you at levels never seen before. That said, we can easily broker a deal between Iran and Israel to end this bloody conflict!!!" NBC reported an emergency meeting at the Pentagon following Israel's request for US support against Iran.
Jordan closed its airspace amid the escalating tensions, as reported by the Jordanian News Agency. Meanwhile, Al-Hadath noted Israeli strikes targeting Houthi leadership in Yemen, further broadening the conflict's scope.
Human Toll and Heroism
Hospitals across Israel are overwhelmed with casualties. Rambam Hospital treated 42 injured overnight, with one critically injured woman succumbing to her injuries. Sheba Medical Center managed 123 casualties since the operation began, with 37 from the latest attacks in stable condition. Assuta Ashdod Hospital admitted eight victims from Bat Yam and Rehovot, one in critical condition.
In a separate tragedy, the IDF announced that Master Sergeant Noam Shemesh, a 21-year-old from Jerusalem, was killed in southern Gaza by an RPG attack. In Tamra, the death toll from an earlier strike rose to five, all from one family.
Ongoing Updates:
5:00 p.m.: No casualties reported in latest barrage.
4:11 p.m.: Sirens blare in northern and central Israel.
2:12 p.m.: The IDF spokesperson announced that the Israeli Air Force intercepted approximately 20 unmanned aircraft launched toward Israeli territory in the past hour.
1:47 p.m.: The Saudi channel Al-Arabiya quoted a "senior Israeli official" saying that "American intervention is necessary to complete the war objectives against Iran." According to the same official, Israel is "concerned about American pressure before achieving war goals in Iran. If we don't destroy the reactor at Fordow, the operation will be pointless. And if Trump pressures Israel despite his previous agreement, Israel will submit to ending the war."
1:44 p.m.: Iranian media reported a series of explosions in western Tehran.
12:49 p.m.: US envoy Steve Witkoff held direct talks with Iran's foreign minister last night. The American envoy also met with Omani officials last week to explore a new proposal framework.
12:15 p.m.: According to Israel's Ministry of Health, 385 injured people arrived at hospitals during Saturday night, of whom 7 are in serious condition and 40 are in moderate condition.
11:12 a.m.: Following the tragedy in Bat Yam and reports of missing people at the scene, 4 missing persons were located at the hospital.
9:55 a.m.: The IDF spokesperson issued an immediate evacuation notice in Persian to all Tehran residents in the vicinity: "All individuals located inside or near nuclear weapons production facilities and their installations must immediately leave these areas and report to the relevant authorities. We call upon everyone currently present, or who will be present in the near future, at all weapons facilities in Iran and their supporting entities to evacuate these facilities immediately and not return until further notice."
9:27: Home Front Command rescue forces rescued a Holocaust survivor earlier today (Sunday) who was trapped under rubble in a building in Rehovot.
8:35 a.m.: Interceptor debris from a drone struck a balcony in the village of Iksal a short time ago.
8:30 a.m.: The Israeli Air Force and Navy intercepted seven unmanned aircraft launched toward Israeli territory in the past hour.
8:07 a.m.: ZAKA command center reported that two additional bodies were extracted from the destruction site where the missile fell in Bat Yam - the victims were a 55-year-old woman and an 18-year-old boy. So far, 6 people have been extracted from the severe scene in Bat Yam including a 60-year-old woman, a 70-year-old man, a 10-year-old child, an 8-year-old girl, a 55-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old boy.
7:55 a.m.: Update from Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital reported that 8 wounded from the barrage were evacuated to the hospital from Bat Yam and Rehovot. A total of 8 wounded arrived at the medical center, with 1 in serious condition, 4 in moderate condition, and 3 in light condition.
7:52 a.m.: Home Front Command commander at the Bat Yam impact site said, "In Rehovot, we managed to rescue a survivor from the rubble. This difficult incident serves as a reminder of how important it is to follow Home Front Command safety guidelines. We have difficult days ahead, but we have the spirit and the strength to work together with you to protect you and continue saving lives."
