In a major escalation of Middle East tensions, Israel launched a broad assault early Sunday targeting Iran’s Defence Ministry headquarters and key energy infrastructure, including suspected nuclear facilities. Massive explosions echoed across Tehran, with flames engulfing parts of the city. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz posted “Tehran is burning” on social media as visuals showed destruction near Iran’s South Pars gas field and Defence Ministry compounds. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard confirmed it retaliated by launching missile barrages into Israel, resulting in at least eight civilian deaths, including children and elderly victims in Galilee and central Israel. US defense systems in the region reportedly intercepted several Iranian projectiles.

The deadly flare-up has derailed diplomatic efforts, with the sixth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States cancelled just hours before they were set to resume. Iran’s top diplomat called the talks “unjustifiable” in light of Israel’s strikes, blaming Washington for indirectly supporting the campaign. Meanwhile, satellite imagery confirmed heavy damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in Natanz and Isfahan, including power facilities and uranium conversion plants. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that four critical buildings in Isfahan were hit, though no off-site radiation was detected. An Israeli official said repairs could take “more than a few weeks,” severely hindering Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.

The human toll has been devastating. Iran has confirmed the deaths of at least 78 individuals, with over 320 injured. Among the dead are three top Iranian military commanders, including Gen. Mohammad Bagheri and Gen. Hossein Salami, marking a strategic blow to Iran’s armed forces. In Israel, emergency crews are combing through rubble near Tel Aviv and other cities hit by missiles, using drones to locate survivors in inaccessible areas. With rising global concern, China, the EU, and other international bodies have urged restraint, warning that the strikes on nuclear infrastructure set a dangerous precedent. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, declared the current offensive “only the beginning,” signaling more military action in the days ahead.