NAZARETH, (PIC)
Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities have intensified, raising the death toll in Israel to 23 since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, amid continued military escalation and stalled diplomatic efforts.
Israeli authorities said four people were found dead under the rubble of a residential building in Haifa that was directly hit by an Iranian missile late Sunday, following search operations that lasted nearly 18 hours. The strike also left at least 11 people injured and four initially reported missing.
Medical sources said around 550 Israelis have been injured since the start of the attacks, including serious and critical cases, as a result of Iranian missile strikes and attacks by Hezbollah.
On Monday, Iran launched multiple waves of missile attacks targeting central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area, where at least seven people were injured, one seriously. Explosive warheads and debris struck multiple locations, damaging residential buildings and causing power outages in some areas.
In Haifa, the earlier strike caused extensive destruction after a missile carrying a heavy warhead hit a multi-story building, with reports of additional damage across the city.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it also targeted an Israeli vessel with a cruise missile and claimed to have struck a US military helicopter carrier, while Israeli officials reported continued efforts to intercept incoming missiles across northern and central areas.
In response, Israeli war minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces had intensified attacks on Iran, including strikes on petrochemical facilities in the Asaluyeh region, claiming major disruption to Iran’s production capacity.
Diplomatic contacts between the US and Iran continue through regional mediators to explore a possible 45-day ceasefire, but officials say chances of a breakthrough remain low, raising fears of further escalation that could extend to civilian infrastructure across the region.
