The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified dramatically, with both nations launching waves of missile and air strikes that have struck hospitals, residential areas and even nuclear facilities. The civilian toll has surged on both sides, prompting urgent calls for restraint from world leaders as fears of a broader regional war mount.
In a span of just a few hours, Iran fired around 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, targeting key cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba and Haifa. One of the most devastating blows came when a missile hit Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, leaving several patients, doctors and staff injured. The strike, which Israeli leaders condemned as a deliberate attack on civilians, drew widespread international outrage.
Prime minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu called it a war crime and pledged to retaliate forcefully. President Isaac Herzog highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the attack, citing the presence of children, elderly patients, and medical staff at the hospital during the strike.
Elsewhere in Israel, the damage was extensive. A high-rise building in Tel Aviv was hit, killing one person and injuring over 30. In Bat Yam, six people including two children were killed when a residential building collapsed. More than 3,000 residents have been displaced and at least 24 buildings are now slated for demolition due to structural damage. The total Israeli death toll has risen to 24, with hundreds more wounded.
In retaliation, Israel launched air strikes on Tehran and other major Iranian cities, with a focus on military infrastructure and nuclear sites. A 14-storey apartment complex in Tehran was reduced to rubble, killing at least 60 people, half of them children. Iranian authorities confirmed 224 deaths, while independent rights groups reported over 400 fatalities and more than 650 injuries.
Israel also targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz and Arak, claiming significant damage to uranium enrichment and processing sites. Additional strikes destroyed fuel storage tanks near Tehran, threatening widespread power outages and fuel shortages.
The intensity of Israel’s strikes has caused panic in Iranian cities. Metro stations have been converted into bomb shelters, residents are fleeing urban centres and long queues have formed at fuel stations. The collapse of multiple buildings, the use of cyberattacks and the targeting of state media have further contributed to national distress. Iran’s missile stockpile is reportedly being depleted, but military analysts warn that the country retains significant reserves in underground facilities.
Amid this chaos, India has launched 'Operation Sindhu', to evacuate its nationals from Iran. On Thursday, the first flight carrying 110 Indians—including 90 students—landed in New Delhi after a coordinated effort involving Indian embassies in Iran and Armenia. Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed the evacuees, while the ministry of external affairs (MEA) assured continued support for those still stranded.
International reaction has been swift and urgent. G7 leaders, gathered in Canada, expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defence but emphasised the need to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. US president Donald Trump praised Israel’s military operations and confirmed intelligence and defence support but denied direct American involvement. However, he vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, stating that no American lives had yet been lost.
China and Russia condemned Israel’s strikes, with president Xi Jinping offering to mediate and president Vladimir Putin expressing deep concern over the conflict’s escalation. European leaders called for immediate ceasefire and diplomacy, while the UN Secretary-General and the international atomic energy agency (IAEA) urged both nations to avoid targeting nuclear infrastructure.
Pope Francis appealed for peace, urging leaders to act with reason and humanity.
Economically, the conflict has already started to reverberate. Global oil prices spiked—Brent crude rose by 2.9%—on fears of supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel’s attacks on Iran’s oil facilities are expected to worsen fuel shortages and further destabilise the Iranian economy. Iran, already under sanctions, exports up to 2mn (million) barrels per day, much of it to China at discounted prices.
Diplomatic options are rapidly narrowing. The US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman have been called off. Iran has refused to enter negotiations while under attack, and Israeli leaders have shown no intention of backing down. Observers warn that Israel’s aggressive targeting of Iran’s leadership and infrastructure may be aimed at regime destabilisation—a high-risk strategy that could trigger a regional collapse akin to those in Iraq or Libya.
As missiles continue to fall and threats mount, the Middle East teeters on the edge of a broader war. With both nations unwilling to retreat and global actors drawn into the orbit of the crisis, the coming days will test not only regional stability but the very limits of international diplomacy.
