TEHRAN/TEL AVIV: Israeli and Iranian forces continued attacks at each-other’s facilities late Monday night as the Israeli military said two Iranian F14 fighter jets were struck on Monday during airstrikes against an airport in Tehran.
“An IAF aircraft flying over Tehran struck a pair of F14 fighter jets at an airport in Tehran. These jets were intended, among other things, to intercept IAF aircraft.”
It also struck a truck transporting surface-to-air missile launcher identified on the main road between Tehran and Qom.
“Within a few minutes, the IAF struck the truck, and neutralised the launcher and the missiles.”
Meanwhile, Iranian air defences have shot down another f35 in Tabriz, Iran’s state-run Nour News reported. Iran also said that key Israeli military and intelligence centress including the Ramat David air base near Haifa are on Iran’s list of targets for airstrikes.
“In the coming hours, a crushing and proportionate response will be given within the framework of legitimate defence,” the state news agency said.
Moreover, Iran state TV resumed live coverage after Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building on Monday.
“The Zionist regime the enemy of the Iranian nation minutes ago conducted a military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran news network”, part of IRIB, said a senior official at the broadcasting service Hassan Abedini.
“The regime (Israel) was unaware of the fact that the voice of the Islamic revolution and the great Iran will not be silenced with a military operation,” the official added.
On the fourth day of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, both nations have launched fresh military strikes, causing heavy casualties and increasing concerns over regional stability.
Iran hits Israel with ballistic missiles
Iran launched a wave of ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, on Monday morning, killing at least 24 people.
The strikes came hours after Israeli forces bombed key locations in Tehran overnight. Air raid sirens wailed across central Israel, and videos posted online showed fireballs lighting up the sky.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by declaring that Israel is committed to “eliminating threats” from Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.
Russia is appealing to Israel to show restraint in the crisis with Iran, and believes Tehran is exercising its right to self-defence, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday.
Israel launched a wave of strikes last Friday against Iran’s nuclear sites and military leadership, and Iran has responded by firing missiles at Israeli cities.
“The potential dangerous consequences of strikes on nuclear infrastructure facilities are obvious to everyone. This is a cause for concern for the entire international community, but, in addition to this, we are, of course, watching how world markets react to what is happening,” state news agency TASS quoted Ryabkov as telling reporters.
The Iranian health ministry reported that over 220 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the conflict began, including at least 70 women and children. One of the most severe incidents occurred in Kermanshah, where Farabi Hospital was damaged during an Israeli airstrike.
Footage from Fars News Agency showed a collapsed ceiling in the intensive care unit (ICU), with several patients reportedly injured by falling debris and shattered glass.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the hospital strike as a “war crime,” while the Israeli military said it was “not aware” of any such incident.
Satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies on Monday confirmed damage to Iran’s missile facility in Kermanshah. Analysts say the strike is part of Israel’s effort to degrade Iran’s military capabilities amid rising tensions.
Meanwhile, Tehran residents were seen fleeing the capital in large numbers overnight, as repeated bombardments raised fears of further escalation.
In a rare statement, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the United States to intervene directly. “This is a threat for the entire globe,” he said, calling on Washington to help target fortified Iranian nuclear sites, including the Fordow enrichment facility.
Iran’s new suicide drone
In a show of technological force, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled a new long-range suicide drone, the Shahed-107.
The drone reportedly has a range of over 1,500 kilometers and is powered by a piston engine. State media claims it recently approached Israel’s Arrow 3 air defense system, raising questions about Israel’s ability to intercept such threats.
