Israel Intensifies Airstrikes on Iran Amid Ongoing Missile Attacks

Israel has continued its aggressive air campaign against Iran for a fifth straight day, targeting military and nuclear sites across the country. The strikes have so far killed at least 224 people, according to Iranian sources. In response, Iran has launched missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. Israeli officials report that 24 people have been killed within their borders.

Despite Iran’s threats of a massive counterattack, the scale of its retaliation appears to have declined. NBC’s Richard Engel reports from Tel Aviv that while Iran initially launched around 350 missiles over the weekend and on Monday, recent barrages have dropped significantly in size—just five to ten missiles were fired during recent alerts.

Most of Iran's missiles have been intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, and no new casualties have been reported. Israeli military leaders attribute this to their dominance in the air. Ongoing Israeli operations have targeted missile stockpiles, launch sites, and air defense infrastructure, claiming to now have complete air superiority over Tehran.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says regime change in Iran is not the goal. Instead, Israel appears to be aiming for a long-term strategy similar to its operations in Lebanon, where it carries out targeted strikes on Hezbollah as needed.

As the region braces for what may become a prolonged and open-ended conflict, the world watches closely for signs of de-escalation—or further escalation.

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