The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that they activated their anti-aircraft systems after detecting a new wave of projectiles launched from Iran, and the Israelis announced new raids to bomb Tehran.
The new attacks on Saturday night confirm the promises of the leaders of both countries, despite international calls for de-escalation.
New wave of missiles over Israel
“The Israel Defense Forces have identified the launching of missiles from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel recently. Defense systems are in operation to intercept the threat,” the Army stated in a press release on Saturday night.
The text urged the population in areas where bombing alarms are activated to move to shelters and “stay there until further notice.” Israeli media report explosions and sightings of projectiles in the Haifa region, in northern Israel.
Iran announced the launch of “dozens” of projectiles from bases in Shiraz, Kashan, Qom, or Lorestan, as reported by the official Iranian news agency, IRNA.
According to information from The Times of Israel, five people died from the impact of an Iranian missile on a home in Tamra, near Haifa, according to emergency services. The population of the city, mostly Arab-Israeli, had repeatedly reported the lack of sufficient shelters and the scarcity of homes with safe rooms.
In Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, at least one person died and at least 18 people were injured in the latest round of ballistic missiles launched from Iran, said the Magen David Adom emergency service.
“The population is asked to obey the instructions of the Home Front Command. At this moment, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat. The defense is not foolproof and, therefore, the instructions of the Home Front Command must continue to be followed,” the IDF added immediately through its channel on Telegram.
Bombings on oil facilities in Iran
After midnight on Saturday to Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces reported that, as part of their latest “wave of large-scale attacks in Tehran,” they hit “several targets in the Iranian nuclear project, including the Ministry of Defense headquarters.”
The Iranian Ministry of Petroleum confirmed an attack on the Shahran fuel depot near Tehran, and emphasized that “the situation is under control.”
“The volume of fuel in the attacked tank was not high and the situation is completely under control,” according to the statement from the Ministry and the Iranian news agency Shana. Iranian media also reported attacks on the South Pars oil field in the province of Bushehr, in the south of the country.
“Teheran is burning,” posted the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, referring to these attacks.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that it has counted around 100 dead and 800 wounded in the Israeli attacks that started on Friday and have affected 18 provinces of the country.