Iran has today claimed that Israeli airstrikes have mostly killed women and children, as the two nations took part in massively escalating tit-for-tat strikes against each other.
Tehran said at least 78 people were killed and 320 were wounded since Friday, while in Israel, children were among the at least 13 people who have died in Iranian strikes.
It comes as terrifying new footage shows the IDF striking what it says is Iran’s ‘nuclear programme headquarters.’
Footage showed what appeared to be a drone strike on a densely populated part of Tehran, Iran’s capital city.
A towering plume of smoke was seen rising over the city, which has taken the brunt of Israeli strikes over the weekend.
Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries near Tehran overnight, as well as the headquarters of Iran’s Ministry of Defence, while Israel said that the death toll had risen to 10, as emergency workers frantically sift through rubble to try and find injured people.
An estimated 200 people in Israel were injured by the strikes. Israeli Raja Khateeb, his wife, and their three daughters were all reportedly among those killed in the Iranian strike on the town of town of Tamra, near Haifa.
The region braced for a protracted conflict after Israel‘s surprise bombardment of Iran’s nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists, and neither side showed any sign of backing down.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the attacks on Israel will end when its ‘aggression stops.’
The Middle East conflict escalated on Thursday night after Israel unleashed an unprecedented aerial bombing campaign dubbed ‘Operation Rising Lion’, with Iran confirming missiles struck nuclear facilities, ‘martyred’ top commanders and killed dozens of civilians.
Iran has vowed to take revenge, launching waves of missiles at Israel on Friday and Saturday night, as world leaders scramble to de-escalate the conflict.
Follow along for updates.
New footage shows IDF striking Iran’s ‘nuclear programme HQ’
Israeli airline cancels flights to and from major cities
Iran admits seven more top air force officials killed in Friday strikes
Explosions hear in Tehran’s northwestern neighbourhoods
Iran says mostly women and children killed and injured by Israeli strikes
