Hostilities between Israel and Iran intensified over the weekend as at least 247 fatalities were reported across both countries by Monday morning.
According to Iranian government sources, 224 people have been killed in the Islamic Republic since Israeli airstrikes began on Friday.
The strikes targeted military installations and nuclear infrastructure in Tehran and surrounding regions. Among the deceased are several senior military officers and nuclear scientists.
Iran’s Ministry of Health reported that the majority of those killed were civilians, as the Israeli campaign penetrated deep into densely populated areas.
In response, Iran has launched multiple waves of drones and ballistic missiles into Israeli territory, resulting in 23 deaths and over 400 injuries, according to an official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Iranian attacks have hit both military and civilian zones, including central Tel Aviv, where a missile strike caused structural damage near the US Consulate and crushed vehicles across several city blocks.
The Israeli government confirmed on Sunday that its forces had achieved air superiority over significant portions of Iranian airspace, particularly around Tehran.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported the elimination of key figures within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including an intelligence chief. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the current operations are designed to “cripple Iran’s offensive capabilities and deter its nuclear ambitions.”
National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi emphasized that Israel is not pursuing regime change in Tehran but acknowledged that destabilization could become an unintended consequence of ongoing military actions.
“This is not our strategic goal, but it could be a result of the conflict,” Hanegbi said in an interview with Kan News.
Iran has since warned that it retains a significant cache of long-range missiles and intends to continue its retaliatory strikes.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran would reconsider its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following reported damage to its uranium-conversion facility in Isfahan.
Iran’s Parliament is now deliberating whether to exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a move that would significantly escalate regional and global nuclear tensions.
The conflict, described by regional analysts as the most serious direct military exchange between the two nations in modern history, has triggered fears of a wider war in the oil-rich Middle East.
The United States and its allies have so far limited their involvement to missile interception support. Former US President Donald Trump, currently campaigning for re-election, commented on social media, stating, “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran,” but also acknowledged that “sometimes they have to fight it out.”
Global markets have begun to react. Brent crude futures initially surged by 5.5% in early Asia trading before stabilizing near $84 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate hovered around $74.
Major stock indices in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, posted losses.
The Egyptian pound weakened by 1.8% in local trading. Conversely, Israeli defense stocks, including Elbit Systems Ltd., saw notable gains.
Israel’s government continues to urge Washington and European allies to back expanded strikes aimed at permanently dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The G7 summit in Canada is expected to prioritize the conflict, with leaders under pressure to present a unified diplomatic and military response.
Meanwhile, Iran’s external support structure appears weakened. Hezbollah, Tehran’s primary proxy in Lebanon, has yet to engage despite Israel’s strikes on Iranian command infrastructure. Analysts note that Iran’s regional influence has diminished due to sustained Israeli counter-operations over the past 20 months.
With no signs of de-escalation from either side, the ongoing Israel-Iran confrontation poses a substantial threat to Middle East stability and global energy security. Diplomatic sources suggest that backchannel negotiations are underway, but as of Monday, both sides remain entrenched in an increasingly destructive exchange of military force.
