Tel Aviv – Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated sharply on Monday as a new wave of Iranian missile strikes left at least five people dead in central Israel, according to emergency services. In response, Israeli officials declared they had achieved “full aerial superiority” over Iranian airspace, marking a dangerous turning point in a conflict now entering its fourth day.

The Israeli military said it had conducted extensive overnight operations targeting Iranian missile infrastructure, claiming to have destroyed over 120 launch sites—approximately a third of Iran’s known arsenal. Israeli Air Force jets reportedly now have the ability to operate across western Iran and over Tehran without facing significant anti-aircraft resistance.

Meanwhile, Iran confirmed it had fired around 100 missiles in retaliation, vowing that future strikes would be "more forceful, severe, precise, and destructive." Iranian officials say more than 220 people have been killed since Israel began targeting military and nuclear sites across the country last Friday.

One of Iran’s missiles reportedly struck near the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv, causing minor structural damage but no casualties, according to U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

Civilian Casualties Mount on Both Sides

The latest attacks intensified fears for civilians, particularly in Israel, where rescue teams responded to multiple strike sites. In Petah Tikva, a residential building took a direct hit. Authorities confirmed that two men and two women in their 70s, along with one other person, died in the blast.

Eyewitnesses described a night of terror, with residents taking cover as air raid sirens blared. Petah Tikva local Yoram Suki said he and his family survived only because they reached a shelter in time.

Emergency services reported evacuating 87 injured individuals to hospitals, including a woman in critical condition. In one case, medics rescued a newborn baby from a damaged apartment building.

Iran Counts Its Dead Amid Mounting Global Concern

In Iran, the human toll is also rising. Health authorities reported over 1,200 injuries, while the official death toll stands at 224. However, rights groups say the real number could be much higher. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists group claims at least 400 deaths, including nearly 200 civilians.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that Tehran would halt its attacks if Israel stopped first. However, Israeli airstrikes expanded in scope Monday, reportedly hitting not only military assets but also oil refineries and government buildings, prompting a defiant response from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Israel has justified its campaign as a preemptive move to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Despite longstanding Iranian denials, Western intelligence assessments say Tehran has amassed uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels, although there is no public evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb.

Espionage and Executions

Iranian state media reported on Monday that authorities executed a man identified as Dr. Esmail Fekri, who was accused of passing sensitive information to Israel’s Mossad. Fekri had been in custody since 2023 and was convicted in a closed trial, further raising concerns about due process in the country’s judicial system.

As the war of missiles, drones, and words continues, there are few signs that either side is prepared to stand down. The international community has called for immediate de-escalation, but neither government has shown willingness to halt hostilities.