As the conflict between Israel and Iran enters its third day, both sides' airstrikes continue not only at midnight but also during the day, spreading damage to urban centers and key facilities. The two countries are attacking beyond major military facilities, targeting airports, foreign ministry buildings, and energy infrastructure, with the intensity of the clashes increasing.
According to local media in Iran on the 15th (local time), an explosion was heard around noon near Valiasr Square in downtown Tehran, and around 3:30 p.m., a series of explosions occurred in northern Tehran. The Korean National Police Agency and intelligence-related buildings were attacked by Israeli airstrikes, and the number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
About an hour later, Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Iran had launched a massive missile attack on Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and Haifa. The Israel Defense Forces stated that it intercepted most of the missiles, resulting in no damage, but this is the first time Iran has conducted a missile strike during daylight.
The clashes continued into the evening. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had fired missiles at Israel again and warned Israeli citizens via state television not to go near important facilities. AFP and Reuters reported that explosions and sirens were heard in Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport was attacked by missiles. Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces had attacked Iran's Mashhad Airport, claiming that "this operation represents the longest-range strike since the start of the current offensive."
In the evening, Israel announced it had begun a series of airstrikes targeting dozens of missile-related facilities in western Iran. The Iranian foreign ministry building was also damaged. Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Katibzadeh reported on social media platform X that there were numerous casualties, including civilians and diplomats, and accused Israel of deliberately attacking the foreign ministry.
As the airstrikes between the two countries continue, the number of casualties is also rapidly increasing. Israeli rescue authorities reported that at least 13 people have died and 380 have been injured over the three days of attacks. Iranian health authorities stated that 224 people have died due to Israeli airstrikes, while the Associated Press, citing a U.S. human rights organization, reported that the death toll in Iran has reached 406. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that five of its citizens have died in the Israeli strike on Bat Yam in southern Israel, including three children.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that two deputy commanders of the Revolutionary Guard, including Mohammad Kazemi, in charge of intelligence, were killed in the airstrike on Tehran by Israel.
The attacks between the two countries are expanding to energy infrastructure as well. On the evening of the 14th, a natural gas refinery in the South Pars 14 gas field in southern Iran was exploded by Israeli drones, and two oil storage facilities at the Shahhran refinery near the capital also caught fire. That same night, Israeli pipelines and power lines at the Haifa refinery were also damaged due to missile attacks, causing some production line operations to halt. No casualties have been reported.
Experts report that as the attack targets have expanded to civilian areas and critical infrastructure, both sides are inevitably in a situation where they may promise further retaliation.