Overview

• Israel’s air campaign, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, expanded to hit Tehran’s Defence Ministry headquarters and the South Pars gas field, marking the first direct strikes on Iran’s energy sector.
• Iran unleashed successive barrages of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli population centers overnight, causing civilian casualties despite Israel’s multi-layered air defenses.
• The conflict has claimed dozens of lives on both sides, including senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists, while Iranian authorities reported at least 78 killed and over 320 wounded and Israeli officials confirmed seven civilian deaths.
• The Israel Defense Forces issued evacuation orders for residents near Iranian military sites and vowed to press the campaign until its objectives are achieved.
• International calls for de-escalation have intensified as concerns grow over potential disruption to global oil supplies and a wider regional conflagration.