TEL AVIV/DUBAI, June 14 (Reuters) - Tensions escalated dramatically as Israel and Iran engaged in renewed attacks on each other overnight into Sunday, raising alarms about a potentially wider conflict in the region. This escalation comes as Israel launched a surprise offensive against its primary adversary, targeting the world's largest gas field. In a significant diplomatic shift, Tehran announced the suspension of nuclear talks that Washington had indicated were essential for halting Israel's airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the recent assaults are merely a precursor to the much heavier retaliatory strikes Iran can expect in the coming days.
Israel's military reported that additional missiles were fired from Iran toward Israeli territory overnight, prompting retaliatory strikes on military installations in Tehran. Early Sunday morning, air raid sirens blared across major cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with several missiles visible in the sky as interceptor rockets were launched to defend against the incoming threats. Explosions could be heard throughout both cities, indicating the intensity of the ongoing conflict.
In northern Israel, a missile strike resulted in the tragic deaths of three women and left ten others injured. Emergency responders were seen diligently searching through the debris of a partially collapsed house in Tamra, a city predominantly inhabited by Palestinians. Reports indicate that two additional individuals sustained minor injuries from shrapnel in other northern regions.
In response to the Israeli attacks, Iran claimed that the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted but assured that the situation was under control. They also reported a fire erupted at an oil refinery near the capital due to the Israeli assault. Furthermore, Israeli strikes purportedly targeted Iran's defense ministry building in Tehran, causing minor damage, according to the Tasnim news agency.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced that they had launched missiles and drones aimed at Israel’s energy infrastructure and facilities responsible for fighter jet fuel production. They warned that if Israel continued its aggressions, the retaliatory attacks would be heavier and more widespread. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump cautioned Iran of more severe consequences if it did not comply with demands to significantly downgrade its nuclear program.
Planned U.S.-Iran nuclear discussions scheduled for Sunday in Oman were canceled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that negotiations could not proceed while Iran was under "barbarous attacks" from Israel. Notably, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Israel’s strikes marked the first attack impacting Iran’s energy infrastructure, leading to a partial suspension of production at the South Pars gas field, located off the southern coast of Bushehr province, which is crucial for Iran’s gas output.
Concerns over potential disruptions to regional oil exports have already caused oil prices to surge by 9% on Friday, despite Israel initially sparing Iranian oil and gas from its attacks. An Iranian general, Esmail Kosari, mentioned that Tehran was considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for tanker access to the Gulf.
Iran claimed that 78 individuals were killed on the first day of Israel's military campaign, with scores more casualties reported on the second day, including 60 fatalities when a missile struck a 14-story residential building in Tehran, resulting in the deaths of 29 children. In retaliation, Iran had already launched its missile barrage on Friday night, resulting in at least three fatalities in Israel.
As Israel indicated that its military operation could extend for several weeks, Netanyahu urged the Iranian populace to rise against their clerical rulers. This situation has amplified fears of a regional conflagration that could potentially involve external powers. Human rights organization B’Tselem criticized the Israeli government for opting to escalate into war rather than pursuing diplomatic resolutions, which they argue endangers the entire region.
In a stark warning, Tehran cautioned Israel's allies that their military installations in the region would face retaliation should they assist in intercepting Iranian missiles. However, the prolonged conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon have severely weakened Tehran's most significant regional allies, namely Hamas and Hezbollah, limiting their capacity for effective retaliation.
Israel views Iran's nuclear ambitions as a direct existential threat and contends that its military bombardments are aimed at preventing Iran from achieving the final stages of nuclear weapon production. Conversely, Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and that it does not intend to develop an atomic bomb. Nonetheless, recent reports from the U.N. nuclear watchdog indicated that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
This escalating situation continues to evolve, with implications that could affect regional stability and international relations for the foreseeable future.
