Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically as Iran launched a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel, reportedly firing around 100 missiles in a fresh wave of retaliation. Central Israel was hit hard, with widespread power outages reported, plunging cities like Haifa into darkness.
According to preliminary reports, at least 8 Israeli citizens were killed and 67 injured in the latest assault. This brings the total Israeli death toll to 25, with over 450 injured since the beginning of the hostilities. Iranian sources claim that 224 Iranian civilians have been martyred in Israeli retaliatory strikes.
In a related development, Mike Huckabee, a U.S. representative, confirmed that a branch of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv sustained minor damage due to nearby missile explosions. While the embassy building was not directly hit, the blast waves caused structural vibrations that affected the premises.
Huckabee clarified that no American personnel were injured, but as a precautionary measure, both the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and the Consulate in Tel Aviv have been temporarily closed.
The situation remains fluid, and further escalations are feared as both nations brace for possible follow-up strikes. International observers are closely monitoring the unfolding crisis, urging restraint from both sides.
