Israel and Iran have continued to exchange deadly missile attacks from Sunday night into early Monday, despite growing calls from around the world to stop fighting. This marks the third straight day of the conflict.

Iran has blamed Israel for launching airstrikes on its oil refineries and killing top generals from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including its intelligence chief. Tehran said several cities were hit in the latest Israeli attacks. Health officials in Iran said 224 people have died and 1,277 were injured since the strikes began on Friday. They did not say how many of the dead were civilians or soldiers.

On the other side, Israel said it is targeting Iran’s nuclear sites and military leaders. According to the Israeli military, Iran has fired more than 270 missiles at Israel since Friday. Most of them were stopped by Israel’s air defence system, but 22 missiles still hit Israeli cities. These strikes killed 14 people and injured 390 others, as reported by the Associated Press.

Air raid sirens rang out across Jerusalem late on Sunday, warning people of incoming Iranian missiles. Videos showed the dramatic scene with missiles flying over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Many were shot down mid-air by Israeli defences.

In response, Israel launched more airstrikes on Iranian positions. Iran then activated its own air defence systems, especially in the southwest of the country. Israeli officials said their strikes targeted important places like Iran’s Defence Ministry, missile launch areas, and factories that produce air defence equipment.

Iran later confirmed that the airstrikes killed more top generals, including IRGC intelligence chief Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy, General Hassan Mohaqiq.

In a major revelation, a US official told the Associated Press that former US President Donald Trump had earlier stopped an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the highest authority in Iran who controls the military and the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

Global concerns rise; India relocates students from Iran

As the situation worsens, many countries are watching the region closely. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is monitoring the safety of Indian citizens and students in Iran.

"In some cases, students are being relocated with the embassy’s facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow. Separately, the embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety," the MEA stated.

Iran also said that Israeli strikes have gone beyond military targets. Government buildings and important infrastructure have also been hit. These include the Foreign Ministry and several energy sites. On Sunday, fires broke out at the Shahran oil depot north of Tehran and a fuel tank in the south after they were bombed.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh shared photos showing damage to the Foreign Ministry's office and library, which were hit by shrapnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed peace calls from other countries. Speaking to Fox News, he said that Israel will continue its military action. He also said, “Regime change in Iran could certainly be the result” of the war. Netanyahu also claimed that Israeli intelligence found proof that Iran was planning to give nuclear weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iranian TV showed heartbreaking images of wounded children being pulled from destroyed buildings in Tehran. Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said, “90% of the 224 people killed on Sunday were civilians.”

On the Israeli side, there were also casualties. Early Sunday, a missile hit a tall apartment building in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said six people died, including a 10-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl. A local police officer told the Associated Press that 180 people were injured and seven are missing.

Residents were seen searching through the debris, trying to save their belongings while rescue teams looked for more bodies under the rubble.

The conflict began with a surprise Israeli airstrike on Friday. That attack killed top Iranian commanders and damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran warned that it will “open the gates of hell” in response. Tehran also threatened to hit US, UK, and French bases if they try to stop Iran from attacking Israel, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump praised Israel’s military actions and denied Iran’s claim that the US is directly involved. However, two American officials told the Associated Press that US forces helped Israel by shooting down some Iranian missiles during Friday’s attack.

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