Tehran (TDI): Tensions between Iran and Israel flared further early Saturday as both sides launched fresh strikes, just a day after Tehran announced it would not engage in nuclear negotiations while under military pressure.
The exchange began around 2:30 a.m. local time in Israel (2330 GMT Friday), when incoming missile alerts set off air raid sirens across Tel Aviv and several other parts of central Israel, including the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Residents reported loud booms overhead as Israel’s Iron Dome and other defense systems sprang into action, lighting up the night sky.
Footage circulating on local channels showed multiple interceptions above Tel Aviv, with flashes and loud explosions heard throughout the city.
Meanwhile, in Iran’s Qom province, authorities said they had arrested 22 people accused of having ties to Israeli intelligence agencies. According to Fars News Agency, the detainees were charged with spreading panic, supporting Israel, and acting against national interests. The arrests reportedly began after the current round of hostilities erupted on June 13.
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Iranian officials also confirmed on Saturday that the country’s Isfahan nuclear facility had been targeted in the Israeli airstrikes. While state-affiliated media insisted there was no leakage of hazardous materials, the attack heightened concerns around the safety of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Israel, in turn, claimed it struck Iranian missile storage depots and launch infrastructure in a coordinated air campaign overnight. Its military reported intercepting five ballistic missiles launched by Iran but said there were no confirmed ground impacts as of Saturday morning.
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Emergency services in Israel released photos of a fire on the roof of a residential building in Tel Aviv, believed to have been caused by falling debris from an intercepted missile. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the situation remained tense throughout the day.
The renewed fighting came hours after European diplomats met with Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva in an attempt to keep diplomatic channels open. While Iran expressed willingness to continue talks with European nations, it ruled out any negotiations with the United States until Israeli attacks stopped.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
