Israeli Airstrikes Rock Tehran as Iran Warns U.S. Against Entering Conflict: ‘All-Out War’ Could Follow
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israeli warplanes struck targets in Tehran overnight and into Wednesday morning, escalating tensions just as Iran launched another round of missiles toward Israel. No casualties were reported from the latest missile salvo, but the conflict is spiraling — and Iran is warning the U.S. to stay out or risk dragging the region into a full-blown war.
“Any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Al Jazeera English. While he didn’t go into detail, the message was clear: Washington’s next move could tip the balance.
Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear and Military Sites
Israel’s latest round of strikes targeted facilities connected to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, including a site producing uranium centrifuges and another manufacturing missile components, according to the Israeli military. The military also said it intercepted 10 incoming missiles overnight.
These strikes follow Israel’s surprise bombardment last Friday, which launched a campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military installations. Since then, the violence has only intensified.
Human Rights Activists, a U.S.-based group with a network inside Iran, reports the toll has climbed to at least 585 deaths, including 239 civilians and 126 security personnel. Over 1,300 people have been wounded.
Iran’s Response Weakens — for Now
Iran has responded by launching roughly 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since Friday, in retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 24 Israelis and wounded many more. Some of the projectiles struck residential buildings in central Israel, triggering near-constant air raid sirens and forcing civilians to seek shelter.
However, Iran’s missile attacks have tapered off in recent days. While the government hasn’t explained the slowdown, Israeli strikes have reportedly damaged or destroyed key launch infrastructure.
Tehran on Edge
Back in Iran, the capital is on edge. Tehran residents reported a massive explosion around 5 a.m. Wednesday, following earlier blasts in the predawn hours. One strike appeared to hit Hakimiyeh, a neighborhood home to a Revolutionary Guard academy.
Shops across the city — even in the iconic Grand Bazaar — are shuttered. Long lines have formed at gas stations. Highways out of the capital are jammed with residents fleeing the violence.
Despite the growing death toll, Iranian authorities have offered little acknowledgment of the strikes, a silence that’s become routine as the bombardment intensifies. Their last official update, on Monday, listed 224 deaths and 1,277 wounded, figures now far below independent estimates.
Washington in the Hot Seat
The world is watching Washington, where President Donald Trump — who initially distanced himself from the Israeli offensive — now appears more open to escalating U.S. involvement.
“I want something much bigger than a ceasefire,” Trump said recently, while also ordering more American warplanes to the region. In a social media post Wednesday, he called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” and warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “We know where you are — but we’re not coming for you… yet.”
The White House confirmed Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, though details of the conversation were not made public.
Iran Promises More to Come
Iran has so far described its missile launches as mere warnings — but that may change.
“The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence,” said Iran’s army chief, Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, in a video message. “The punishment operation will be carried out soon.”
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei posted a blunt message of his own: “We will show the Zionists no mercy.”
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz responded with defiance: “A storm is passing over Tehran… this is how dictatorships collapse.”
Israelis Begin Returning Home
Amid the chaos, some signs of normalcy are beginning to return to Israel. Two commercial flights from Cyprus landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning, marking the first repatriation efforts since Israel closed its airspace in response to missile attacks.
The shutdown left tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad and snarled flight paths across the region. Israeli airport authorities say more flights are expected to follow as the airspace cautiously reopens.
BOTTOM LINE:
With deadly airstrikes, missile salvos, and sharp warnings from all sides, the Israel-Iran conflict is entering increasingly dangerous territory. As both nations dig in, and with Washington weighing its next move, the risk of a broader regional war is growing by the day.
Source: AP News – New Israeli strikes hit Tehran as Iran warns that U.S. involvement would risk ‘all-out war’
