Iran missiles cause casualties in Israel as IDF warns Iranians to leave areas

The long-simmering tensions between Iran and Israel have erupted into a full-scale conflagration, with Iran launching a series of devastating missile strikes across Israeli territory, resulting in a growing number of casualties and significant infrastructure damage. This brazen escalation, coming after a period of intense, covert hostilities and targeted attacks, marks a perilous new chapter in the regional conflict, pushing the Middle East to the brink of an all-out war. In response to the escalating threat, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an unprecedented and stark warning to Iranian civilians, urging them to immediately evacuate areas in or around military sites, signaling the likelihood of intensified Israeli counter-offensives within Iranian borders.
For the past three days, the exchange of missile attacks has intensified, transforming what was once a shadow war into a direct, deadly confrontation. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, Iranian ballistic missiles struck multiple locations across Israel, including densely populated areas near Tel Aviv. The Magen David Adom rescue service reported at least 10 fatalities in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, bringing the total death toll in Israel to 13 since the initial wave of attacks. Among the most tragic incidents, a missile strike on an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, claimed the lives of at least six people, including two children, and left 180 wounded, with seven still reported missing. Further north, four individuals were killed and 24 wounded when a missile hit a building in Tamra, while a strike in Rehovot injured 42.
The impact of these strikes on Israeli infrastructure has been substantial. Reports indicate damage to high-rise residential buildings, with fires breaking out and significant structural harm in central Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Municipal authorities in Ramat Gan stated that nine buildings were completely destroyed, displacing approximately 100 residents, while hundreds more sustained varying levels of damage. The scale of destruction and the civilian casualties underscore a significant breach of Israel's much-vaunted missile defense systems, with Iranian state media claiming successful penetration of the "Iron Dome" and other layers of defense. The IDF, while actively working to intercept incoming projectiles, has acknowledged that a number of Iranian ballistic missiles successfully reached their targets.
This latest round of direct conflict was reportedly triggered by Israel's "Operation Rising Lion," a large-scale offensive launched on June 13, 2025, which targeted more than a dozen locations across Iran. These Israeli strikes aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear capabilities and military installations, reportedly causing significant damage to key nuclear sites like Natanz, Khondab, and Khorramabad, and killing several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Iran's Fars News Agency reported that at least 78 people, including women and children, were killed and 329 injured in these initial Israeli attacks, which Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, cited as the majority of civilian casualties.
Iran's retaliatory missile barrages were swift and severe, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps warning of "heavy and destructive attacks against Israel" if the Israeli aggression continued. The current escalation has seen both sides reiterating their resolve to continue their offensive actions, raising serious concerns about a protracted and devastating regional war.
Amidst the intensifying combat, the IDF has taken an extraordinary step, directly addressing Iranian civilians with an urgent warning. Posted on social media platforms like X in both Arabic and Persian by IDF spokespersons, the message explicitly states: "All individuals currently present or expected to be present in or around military weapons manufacturing facilities and their supporting institutions must immediately evacuate these areas and not return until further notice." The warning further stressed, "Being near these facilities puts your life at risk," clearly indicating Israel's intent to target these sites in its ongoing counter-strikes. This unprecedented advisory underscores the gravity of the situation and suggests that Israel is preparing for more extensive operations deep within Iranian territory.
The international community is watching with growing alarm. World leaders and senior officials have issued urgent calls for de-escalation, urging both Israel and Iran to step back from the brink of all-out war. Nations like the United States and Russia, along with regional players such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have expressed grave concerns about the conflict's potential to destabilize the entire region, disrupt global energy markets, and trigger a humanitarian crisis. Pope Francis has also added his voice to the chorus, appealing for "responsibility and reason" from both sides. However, despite these pleas, both Tehran and Jerusalem have remained steadfast in their positions, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warning that "Tehran will burn" if Iranian retaliatory strikes continue, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatening a "more severe and powerful response" if Israel persists with its attacks.
The historical animosity between Iran and Israel, rooted in geopolitical rivalries, ideological differences, and Iran's nuclear program, has now burst into the open with direct military confrontations. What began as a covert proxy conflict has spiraled into an overt exchange of lethal force. As the death toll continues to rise and the warnings become more dire, the immediate future of the Middle East hangs precariously in the balance, with the international community holding its breath in anticipation of what may come next in this rapidly unfolding and dangerous conflict.
Source@BBC