TEHRAN, Iran — Israel has intensified its military campaign inside Iran, launching airstrikes targeting symbols of the Islamic Republic’s authority, including the gate of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison and the Revolutionary Guard’s headquarters.
The strikes mark a dramatic expansion of the conflict, now in its 11th day, and come just hours after U.S. stealth bombers hit multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.
Thick plumes of smoke rose across the Iranian capital on Monday as Israeli missiles struck regime-linked sites, prompting a new barrage of Iranian missiles and drones in retaliation.
The latest Israeli operation appears aimed at undermining Tehran’s political and military infrastructure without directly toppling the regime.
“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,” Israel’s Defense Ministry said, warning that more strikes on regime assets were imminent.
Among the high-profile targets was Evin Prison, a facility infamous for holding political dissidents, dual nationals, and foreign hostages.
Iranian state media aired surveillance footage showing damage to the prison gate, while the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights raised concerns over the safety of detainees inside.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed it had struck roads around Iran’s underground Fordo enrichment facility—one of the three nuclear sites hit by U.S. stealth bombers on Sunday—to block access and delay repairs.
The U.S. airstrikes on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan marked Washington’s direct entry into the conflict, sparking fears of a broader regional war.
Iranian officials accused the U.S. of “crossing a red line,” with Tehran now threatening to retaliate against American forces stationed across the Middle East.
In a social media post Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump—suggested regime change might be necessary in Iran.
Regional Tensions Rise as Airspaces Close
Qatar, a key U.S. ally and the location of a major American air base, briefly shut down its airspace following Iranian threats of retaliation. The U.S. and U.K. embassies in Doha issued shelter-in-place alerts to their citizens.
Iranian state media said Monday’s retaliation—dubbed “Operation True Promise 3”—targeted Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, though Israel’s emergency services reported no major casualties.
Since the start of hostilities, Israeli authorities report at least 24 deaths and over 1,000 injuries from Iranian strikes.
Iranian casualties are significantly higher: at least 950 people killed and more than 3,400 injured, according to Human Rights Activists, a Washington-based group tracking conflict data inside Iran.
Nuclear Concerns Mount
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it expects “heavy damage” at the Fordo nuclear site following Sunday’s U.S. strikes using 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.
Iran has claimed it moved nuclear materials ahead of the attacks, though IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said any such transfers must be declared under international safeguards.
Iran’s nuclear program, which it insists is peaceful, has rapidly advanced since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the accord in 2018, prompting Tehran to enrich uranium up to 60%—a step away from weapons-grade.
Global Calls for De-escalation
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes as “unprovoked aggression” during a meeting in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The European Union also voiced alarm over the spiraling violence, with top diplomat Kaja Kallas warning of the dangers if Iran moves to close the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping route for global oil supplies.
Despite international concern, both Israel and the U.S. maintain that the recent strikes are defensive and aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, not provoking all-out war.
Still, with missiles falling in two capitals and the specter of regional war looming, diplomacy may be running out of time.
