TEHRAN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel’s strikes on Iran were “changing the face of the Middle East,” as both sides exchanged fire for a fourth day and fears of a wider war deepened.
The latest escalation came after a dramatic Israeli strike hit Iran’s state TV headquarters, briefly knocking it off the air mid-broadcast.
A presenter fled as the set collapsed around her, prompting Iran to warn Israeli news channels to evacuate.
Netanyahu, speaking at a press conference, said Israel was targeting Iran’s security elite “one after the other,” and suggested the offensive could trigger “radical change inside Iran itself.” Since the campaign began last week, Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people, including senior commanders and nuclear scientists, Iranian officials said.
In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed attacks “without interruption until dawn.”
Monday saw missiles slam into Tel Aviv, Haifa, Petah Tikva and Bnei Brak, killing over two dozen people in Israel.
A missile also struck near a building used by the US embassy in Tel Aviv, prompting a new travel warning from the US State Department.
US President Donald Trump, while denying American involvement in Israel’s campaign, urged Iran to return to talks. But he later posted a stark warning: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” The White House then announced Trump would leave the G7 summit early and return to Washington, signaling potential US intervention.
The USS Nimitz cancelled a scheduled stop in Vietnam and is now en route to the Middle East, reportedly to bolster US presence in the region. – AFP
