Iranian missile strikes kill 24, injure over 800 in Israel, PM’s office says

Iranian missile strikes have claimed the lives of 24 people and injured over 800 others in Israel, said an official bulletin released by Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

The casualties from the Iranian retaliation include eight individuals reported to be in serious condition, 41 with moderate injuries, and 755 suffering minor wounds. “Civilian casualties: 24 people confirmed dead, 804 others injured to varying degrees of severity," Caliber.Az reports citing the bulletin.

In the wake of continued missile attacks, approximately 3,800 citizens have been evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure and in response to direct threats posed by the strikes.

The sharp escalation follows Israel’s launch of Operation Rising Lion, a military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which began overnight on June 13.

The violence erupted shortly after the operation, which targeted strategic components of Iran’s nuclear program. Within 24 hours, Iran launched a large-scale counteroffensive involving nearly 400 missiles and hundreds of drones aimed at Israeli territory.

"About 400 missiles and hundreds of drones have targeted Israeli territory," Gendelman noted in the bulletin. According to the report, debris from the strikes was identified in "approximately 35 different locations" across Israel.

The situation rapidly evolved into a sustained exchange of hostilities between Tel Aviv and Tehran, with both nations confirming deaths and injuries. Additionally, each side acknowledged that several strategic sites within their respective territories had been struck. Despite the scale of the attacks, officials from both countries have maintained that the damage was limited.

In the days since the initial bombardments, both Israel and Iran have continued to trade strikes, further exacerbating an already volatile regional climate.

As of now, no international mediation has been officially announced, although several nations have called for de-escalation and expressed concern over the mounting toll on civilians.

By Vafa Guliyeva