As tensions escalate sharply in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israeli forces now command the skies above Tehran, signalling a dramatic turn in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Speaking during a visit to the Tel Nof airbase, Netanyahu stated, “The Air Force controls the skies of Tehran. We are on our way to achieving our two objectives: eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat.”
The announcement follows a sustained wave of aerial strikes by the Israeli military that reportedly destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in Iran, with Israeli aircraft now conducting operations above the Iranian capital.
The conflict, which erupted after Israel launched a surprise offensive dubbed Operation Rising Lion on Friday, has already claimed numerous lives on both sides. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Iran has retaliated with more than 370 missile launches and hundreds of drone attacks, with the majority intercepted. Nevertheless, at least 24 people have died and over 500 have been injured in Israel, news agency AP reported.
Oil prices dipped by over $2 per barrel amid speculation of possible de-escalation, with US President Donald Trump urging Iran to engage in talks. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said, “They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late”, news agency AFP reported.
Israel Strikes Iranian State TV In Tehran, Iran Terms It ‘War Crime’
Israeli strikes on Monday targeted key military infrastructure in Tehran, including 10 command centres linked to the elite Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, IDF spokesperson, asserted, “At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran’s skies.” He described the aerial offensive as a “deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat.”
The Israeli military further claimed that it now enjoys freedom of operation in Iranian airspace, unlike Iran which, according to Netanyahu, is attacking civilians. “When we control the skies over Tehran, we are hitting these targets, the targets of the regime, unlike the criminal regime of Iran that targets our citizens and comes to kill children and women,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB was hit during the Israeli air assault, abruptly halting a live transmission.
Iranian Radio and Television building on fire following Israeli strikes. pic.twitter.com/5ZoaahZrLt
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) June 16, 2025
Videos on social media captured the aftermath of the strike, showing the building engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
BREAKING: The moment of the attack on IRIB (Iran State Broadcaster) pic.twitter.com/CVU26HHFub
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 16, 2025
According to Times of Israel, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said about the strike on the broadcaster, Israel will “strike the Iranian dictator everywhere.” “The Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was struck by the IDF following a wide-scale evacuation of local residents,” he remarked.
Iran condemned the Israeli attack on state TV as a ‘war crime’. The strike on the offices of IRIB during a live broadcast was a “wicked act” and a “war crime”, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, as per AFP. “The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the IDF posted on X, “Today, the Israeli Air Force conducted a precise strike based on intelligence targeting a communication center that was being used for military purposes by the Iranian Armed Forces. The building was used by the Iranian Armed Forces under the guise of civilian activity, covering up the military use of the center’s infrastructure and assets. Prior to the strike, the IDF provided an effective advanced warning to the civilian population, including phone calls, to mitigate harm to civilians as far as feasible.”
Israel-Iran Strikes Force Evacuation Of Capitals
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by urging Tel Aviv residents to evacuate, even as Israel issued a similar alert for around 330,000 civilians in central Tehran, an area housing the country’s state TV, police headquarters, and several major hospitals, including one run by the Revolutionary Guard.
Tehran has since launched waves of ballistic missiles in response. A missile landed near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, causing minor damage but no injuries, as confirmed by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee on social media platform X.
The IDF in an update stated that sirens were sounded across northern Israel following another barrage of Iranian missiles.
Since Friday, Iran claims to have fired nearly 100 missiles in the latest volley, bringing its total response to over 370 missile launches and hundreds of drone strikes. Iranian authorities reported at least 224 deaths on their side following Israeli bombardments on nuclear sites, military leaders, and weapons facilities, AP reported.
Explosions were reported across Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva, where Israeli defence systems intercepted many of the incoming projectiles. However, some missiles penetrated urban areas. Local authorities in Petah Tikva confirmed that a residential complex had been hit, with extensive damage including charred walls and collapsed structures.
Five civilians — including two men and two women in their 70s — were killed in the central Israeli city, according to emergency service Magen David Adom. An additional 87 injured individuals were transported to hospitals, with ongoing rescue efforts for those potentially trapped in debris.
According to AP, Paramedic Dr Gal Rosen recalled, “When we arrived at the scene of the rocket strike, we saw massive destruction.” He recounted saving a four-day-old infant from the burning building.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have imposed strict restrictions on war-time reporting. These include limitations on publishing details about military operations, attack targets, protective measures, damage to strategic infrastructure, and disruptions to essential services.
As both nations continue to trade blows, fears of a wider regional war loom large, even as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire remain uncertain.
