24 Israelis Killed, Hundreds Injured in Iranian Missile Strikes Following Israeli Offensive
Iran launches over 370 ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israeli attacks; widespread destruction reported amid Israeli media blackout and embassy damage in Tel Aviv.
Watan-Twenty-four Israelis were killed and 592 injured in Iranian missile strikes carried out in retaliation for ongoing Israeli military aggression since last Friday.
According to a statement issued Monday by Israel’s Government Press Office, “Iran launched more than 370 ballistic missiles, with 30 of them landing in Israel.”
The statement added: “A total of 24 deaths and 592 injuries were recorded—10 in critical condition, 36 in moderate condition, and 546 with minor injuries.”
The toll includes 11 additional fatalities reported since midnight (21:00 GMT Sunday), according to official data. Among them: four killed in Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv, three in Haifa (north), one in Bnei Brak (a Tel Aviv suburb), two pulled from rubble after a strike in Bat Yam the previous day, and one killed in an unspecified location.
Hebrew media outlets reported that Israel has imposed a strict military censorship on reports related to the human and material losses from the Iranian response, which has caused unprecedented destruction. The Netanyahu government and the Israeli army have urged citizens not to publish photos or videos showing the aftermath of the strikes.
U.S. Embassy Branch in Tel Aviv Damaged by Shockwaves
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced Monday that a branch of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv sustained minor damage due to the shockwaves from an Iranian missile.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Huckabee stated: “Our embassy and consulate in Israel will remain officially closed today as shelter-in-place orders are still in effect.”
He added: “Some minor damage was recorded due to the shockwaves of an Iranian missile near our embassy branch in Tel Aviv, but no American staff were harmed.”
Huckabee also noted that approximately 700,000 Americans currently reside in Israel.
Background: Israeli Offensive and Iranian Retaliation
With implicit U.S. backing, Israel launched a wide-scale assault on Iran early Friday, deploying dozens of fighter jets to bomb nuclear facilities, missile bases, and assassinate senior military leaders and nuclear scientists. The offensive resulted in 224 Iranian deaths and 1,277 injuries.
That same evening, Iran began retaliating with 11 waves of ballistic missile and drone attacks, continuing into early Monday.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, more than 70 missiles targeted the greater Tel Aviv area, Haifa, and the southern region early Monday morning.
On Monday, the Israeli army announced it had intercepted eight drones launched from Iran overnight, as part of Tehran’s ongoing retaliation.
In a statement, the army said: “During the night, the naval fleet successfully intercepted eight aerial drones launched from Iran.”
It added: “The total number of drones intercepted by missile ships since the start of the operation has reached about 25.”
“For the first time, the Lightning Shield air defense system and the long-range LRAD interceptor missile were used,” the statement concluded.
