by Alice Ibarra in Politics

A major escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict has unfolded, with Iran launching multiple waves of missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Israeli military reported intercepting many of the missiles, but casualties have been reported, including critically injured individuals. Earlier, Israel launched a large-scale air strike on Iranian targets, hitting over 100 sites, resulting in significant casualties according to Iran's UN ambassador (78 dead, over 320 injured, the majority civilians). The US military reportedly assisted in intercepting some of the Iranian missiles. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that Israel initiated a war and will face severe consequences for any further attacks. The attacks have caused global stock market drops and oil price surges. International concern is high, with the UN Secretary-General calling for an end to the violence and the UK Foreign Secretary describing the situation as a 'moment of grave peril'. Reports of explosions in Tehran have also emerged. Initial assessments suggest limited damage to Iranian nuclear facilities, but the situation remains highly volatile and the potential for further escalation remains significant.