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Iran, Israel trade deadly missile attacks; conflict escalates for fourth day

William Jackson (Producer), Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter)
Iran launched another wave of missiles into Israel early Monday, June 16, killing at least eight people and wounding nearly 100 more, according to The New York Times. The strikes targeted multiple locations in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Haifa and Bnei Brak. Emergency workers reported damage to residential buildings, with some residents trapped under rubble.
Image credit: AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images
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Summary

Iranian strikes

Iran launched a missile barrage into central and northern Israel, killing at least eight people and injuring nearly 100 others. The strikes damaged homes and hit a major oil refinery in Haifa.

Air superiority

Israel says it has established air dominance over parts of western Iran, striking more than 120 missile sites and Quds Force command centers. Officials claim Israeli jets now operate freely in Iranian airspace.

Stalled diplomacy

The escalation halted U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, with Tehran refusing to engage while Israeli airstrikes continue. Trump has urged restraint and warned against targeting Iran’s supreme leader.

Full story

Iran launched another wave of missiles into Israel early Monday, June 16, killing at least eight people and wounding nearly 100 more, according to The New York Times. The strikes targeted multiple locations in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Haifa and Bnei Brak.

Emergency workers reported damage to residential buildings, with some residents trapped under rubble.

Israeli officials said two men and two women in their 70s were among the dead. Four people died in Petah Tikva, three in Haifa and an 80-year-old man was killed in Bnei Brak when his home collapsed from a shockwave.

Iranian missiles also struck Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa Bay, igniting a fire and prompting rescue efforts, according to Israeli emergency officials.

What has Israel said about air superiority?

Israeli military officials claimed their air force has now gained control of the skies over parts of western Iran, including Tehran. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israeli jets destroyed more than 120 missile launchers and now operate freely across Iranian airspace. The Israeli Defense Forces also said it had struck 10 command centers tied to Iran’s Quds Force in the past 24 hours.

What has Iran’s response been?

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it launched approximately 100 missiles in retaliation. Officials vowed more attacks in response to Israel’s ongoing strikes on military and nuclear sites, which Iran’s Health Ministry said have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,400 since Friday. Health authorities in Iran also reported more than 1,200 wounded.

What are human rights groups reporting?

Iranian advocacy group Human Rights Activists said the government’s official death toll may be underreported. The group estimates over 400 people have died, including nearly 200 civilians.

How has the conflict impacted diplomacy?

The latest escalation has stalled nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., with talks canceled over the weekend. Iranian officials reportedly refused to proceed while Israeli strikes continued.

According to CBS News, Trump privately urged Israel not to target Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. WhileTrump has publicly called for a diplomatic resolution, he warned the U.S. would respond militarily if Iran targeted American forces. 

Since Friday, June 13, Iran’s missile attacks have killed at least 21 civilians in Israel, according to the national emergency service.

Jonah Applegarth (Production Specialist), Devan Markham (Morning Digital Producer), and Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

Escalating military exchanges between Iran and Israel highlight the risk of a wider regional conflict, significant civilian casualties and increased international diplomatic tension.

Military escalation

The reciprocal missile strikes signify a rapid intensification of hostilities, raising fears of an expanding conflict involving other countries in the Middle East.

Civilian impact

The attacks have resulted in numerous civilian deaths and injuries on both sides, emphasizing the human cost and potential for further humanitarian crises as reported by sources such as the Israeli emergency services and Iranian Health Ministry.

International diplomacy

The conflict has led to suspended nuclear negotiations and prompted interventions or statements from global leaders and organizations, affecting international efforts to de-escalate tensions and mediate between Iran and Israel.

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Behind the numbers

Casualty figures in the conflict remain high, with Iran's health authorities reporting at least 224 deaths and 1,277 hospitalizations since Israel's strikes began. Most Iranian casualties are reported as civilians, while Israel reports at least 18 deaths and dozens wounded from Iranian missile attacks. These numbers reflect the substantial toll on both populations.

Debunking

According to multiple sources, claims that the U.S. directly participated in Israel's recent bombing campaign have been denied by U.S. officials and President Donald Trump. Trump also refuted claims he approved plans to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, stating he had vetoed such proposals, contrary to allegations circulating in the press.

History lesson

Historically, tit-for-tat military exchanges between Israel and Iran (or their proxies) have occurred, but open, direct warfare of this scale is relatively unprecedented. Previous confrontations were often limited to regional proxies or covert actions, whereas current attacks mark a shift toward more direct state-on-state hostilities with larger civilian impacts.

Sources

  1. The Wall Street Journal
  2. The New York Times
  3. The Associated Press
  4. CNBC
  5. CBS News

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame Iran as an aggressor launching repeated “missile attacks” on Israel, emphasizing civilian casualties and the risk of regional escalation, employing sober yet concerned language such as “massive destruction” and “open warfare” that underscores humanitarian costs without deep focus on Israeli military successes.
  • Media outlets in the center mediate these perspectives by neutrally presenting facts such as the death of Iranian commanders and diplomatic efforts, without adopting the emotionally charged or partisan language prevalent at the ideological poles.
  • Media outlets on the right highlight Iranian hostility and portray Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes as precise and justified, using charged terms like “killed,” “martyrs” and references to “Zionist regime,” which injects a vivid moral clarity and urgency absent on the left.

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Media landscape

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264 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • Iran launched a wave of missile attacks on Israel, injuring at least 67 people, as reported by Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service.
  • Israeli officials stated that at least 100 missiles were fired by Iran, reflecting a disregard for international calls for de-escalation.
  • Israel reported that over 270 missiles were fired at it by Iran, causing significant destruction and at least 14 deaths, as of late Sunday.
  • Israeli authorities reported significant damage to buildings, including a residential structure in Petah Tikva.

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Key points from the Center

  • On Monday, June 16, 2025, Iran intensified its missile campaign against Israel, targeting several areas including Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv.
  • The attacks followed Israel's surprise strike last Friday on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, which included hitting command centers of the Revolutionary Guard.
  • Missile strikes hit residential buildings in Israeli cities like Petah Tikva and Bat Yam, causing fatalities and damage, while emergency services evacuated dozens of wounded people to hospitals.
  • At least five people lost their lives and 92 were injured in Iran's missile attacks, with Israeli police confirming that civilians were intentionally targeted during the strikes.
  • The ongoing conflict marks a fourth day of open warfare with no signs of de-escalation, as Iran vows more forceful retaliation and Israel claims full aerial control over Tehran's airspace.

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Key points from the Right

  • Israel and Iran have been engaged in air strikes for four days, leading to civilian casualties and international concern.
  • Iran claims that Israel's airstrikes have specifically hit oil refineries, resulting in the deaths of many civilians.
  • Civilians in both Israel and Iran have been killed in missile attacks as the fighting continues.
  • Iran's armed forces warned residents of Israel to evacuate the area, indicating their response to Israeli strikes will be extensive.

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Sources

  1. The Wall Street Journal
  2. The New York Times
  3. The Associated Press
  4. CNBC
  5. CBS News