On Monday, Iran’s state television building was hit in an Israeli air raid, abruptly cutting short a live broadcast. The TV presenter described the attack as “the sound of aggression against the homeland.” Footage showed Iranian journalist Younes Shadlou outside the damaged building, saying many colleagues remained inside when the strike occurred.

Multiple explosions echoed across Tehran throughout the day, with Iran responding by launching missiles towards Israeli territory. Earlier, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for civilians in District 3 of Tehran ahead of planned airstrikes. Israel targeted a military base in western Tehran, prompting Iran’s air defence systems to activate, according to Fars news agency.

Since Friday, at least 224 people have been killed and around 1,481 injured across Iran in attacks on various facilities. Despite the escalation, President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Monday that Iran does not intend to develop nuclear weapons but will continue its nuclear energy programme, echoing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s religious edict against weapons of mass destruction.

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for striking an aircraft at the airport in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city in the northeast. The army said it targeted a refuelling plane, describing the strike as the most long-range operation since hostilities began.

Tehran has vowed to prepare for “the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil.” Meanwhile, Iran’s state-run Nour News reported that its air defences shot down an F-35 fighter jet over Tabriz.

The intensifying exchanges signal a sharp escalation in the conflict, with Tehran bracing for further reprisals.

Al Jazeera.