The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Monday it has achieved full operational control of the skies above Tehran, deepening its air campaign inside Iranian territory on the fourth consecutive day of conflict between the two regional rivals.
“We have achieved full aerial operational control above Tehran,” said IDF Chief Spokesperson Effie Defrin in a statement, adding that air operations are continuing around key regime and military targets.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that civilians in parts of the Iranian capital may be required to evacuate as the military escalates strikes on what he described as “security infrastructure” linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the Quds Force.
The Israeli military reported a “widescale wave” of coordinated airstrikes on Sunday targeting installations in Tehran used by Iran’s regular army and its specialized forces. According to the IDF, these attacks focused on command posts, storage facilities, and strategic missile positions.
Iranian officials claimed 224 civilians were killed in the strikes, along with 17 senior military officers. No independent verification of those numbers has been released. In Israel, rescue agencies reported that eight civilians were killed in the latest round of Iranian missile attacks, raising Israel’s death toll to 23 since Friday.
Meanwhile, international leaders gathering for the G7 summit in Canada stated that the situation in the Middle East would be at the forefront of their agenda. Western diplomats, including from the U.S. and European Union, have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of broader instability.
Despite these appeals, there is little sign of de-escalation. In a statement Sunday night, the Israeli government said it reserves the right to “defend its population and national interests” and blamed Iran for initiating the confrontation with its missile attacks and threats to regional stability.
As both sides continue to exchange strikes and issue public warnings, concerns are growing over the potential for wider regional fallout.