Iran hits back with missile strikes

ISRAEL'S defence minister warned yesterday that “Tehran will burn” and its residents pay dearly if Iran continues its missile strikes against Israeli civilians.

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“The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran into hostages and bringing about a reality in which they — especially the residents of Tehran — will pay a heavy price because of the criminal harm to Israeli civilians,” said Israel Katz.

“If (Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles toward the Israeli home front — Tehran will burn,” the minister added.

The threat came as Israel and Iran exchanged fire a day after Israel unleashed strikes that Iran said hit its nuclear facilities, “martyred” top commanders and killed dozens of civilians.

Iran has hit back with waves of drone and missile strikes, with a barrage of dozens lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens.

Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region.

Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran early on Friday, only days before Iran and the US were due to hold a sixth round of talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.

The operation - dubbed “Rising Lion” — has since killed Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, among other senior generals.