VIDEO: Israel, Iran trade blows as air war rages into fifth day
- Last updated: June 17, 2025 | 13:57
Israel said on Tuesday it targeted military sites in Iran and killed a senior commander in fresh strikes, prompting Tehran to fire missiles in retaliation on the fifth day of escalating clashes between the arch foes.
Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the morning, shortly after air raid sirens sounded across parts of Israel following missile launches from Iran, the Israeli military said.
The air force was "operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat", the military said.
About 20 minutes later, it said people could leave shelters as police reported debris fell in the Tel Aviv area and the fire brigade said it was tackling a blaze in the surrounding area.
The Israeli military said it killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shamdani in an overnight strike on a "command centre in the heart of Tehran", four days after he replaced Golam Ali Rashid, who was killed in an Israeli strike.
It also said it targeted multiple missile and drone sites in west Iran, including infrastructure, launchers and storage facilities, with black-and-white footage showing some of them exploding.
Despite mounting calls to de-escalate, neither side has backed off from the missile blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented aerial campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
A new wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran -- including a dramatic hit on state television headquarters that the broadcaster said killed three people -- prompted both sides to activate missile defence systems overnight.
'Pouring oil' on conflict
Trump has insisted Washington was not involved in the initial strikes and has repeatedly declined to say whether the United States will support the Israeli military action.
After earlier calling for talks, Trump issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform: "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" He then left a Group of Seven summit in Canada early to return to Washington.
On his arrival back in the United States, Trump said he was aiming for a "real end" to the conflict, and not just a ceasefire.
"I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," Trump told reporters, adding that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States was deploying "additional capabilities" to the Middle East.
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left Southeast Asia Monday, scrapping a planned Vietnam port call, amid reports it was heading to the region.
China accused Trump of "pouring oil" on the conflict.
"Making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.
After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched its surprise air campaign last week, saying it aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an ambition Tehran denies.
Iran has responded with multiple missile salvos. The Revolutionary Guards vowed Monday night the attacks would continue "without interruption until dawn".
State television said the Tel Aviv headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency was among the Guards' targets.
Agence France-Presse