Israel has launched air strikes against a series of regime-linked targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin prison, after the US assault on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Israeli military said the apparent broadening of its aerial campaign against Iran had also targeted several other sites belonging to the country’s internal security forces and the Revolutionary Guards, as well as the headquarters of the Basij volunteer force linked to the guards.
Iran’s state television aired footage showing debris inside Evin Prison, which appeared to show rescue workers carrying out the injured and recovering bodies from beneath the rubble.
Separately, Israeli jets had struck routes to the Fordow nuclear facility, which was bombed by the US at the weekend, to obstruct access to the site, the military said.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the strikes on regime targets in Tehran would continue as long as Iran kept firing missile barrages at Israel.
While Israel has not made regime change a formal goal of its war with Iran, numerous officials have suggested it could be a consequence of the campaign.
The strikes came after US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of such an outcome in Iran in a series of social media posts. Top US officials have said they are not seeking a different government in Iran.
Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on Monday morning, which sent people to shelters across the country. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Iran’s top military commander has said his forces are entitled to retaliate against US interests after Washington struck the Islamic republic, while signalling the main response may be directed at Israel.
