Tel Aviv, June 16 (IANS): The ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran intensified Monday after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its fighter jets carried out precision airstrikes targeting the Quds Force command centres in Tehran.
According to the IDF, the strikes were executed using “precise intelligence” and focused on facilities allegedly involved in planning and coordinating terrorist activities against Israel. “The Air Force attacked Quds Force headquarters in Tehran,” the IDF posted on social platform X. “Air Force fighter jets attacked the headquarters of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army, under precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Department.”
An accompanying graphic released by the Israeli military showed that 10 strategic locations were hit in the coordinated assault.
The Quds Force, a key arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), is widely believed to be responsible for overseas operations and is known for supporting proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel maintains that the force plays a central role in orchestrating attacks against the Jewish state through its regional affiliates.
Iran swiftly responded to the Israeli strikes by launching ballistic missiles into central Israel, killing at least four people and injuring dozens more. Emergency services, including Magen David Adom, reported that 87 individuals were transported to hospitals. Among the wounded were a woman with severe facial injuries and five others in moderate condition; 81 sustained minor injuries.
On the Iranian side, the civilian death toll continues to rise amid sustained Israeli bombardments. Iran’s Health Ministry confirmed that four nights of airstrikes have left at least 230 people dead, with approximately 90 percent of the casualties reported to be civilians.
Despite mounting casualties, Iran has refused to enter ceasefire talks while the air raids continue. According to diplomatic sources, Iran informed mediators in Qatar and Oman that negotiations would only be considered after its ongoing military response to Israeli pre-emptive actions concludes.
Israeli officials claim the strikes have dealt a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. High-ranking military officers and nuclear scientists are reported to be among the casualties.
Overnight operations by Israeli forces targeted more than 80 sites in Tehran. Initially focused on military and nuclear facilities, the offensive later widened to include oil installations and government buildings. Notably, two major fuel depots were destroyed in Tehran, while additional strikes hit Ahvaz in the oil-rich Khuzestan province.
Other significant targets reportedly included the headquarters of Tehran’s police and defence ministry, along with a key defence facility in Isfahan.
