Iran, Israel trade attacks as casualties reported on both sides

Rolene Marks, a freelance journalist in Modi’in, Israel, told NewsNation there were “three more waves of attacks” overnight, resulting in one fatality — an elderly woman — and multiple neighborhoods hit. She said she is “safe and exhausted,” but declined to name specific areas for security reasons.

Missile sirens have been activated across Israel following a new wave of attacks launched from Iran, according to the IDF. Israel’s air defenses are working to intercept the missiles, but the IDF warns the system isn’t airtight and urges the public to follow Home Front Command instructions. This follows Israel’s earlier strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets.

Two panelists — Iranian American journalist Negar Mortazavi and Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East peace negotiator — join “CUOMO” to try to assess the future of Iran, a country with more than 90 million people, now that it’s in conflict with Israel. They say the dynamics are too complicated to make predictions, but Miller offers this grim assessment: “I don’t think this is going to have a happy ending. Iran’s going to play the long game.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter joins “CUOMO” to explain why Israel launched attacks on Iran and why it will not stop until it has eliminated Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Uncertainty has been the economic theme of the year, and escalating conflicts in the Middle East threaten to drive up energy prices and could squeeze household budgets even further.

Oil prices surged and stocks fell after Israel attacked Iranian nuclear and military targets Friday morning. Meanwhile, gold prices soared as investors flocked to safe-haven assets.

Geopolitical shocks are often short-lived in financial markets, so this probably isn’t the time to cash out your 401(k). But don’t be surprised if your wallet feels the impact elsewhere.

Full story here.

Iran has already vowed retaliation, and the U.S. has shifted military assets into the region in case they are needed.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting a fire at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, posting a video on X of a column of smoke and orange flames rising from what the outlet said was the airport.

Dan Raviv, a veteran journalist and authority on Israel’s intelligence agency, says Mossad’s unprecedented release of images about its role in the attack on Iran is partly to reassure Israelis after Oct. 7. “Israeli intelligence and the military are trying to tell the Israeli people, ‘We’ve got this,’” Raviv tells “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

Israel launched a sweeping military operation late Thursday night and into the next morning, striking multiple high-value targets across Iran and reportedly killing three key Iranian leaders. However, much of Iran’s nuclear program remains intact. Ambassador John Bolton, former national security adviser, tells “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that the United States could destroy nuclear bunkers faster than Israel: “Iran’s not just Israel’s problem, it’s the world’s problem.”

At least 20 senior Iranian commanders, including Aerospace Force Cmdr. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in the strikes, two regional sources told Reuters. Full story here.

Retired four-star Gen. Wesley Clark, a former NATO supreme allied commander, joins “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” to discuss U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict and what could come next.

Israel and Iran have attacked each other, raising concerns about the conflict spreading throughout the Middle East. Retired Brig. Gen. John Teichert joins “The Hill” to break down the military presence in the region as U.S. personnel assist Israeli defense.

Speaking to NewsNation on Friday, former Navy SEAL and FBI Special Agent Jonathan Gilliam said Israel’s strikes on Iran mark just the opening phase of a wider strategic operation — one aimed not only at Iran’s nuclear program but at dismantling its military reach and regional influence.

“Israel knows what they know, and by that I mean their intelligence is so all-encompassing that they are miles ahead of Iran’s movements,” Gilliam said.

He said that Iran’s precision targeting capabilities are limited — “setting a rocket guidance system to target a city is not difficult as opposed to a specific pinpoint strike.”

Gilliam said Israel anticipated retaliation and prepared its civilian population accordingly but believes that the current strikes are only one piece of a multipronged plan.

“I believe this attack on Iran is just a part of Israel’s strategy to destroy Iran’s proxies, their air defenses, and now their ability to attack outside their borders,” he said.

According to Gilliam, Israel may soon expand the campaign to “completely destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions, annihilate Iran’s ability to strike Israel with rockets” and potentially “eliminate Iran’s leadership” altogether.

The intelligence center — “Kirya” — in Tel Aviv appears to be one of the main targets again in Iran’s third wave of strikes on Israel, per a source on the ground.

The Israeli Air Force says, “In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the State of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted by the Air Force. Rescue and rescue forces are operating in several areas across the country where reports of casualties have been received. The Home Front Command’s instructions must continue to be followed.”

Connell McShane explains how Israel’s Iron Dome works after it destroyed some of Iran’s missiles launched at Israel on Friday. Established in 2011, the Iron Dome uses radar to detect missiles and attempts to destroy them with Israel’s own missiles.

The Israel Defense Forces say Iran is firing more missiles, urging civilians to seek shelter:

“At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat. A short time ago, alerts were activated in several areas of the country following the discovery of missiles launched from Iran into the territory of the State of Israel. The public is asked to obey the instructions of the Home Front Command. The defense is not hermetic, and therefore the instructions of the Home Front Command must continue to be obeyed.”

Israeli emergency services confirmed at least 34 injuries from Iranian missile strikes on central Israel, including in the Tel Aviv area. Among the wounded was a critically injured woman who was trapped under rubble following one of the blasts.

At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, Iran U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani condemned Israel’s widespread military offensive, calling it a “barbaric and criminal attack” and accusing Israel of committing state terrorism.

According to Iravani, Israel’s airstrikes targeted senior military officials and nuclear scientists, but the “overwhelming majority” of the 78 people killed were civilians, including women and children. He reported over 320 injuries and warned that Israel continues to carry out additional acts of aggression across multiple Iranian cities.

“These atrocities constitute clear acts of state terrorism and flagrant violation of international law,” Iravani said, demanding international accountability for what he described as a grave escalation and attack on Iranian sovereignty.

A senior Arab diplomat told NewsNation that the timing of the Israeli strike — which targeted multiple nuclear enrichment and weaponization facilities — is “far from beneficial,” warning that it could “have widespread repercussions across the area.”

The diplomat added that the attack has already disrupted critical regional diplomacy, including planned hostage negotiations and talks involving President Donald Trump, who made calls to Arab leaders following the assault.

They noted that Iran’s nuclear sites are geographically closer to Gulf capitals than to Tehran, highlighting the risk of radioactive contamination should any of the facilities sustain long-term damage.

“Any potential leaks from these sites could have catastrophic consequences,” the diplomat said, warning of contaminated water sources, threats to Gulf energy infrastructure and possible disruptions to maritime trade routes.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Oman and Qatar all issued separate statements condemning the Israeli strikes, characterizing the operation as a “violation of international law” and destabilizing to an already volatile region.

Sirens are sounding in the area of the Negev due to the infiltration of hostile aircraft, the Israel Defense Forces says.

The Air Force intercepted a suspicious aerial target that was launched into the country following an alert that was activated at 00:15 in the Eilat area. At the same time, a suspicious aerial target infiltration incident is underway in the Arava area, the details of which are being investigated, the Israeli Air Force said.

Statement from U.S. official to NewsNation: “The vast majority of missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defense however the U.S. did support with both land and sea assets.”

Iran’s U.N. ambassador says 78 people have been “martyred” and over 320 injured in Israeli attacks.

President Donald Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. There are no details available on what they discussed.

The United Nations’ nuclear chief said Israeli strikes destroyed the above-ground portion of Iran’s main nuclear facility, the Associated Press reported.

The facility’s electrical infrastructure and emergency generators were destroyed. The main centrifuge underground did not appear to have been hit but the infrastructure could have been damaged from the loss of power.

President Donald Trump has spoken with leaders from Arab nations, including the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and the Emir of Qatar.

A Qatari source told NewsNation Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Trump discussed the conflict and the need for de-escalation and diplomacy.

The Israel Defence Forces said Iran launched fewer than 100 missiles in recent attacks and the majority were intercepted by air defense systems.

“This is yet another indication of the necessity of the operation, whose goal is to remove the threat. We will not allow Iran to grow stronger and produce quantities of missiles that could pose an existential threat to the State of Israel,” said IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin.

Citizens were urged to continue to follow instructions from Home Front Command.

Israel’s forces attacked Iran’s Hamadan and Tabriz bases, destroying Tabriz, the military said.

“The IDF is prepared to continue to act as necessary. The State of Israel has a duty to act to protect its citizens and will continue to do so wherever required, as it has done in the past. The IDF is conducting an ongoing situation assessment and will update on any developments,” officials said on X.

President Donald Trump spoke with the Saudi crown prince on Friday, urging restraint and de-escalation in the conflict between Israel in Iran.

Trump has been monitoring the situation as Israel and Iran trade missile attacks, sparking fears of larger regional conflict.

The U.S. military is helping intercept Iranian missiles directed at Israel as Iran retaliates for Israeli strikes, an official confirmed to NewsNation.

“There are hundreds of thousands of Americans that live in Israel and there are U.S. military assets in Israel that we need to protect,” the official said.