Iran attacks Israel after US bombs nuclear facilities

Israeli military says Tehran launched at least 27 missiles, causing serious damage

Rescue workers evacuate residents from the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Haifa, Israel, on Sunday. AP

Iran launched at least 27 missiles at Israel on Sunday morning, hours after the US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites, escalating the Middle East conflict.

Israeli medical workers said 86 people were injured in the attacks, two moderately and 77 lightly. The number included four treated for anxiety and three people undergoing further evaluation.

The attack came in two waves, the first consisting of an estimated 22 missiles fired at areas across the country, and a second numbering at least five missiles that hit Haifa. Israel's military said one of the explosions in the northern city could have been caused by a malfunctioning Israeli interceptor missile.

How did US carry out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites?

Read More

First responders fanned out across Israel to pockets of devastation left by the strikes. In the Ramat Aviv neighbourhood near Tel Aviv, mere skeletons of homes were left standing, with wooden frames visible amid a sea of debris.

Photos showed rubble filling the streets at impact sites, with apartment buildings eviscerated, as rescue teams picked through the debris looking for survivors.

Iran's military said it targeted Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international airport, which has been shut since fighting began. Operations at Ben Gurion were set to resume at 2pm local time on Sunday to receive repatriation flights.

Iranian state TV reported that Iran fired its largest missile yet at Israel, the Khorramshahr-4, which at 13 metres long has a range of up to 2,000km and was carrying a 1,500kg warhead.

Missiles launched from Iran towards Israel seen from Tubas, in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

Shortly after the attack, Israel's military announced that its air force was bombing western Iran.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday night in an address to the nation that the strikes on Iran were a “spectacular military success”. He signalled that more could occur if Iran did not make peace.

“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

“This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” he added. “Remember, there are many targets left.”