Israel has launched a new wave of strikes across Iran, hitting targets from as far west as Tehran and as far east as Mashhad. The Israeli army (IDF) reported that the strikes destroyed a number of military targets in Tehran. Iran has vowed that its response will be "devastating" and after it "Israel will not be inhabitable."

Iran said it would begin opening mosques, subway stations and schools to serve as makeshift bomb shelters for civilians while Israel continues to launch devastating strikes.

"The air force struck and destroyed surface-to-surface missile production sites, radar detection sites and surface-to-air missile launchers in Tehran on the instructions of the IDF Intelligence Directorate," the IDF said.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh accused Israel of carrying out a "deliberate and merciless strike on one of the buildings of the Iranian Foreign Ministry."

Iranian state television reported that at least five people died in an Israeli strike on an apartment building in central Iran. The media outlet added that the death toll could rise as the strike was carried out in a densely populated area.

Meanwhile, Iranian army spokesman Colonel Reza Sayyad said: 

"The scale of the devastating response by the courageous Iranian fighters will surely encompass all parts of the occupied territories (Israel). Leave the occupied territories, for they will certainly not be inhabitable in the future, and the safe havens will not guarantee security."

Earlier on June 15, Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said two people were taken to hospital with "minor shrapnel injuries" after an Iranian shell hit the northern Israeli city of Haifa. The statement came after the IDF said it had detected new rockets fired by Iran.

The latest exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran is the most intense in their years-long conflict. World leaders fear an escalation that could engulf the entire Middle East.

On June 15, when Israel targeted sites on Islamic Republic territory, Iran responded with a barrage of rockets, with residents told to seek refuge. Meanwhile, Tehran reportedly activated air defense systems.

Since hostilities began two days ago, residential areas in both countries have suffered deadly strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Iran for alleged attacks on civilians. 

"Iran will pay a very high price for the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children," he said during a visit to the site of a rocket strike on an apartment building in the coastal town of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv.

Local media, citing the Iranian health ministry, reported at least 128 people killed in Israeli attacks from 13 to 14 June, including women and children, and another 900 wounded.

Netanyahu also hinted to Fox News that Israel had killed Iranian intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi, saying it had recently "received the chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran" while its planes were conducting flights over the capital. The information was confirmed hours later by state news agency IRNA.

The prime minister also said the Israeli strikes had destroyed the main uranium enrichment facility at Iran's Natanz nuclear site.

At the same time, a US administration official said US President Donald Trump opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"We understand that the Israelis had plans to strike Iran's supreme leader. President Trump was against it and we told the Israelis not to do it," the US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. | BGNES