Tensions between Israel and Iran surged further Saturday as Israel declared its air campaign against Iran had intensified, targeting the heart of Tehran and key military infrastructure across the country. Meanwhile, Iranian officials vowed to retaliate, threatening to expand their response to include American military installations in the region.

In Tehran, Iranian state TV reported that around 60 people, including 20 children, had been killed in an attack on a housing complex, with more strikes reported across the country as Israel said it had attacked more than 150 targets.

In a striking statement published Saturday morning, Israeli military officials said “the way to Tehran has been paved,” with Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets now prepared to strike designated targets in the Iranian capital.

The assessment by Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar came after Israeli jets reportedly struck Iranian air defense systems in Tehran overnight, significantly degrading Iran's aerial defenses and enabling “greater freedom of aerial action above the Iranian capital,” the military said.

The Israeli military said it is continuing its offensive inside Iran, with the next phase aiming to “operate freely over Tehran.” The military said its strikes will keep targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, military compounds, ballistic missile launchers, and key personnel, including military officials and nuclear scientists.

Since launching the operation early Friday, the Israeli army said it has hit more than 150 targets across Iran.

In response, Iran has fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel in multiple barrages since Saturday night, according to the Israeli army. Air defense systems intercepted the majority of the incoming projectiles. However, the military noted that around 25%—fewer than 50 missiles—were not intercepted “according to protocol,” landing in open areas without affecting vital infrastructure.  A “small number” of missiles managed to penetrate Israeli defenses, causing casualties and damage in central cities such as Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Rishon Lezion. The attacks resulted in the deaths of three civilians and left around 70 others injured.

Despite the assault, the Israeli army confirmed that all its military installations, including air bases, remained fully operational and unaffected.

Overnight, several drones launched at Israel were also intercepted by Israel's Air Force and Navy. This follows a previous wave of 100 Iranian drones fired Friday, which were likewise successfully shot down.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran's leadership had crossed a red line.

"If (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Iranian media outlets reported explosions in Tehran late Friday, with the semi-official Fars news agency saying two projectiles hit the capital’s Mehrabad Airport. Located near sensitive government sites, Mehrabad also houses a major air force base with fighter jets and transport aircraft. Local media described visible flames and damage at the site, though official Iranian sources have provided limited confirmation.

Fars also cited senior Iranian military officials who warned that the confrontation was far from over.

“This confrontation will not end with last night’s limited actions and Iran’s strikes will continue, and this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors,” the officials were quoted as saying.

They added that the conflict would soon “spread in the coming days to all areas occupied by this (Israeli) regime and American bases in the region.”

As hostilities escalated, Iranian state television confirmed the deaths of two more senior generals in Israeli strikes: General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy head of intelligence of the armed forces general staff, and General Mehdi Rabbani, deputy head of operations. 

Meanwhile, satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press showed evidence of extensive damage to Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure. Images captured by Planet Labs PBC on Friday revealed burn scars and structural damage at two key missile bases—one in Kermanshah and another in Tabriz. In Kermanshah, the strike appeared to scorch a wide area along the base nestled against a mountainside. The Tabriz site also showed damage across multiple facilities.

While Iranian officials have not formally acknowledged the extent of the damage, local media have reported on Israeli strikes in those regions.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization acknowledged that the Fordow nuclear enrichment site suffered “limited damage” in recent Israeli attacks. Spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi told the semi-official ISNA news agency that “there has been limited damage to some areas at the Fordow enrichment site.”

“We had already moved a significant part of the equipment and materials out, and there was no extensive damage and there are no contamination concerns," he claimed.

However, the Israeli military denied targeting Iran’s Fordo nuclear site, while confirming it had carried out a precision strike on a nuclear facility in Isfahan.

According to Israeli military, the strike destroyed key components, including uranium conversion systems and several laboratories following intelligence pointing to renewed Iranian efforts to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels at said site.

“This activity leaves no room for doubt. Iran was working to produce weapons of mass destruction,” the Israeli army said in a statement.

As hostilities escalated, Iran’s civil aviation authority announced a nationwide closure of airspace “until further notice,” according to state-run media.

“No flights will be operated at any airports in the country in order to protect the safety of passengers… until further notice,” the official IRNA news agency reported.