Israel and Iran traded heavy fire for a third straight day on Sunday, with mounting casualties and expanding targets marking a sharp escalation in hostilities between the longtime foes. Strikes in both countries persisted throughout the day,

CONFLICT ENTERS FOURTH DAY: Israel and Iran have begun a new round of attacks, as the conflict between the two heavily armed rivals enters its fourth day.

The intensifying conflict has heightened fears of a protracted all-out war and widespread instability in the region.

Israel and Iran exchange missile attacks for a third day; nuclear sites hit, death tolls rise, airspace shut, U.S. warns Tehran against retaliation.

The Israeli military claims its campaign has eliminated high-value targets, including nine senior scientists, and severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Iranian authorities confirmed damage to four critical buildings at the Isfahan uranium conversion facility,

Dozens of others were injured overnight across Israel, the authorities said. Israel was striking military sites in Iran and the four-day-old conflict showed no sign of slowing.

Iranian missiles damaged the US embassy in Tel Aviv, escalating tensions. Israel retaliated with strikes on Iran's energy sector, while both sides continued attacks.

The US Embassy in Israel sustained minor structural damage from the shockwaves of Iranian missile strikes, though no injuries were reported among American personnel, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed on Monday.

Iranian state media claimed its air defense systems downed two Israeli F-35 fighter jets and captured a pilot after Operation Rising Lion, alleging significant casualties from Israeli strikes. Israel vehemently denies these claims,