Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will strike "every site and every target of the ayatollah regime" in Iran.

Israel’s Channel 13 cites “initial reports” last Saturday that Iranian missiles have hit the northern coastal city of Haifa and neighbouring town of Tamra. Videos posted to social media, and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad, showed Iranian cruise missiles in the skies of northern Israel.

Plumes of smoke rose over central Tel Aviv and at least one building was hit and set ablaze. Israel said fewer than 100 rockets had been fired from Iran. Israel's Channel 12 said two people were critically injured, eight moderately and 34 slightly from shrapnel..

Benjamin Netanyahu has been making the argument that Israel faces existential threat if Iran gets a nuclear bomb for many years.

After such a devastating attack from Israel, Iran’s leaders see no choice but to fight back. Any sign of weakness would severely undermine the regime’s legitimacy at home.

Democrats on Capitol Hill can’t catch a break. Just as Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) physical clash with Trump administration security officials had given them cause to unite on the

Israel's military has deployed troops nationwide as its conflict with Iran intensifies. In preparation for possible retaliatory actions from Iran or its allies, reservists across various units have been called up.

Tensions between Israel and Iran are escalating amid an already volatile Middle East, raising fears of a broader and more dangerous conflict.

The strikes are a sign of Israel’s shift away from restraint, containment and short wars, and toward using force to project power across the Middle East.