Israel has attacked civilian targets in Iran, striking a hospital and an Iranian state TV building as intensive strikes exchanged by the two countries rage for a fourth consecutive day, with the military confrontation between the longstanding enemies showing no sign of ending.

After those attacks late on Monday, Iranian state TV reported that a new wave of drone and missile strikes had begun, targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

In Haifa, all refineries and subsidiary companies were shut down following the impact of an Iranian missile, with three killed in the strike, the Israeli Bazan oil refinery company said.

A live broadcast on the Iranian TV station captured its most famous presenter on air saying a missile was incoming and scrambling away as an explosion took place and debris flew through the air. There are reports of casualties among journalists in the building.

The strike came after a warning Monday from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said: ?The mouthpiece of Iranian propaganda and incitement is on the verge of disappearing?. Katz later confirmed the Israeli military carried out the attack.

In response, late on Monday, Iran issued warnings for Israeli news channels. ?Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran?s broadcasting service,? Iranian state TV said.

Iran also said Israel targeted a hospital on Monday in the country?s west, condemning it as a ?war crime?.

?Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran was targeted by the Israeli regime?s aggressive attacks,? said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that ?attacking hospitals alongside attacks on residential areas is a gross violation of international law and a war crime?.

Video footage published by local platforms and verified by the Sanad fact-checking agency shows bloodstains, indicating casualties from the strike.

Israel has repeatedly bombed hospitals and medical facilities in the Gaza Strip during its 20-month-long military campaign in the Palestinian territory, despite those being protected under international law.

Iran?s Mehr news agency reported that three Iranian Red Crescent Society workers were killed by an Israeli strike during rescue operations in Tehran.

Iran?s Fars news agency also reported on Monday that an Israeli attack targeted a military base in western Tehran. Iranian media also reported explosions in eastern parts of the capital, which comes after the Israeli army issued a threat to parts of Tehran after bombing several areas of the city on Sunday.

Iranian media reported that air defences had been activated in western Tehran.

Katz had threatened on Monday that ?the residents of Tehran will pay the price ? and soon? for killing Israeli civilians in Iran?s overnight missile attacks.

Earlier, Iranian attacks on Israel on Monday morning killed at least eight people and wounded dozens, officials reported, while Tehran said Israeli attacks overnight hit military and civilian targets.

Little prospect of ending hostilities

The ongoing attacks, started by Israel on Friday and followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes, pushed the death toll in four days of open conflict between the foes close to 250.

Raised rhetoric emanating from both countries following the exchange of strikes suggested that there is little prospect of the hostilities halting soon, with the risk of an escalation into a wider regional conflict looming.

Iran announced it had launched some 100 missiles and pledged further retaliation for Israel?s sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure, which have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday.In Israel, state broadcaster Israeli Army Radio reported that eight people were killed ? five in the central part and three in the port city of Haifa.

That takes the total death toll in Israel to more than 20 since it launched air attacks on Iran four days ago. Some 300 others are reported wounded.

A branch of the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv sustained ?minor damage? as a result of the attack, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said.

On Sunday, Iran said Israel had struck oil refineries, killed the intelligence chief of Iran?s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and hit population centres in intensive aerial attacks.

Rhetoric and threats versus diplomacy

Much of the world has urged restraint since the conflict broke out on Friday, when Israel launched an attack on Iran?s nuclear and missile facilities, killing military commanders and scientists.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he hoped the adversaries would ?make a deal?, but added that they might have to ?fight it out? first.

A staunch ally of Israel, Trump has maintained erratic messaging since the strikes began, raising concern that the conflict could escalate.

Iran has said the US is complicit in the Israeli military action, and suggested it could target US forces in Syria and elsewhere in retaliation.

Trump has insisted that Washington has ?nothing to do? with Israel?s bombing campaign, but also threatened to unleash ?the full strength and might? of the US military if Iran attacked its interests in the Middle East.

That has helped encourage a rise in the rhetoric emerging from both Tel Aviv and Tehran, which continued on Monday, suggesting there is little chance either side is ready to step back.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to rule out the possibility of targeting Iran?s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, ?It?s not going to escalate the conflict; it?s going to end the conflict.? In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu was asked directly whether such an action was on the table, to which he responded that Israel was ?doing what we need to do?.

Israel has previously suggested that regime change in Iran could be one result of the hostilities, hoping to press opposition to the regime in Tehran to rise. There have been no signs of that happening so far.

Iran?s President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, urged citizens to put aside differences and unite against Israel.

?Every difference, issue, and problem that has existed must be put aside today, and we must stand strong against this genocidal criminal aggression with unity and coherence,? he said, addressing parliament.

Iran?s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that ?If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential.?

?Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue,? Araghchi added. ?It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.? (Aljazeera)

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