Day two of the war between Israel and Iran marked a shift from the intense bombardments seen in the initial 24 hours, as both countries appeared to settle into a pattern of limited tit-for-tat attacks amid rising regional and international tensions.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a televised address warning, “In the very near future, you will see Israeli Air Force jets in the skies over Tehran. We will strike every site and every target of the Ayatollah’s regime.”
Despite Netanyahu’s threats, much of the Israeli action within Iran appears to be conducted through drone attacks, possibly launched by Israeli-linked operatives operating covertly inside the country. Given the fluid nature of events, the full scope of operations remains unclear.
In response to the growing threat, Iranian authorities deployed thousands of internal security forces across highways, roads, and key infrastructure sites. These units have been tasked with conducting inspections and surveillance to identify and counter any potential Mossad-linked agents operating domestically.
By Saturday evening, Israel had reportedly carried out targeted strikes on Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure, including the Port of Bushehr. Additional reports indicated that Iranian air defenses were activated near other key energy facilities in Bandar Abbas and Asaluyeh. Late Saturday night, a strike on an oil refinery in Tehran was also confirmed.
In retaliation, Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles at central Israel. An oil refinery in Haifa was struck, and Israeli media confirmed casualties in the city of Tamra, located near Haifa.
Iranian drones were confirmed to have also struck the port city of Eilat, as well as further missile strikes on Tel Aviv early Sunday morning, with Israeli media reporting numerous casualties following the strikes.
The Weizmann Institute for Science, a prominent research center in the city of Rehovot was also struck.
While Israel’s initial offensive resembled a “shock and awe” campaign, the second day raised questions about whether Tel Aviv has any immediate follow-up strategy in place or is instead shifting toward a more protracted campaign of strikes.
On Saturday, reports began emerging in the Israeli media about Israel’s inability to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, with initial reports indicating Iran’s underground facilities have remained largely intact.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in Saturday, posting on Truth Social about a phone call he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump stated that the war between Iran and Israel "needs to end," a day after revealing that he had advance knowledge of Israel’s plans and suggesting it was “more than just a heads up.”