As the attacks escalate, with fatalities and injuries reported on both sides, Israel issued the stark warning to Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will sit down for an interview airing Sunday with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, his first since Israel's strikes on Iran.

"Think about what would happen if Iran had 20,000 missiles like this. It would be an existential threat to Israel," the prime minister said on the scene in Bat Yam.

By Crispian Balmer JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Iran once ridiculed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the boy who cried wolf for his constant public warnings about Tehran's nuclear programme, and his repeated threats to shut it down,

House "Squad" members are criticizing Israel's military action against Iran as U.S. officials warn Tehran not to respond to what Israel described as a preemptive strike.

Israel’s attack on Iran was long in the making – the result of years of meticulous planning by Israel and days of high-stakes talks between Tel Aviv and Washington, officials told CNN.

Iran has asked Cyprus to convey "some messages" to Israel, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday, adding he expected to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to fight “as long as it takes,” Iran fired missiles at Israel, and Israeli warplanes attacked air defenses around Tehran.