DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel launched an expanded assault on Iran on Sunday, with direct strikes targeting its energy industry and Defense Ministry headquarters, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of missiles blamed for the deaths of four people and injuries of many others.

Iranian news media and residents of Tehran say the damage from the latest Israeli strikes appears to be significant, with several apartment buildings badly damaged. Residents say they are hearing ambulance sirens and fire trucks racing to the scenes and rescue workers are working to find casualties in the rubble.

Smoke and flames filled the sky over Tehran as Israel struck oil and gas facilities in the Iranian capital and targeted more nuclear facilities during attacks that carried on into Sunday after starting two days earlier.

Experts have said it is likely that Iran is using the bulk of its ballistic missiles to “distract and saturate” air defences to create an opening for more advanced weapons. That missile appears to be the Shahed Haj Qassem, which was fired at Israel for the first time at the weekend.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was long considered Iran’s first line of defense in case of a war with Israel.

Fox News host Mark Levin calls for regime change as Israel strikes Iran, exposing deep foreign policy divide within Trump's MAGA circle.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel presented Iran’s sophisticated ballistic missiles as a critical threat to Israel’s survival.

President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a stark warning to Iran against retaliating on U.S. targets in the Middle East while also predicting Israel and Iran would “soon” make a deal to end their escalating conflict.