At least four people have been confirmed dead following a missile strike in central Israel, according to emergency response officials.

The casualties include two women, one in her 60s and another in her 80s as well as a young girl and a boy estimated to be around 10 years old.

Emergency services also reported that 99 individuals were injured, with four currently in critical condition.

In response, Israel has carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian territory, though details regarding casualties remain unclear.

Reports from Iran indicate widespread internet blackouts following the Israeli offensive, suggesting possible efforts to control the flow of information.

This latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in the long-running hostilities between the two countries, who have been locked in a covert conflict for years often targeting each other’s interests without openly claiming responsibility.

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict, hostilities between Israel and Iran have intensified, with a notable uptick in direct and proxy attacks.

Israel has carried out targeted assassinations of key figures aligned with Tehran, including a senior Hezbollah commander last September and a top Hamas leader earlier this month both seen as critical allies of Iran in the region.

In retaliation, Iran launched over 180 missiles toward Israel in October, though the majority were successfully intercepted. Israel responded with a series of airstrikes.

While military exchanges had quieted in recent months, the fragile lull has now been shattered.

Israel continues to label Iran a fundamental threat to its existence, citing Tehran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in turn, has used inflammatory rhetoric against Israel, referring to it as a “cancerous tumor.”

Israeli officials claim their current military objectives include targeting Iran’s defense and nuclear infrastructure, as fears grow over the country’s potential nuclear capabilities.

Tehran continues to assert that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, but skepticism remains high among Western nations.

On Thursday, the UN’s nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had violated its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Diplomatic efforts to revive stalled negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were set to resume on Sunday.

However, the talks have now been called off, according to Oman, the mediator in the discussions.