Casualty figures fluctuated throughout the morning as Italian media tracked Iranian missile strikes that killed between three and eight Israeli civilians, while Iran reported 224 deaths from Israeli bombardments. Netanyahu escalated rhetoric by midday, declaring Israel "dominates Tehran's skies" and claiming control of Iranian airspace represented a fundamental shift in the conflict.
The day's most significant development came when Israeli forces bombed Iran's state television headquarters, with broadcasts interrupted and journalists fleeing on air. Netanyahu then explicitly stated that killing Khamenei would end the war, marking the first direct assassination threat against Iran's Supreme Leader.
Reports emerged of Khamenei's staff seeking safe passage to Russia while Iranian Revolutionary Guards promised "the worst attack in Israel's history." Trump advised immediate evacuation of Tehran and left the G7 summit early, while markets rose on expectations of swift resolution. Iran announced renewed missile attacks continuing "until dawn."