The deadly conflict between Israel and Iran escalated further into its fourth day on Monday, showing no signs of abating as both nations engaged in a fresh round of missile attacks. The death toll continues to mount, and prospects for a quick resolution appear dim.

According to Iranian state media, at least 224 people in Iran have been killed since Israel’s initial attack began on Friday, while 24 people have been killed in Israel by Iran’s retaliatory strikes.

Responding to new Israeli strikes on surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard announced it had launched its own wave of missile attacks on Israel “with greater force and intensity than before.” Israel, which initiated the latest conflict on Friday, claims to have achieved “full aerial superiority” over Iran’s capital, Tehran, likening the situation to its dominance over Gaza and Lebanon.

Israel maintains its military campaign is aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, citing an “existential threat” if Iran were to develop an atomic bomb. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, addressing Parliament on Monday, reiterated Iran’s long-standing claim that it is not seeking nuclear weapons but has the right to pursue nuclear energy and research.

The escalating conflict casts a shadow over US President Donald Trump’s administration, which had reportedly urged Israel to hold off on the attack while pursuing nuclear talks with Iran — talks that have since been called off. Trump, speaking Sunday before heading to a G7 summit, expressed hope for a deal but conceded, “sometimes they have to fight it out.” Despite the US distancing itself publicly, multiple current and former US officials told NBC News that Trump had given Israel tacit approval and provided limited intelligence and other support, though he rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that the US and Israel have been “fully coordinated” on the attacks, with American pilots and air defense systems assisting in protecting Tel Aviv. The US has warned Iran not to target American personnel or assets in the region, as Iran claims Israel could not have carried out the attack without US assistance.

The Israeli attacks have dealt a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership and its nuclear program. The Israel Defense Forces reported killing at least nine Iranian nuclear scientists and experts, while Iran confirmed the deaths of its two top generals. Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated Monday there was no additional damage or change in radiation levels at key Iranian nuclear facilities like Natanz and Isfahan since Friday’s attacks.

However, Israel’s targeting extended beyond nuclear sites. An Israeli military official told NBC News that Iran’s estimated stockpile of 2,000 ballistic missiles with warheads is likely “significantly depleted.” An intelligence-led operation, reportedly aided by drones and clandestine agents, also targeted Tehran’s rocket launchers and leadership, disrupting its command and control structure.

Despite early tactical successes, an Israeli military official cautioned that the “job is not done,” citing Iran’s decades-long efforts to disperse and hide its nuclear program. While there were reports of explosions at the deeply buried Fordo enrichment facility, Iran suggested it had moved significant equipment, potentially putting its uranium beyond Israel’s reach.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hinted at broader goals, suggesting Sunday that regime change “could certainly be the result” due to the Iranian regime’s perceived weakness, and directly addressed the Iranian people to “stand up and let your voices be heard.”

However, the Iranian regime appears defiant. On Monday, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported the execution of a man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. President Pezeshkian vowed that “The enemy cannot remove us and the nation from the scene by beating, killing and assassinating… Because for every hero whose flag falls, there are hundreds of other heroes who will take up the flag.”