Tel Aviv: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the army to intensify its strikes on key government targets in Tehran. In a statement following a security assessment meeting, Katz said he instructed the army to escalate attacks on "symbols of the regime," including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force.

According to Anadolu Agency, Katz emphasized the need to target all symbols of government and mechanisms of repression, as well as scientists and facilities linked to Iran's nuclear program. He stated that the move is intended to "destabilize the regime and deter further missile fire on the Israeli home front."

The recent hostilities began last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities. This action prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes. Israeli authorities have reported that at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks since the conflict began.

In Iran, media reports indicate that 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded as a result of the Israeli assault.