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.

Throughout the day on Friday, Israel carried out wave upon wave of strikes on nuclear facilities and missile bases in Iran. The Natanz uranium enrichment site and the nuclear facility in Isfahan have been hit and top military leaders have been assassinated - as have nuclear scientists.

The death toll from Iranian strikes on Israel continue to rise overnight as Israel and Iran exchange more missile and drone strikes. Israel’s national emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) reported a “direct hit” on a residential building in the Palestinian-Israeli town of Tamra,

Iranian media reported that Israel struck the South Pars Gas Field in what would be the first attack on an Iranian energy site.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.

Iraq on Saturday called on the United States to prevent Israeli aircraft from breaching Iraqi airspace to carry out attacks against Iran, citing bilateral agreements and international law. "The Iraqi government urges the United States to uphold its responsibilities under the agreements signed between the two countries and prevent aircraft belonging to the Zionist entity from once again violating Iraqi airspace,