A missile strike near the American diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv caused limited structural damage on Monday, though no American personnel were harmed, according to a statement by US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
The incident occurred amid a sharp escalation between Iran and Israel, following an Israeli offensive targeting deep Iranian military zones. In retaliation, Iran launched dozens of missiles towards major Israeli cities in the early hours of Monday, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Photos captured by AFP showed the aftermath of the assault in Tel Aviv, where buildings were left severely damaged. Israel’s military had issued emergency alerts urging residents to seek shelter as the missiles approached.
Posting on the social media platform X, Ambassador Huckabee confirmed that while the embassy’s Tel Aviv branch experienced mild shockwave damage from nearby impacts, no injuries were reported among the staff.
The primary US embassy in Jerusalem remained shut on Monday, with a stay-at-home directive still in place for American diplomats and personnel due to ongoing security concerns.
The latest confrontation, following years of indirect warfare and simmering hostility between the two nations, now marks one of the most intense periods of direct aggression. Israel has claimed responsibility for targeting key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, stating that several high-ranking figures, including scientists, were among the casualties.
Amid these developments, a high-level US source revealed that President Donald Trump had recently intervened to dissuade Israel from going forward with a lethal operation against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While Trump publicly encouraged dialogue, telling reporters on Sunday that both nations should work towards a peaceful resolution, he acknowledged that “sometimes conflict must play out” before diplomacy can begin.
