Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 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.

Israel says preemptive airstrikes against Iran's nuclear sites are underway, and it is bracing to intercept a wave of drones launched by Iran in retaliation.

Aerial attacks between Israel and Iran continued overnight into Sunday, marking a third day of strikes following Israel’s Friday attack. That surprise strike hit the heart of the Iran's nuclear program, killing several nuclear scientists as well as high-ranking military leaders, according to Israeli officials.

Iran has launched missiles at Israel again third day in a row. This comes soon after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran’s responses will be “more decisive and severe” if Israel continues its campaign.

The retaliatory strikes came on Saturday, a day after Israel killed top Iranian military leaders and scientists and destroyed an aboveground nuclear enrichment plant near Natanz.

The death toll is growing as Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks for a third consecutive day on Sunday, and Israel is warning that worse is to come. Israel targeted Iran’s Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran’s nuclear program,