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.

The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists reported a far higher death toll in Iran from Israeli strikes, saying the attacks have killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654. In recent crises, Iran routinely has undercounted casualties, including in the 2022 mass demonstrations over mandatory hijab laws after the death of Mahsa Amini.

Israel's attack on Iran raises questions like whether the US will get involved, how Iran will respond, and if a wider conflict may be triggered.

Auburn University‘s men’s basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, is strongly condemning those who do not support Israel’s strikes on Iran. Early Friday morning, Israel launched a wave of strikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military command personnel claiming it was to neuter Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. It has several facilities around Iran, at least some of which have been targeted in the Israeli strikes.