Live: Iran holds funeral for top military, nuclear figures killed in Israeli strikes

Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi called on countries across the Arab and Muslim worlds to back Iran in its war with Israel for their own interests.

“Deterring the enemy and averting its impunity and bullying to impose its violations is an important issue that benefits everyone in the region,” he said.

Fires broke out at the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery and South Pars gas field in the Bushehr Province after Israeli strikes, according the Iranian Oil Ministry says

“Following this incident, with the rapid and timely presence of the oil industry operational forces, fire containment and control operations began and the fire was completely contained in the shortest possible time,” the ministry said in a statement, according to Tasnim news agency.

Iraq has approached the Iranian and US governments in a bid to prevent being caught up in a regional escalation, officials said Saturday, as Washington's ally Israel and Iran traded blows.

The government in Baghdad is a close ally of Tehran, but also a strategic partner of Iran's arch-foe the United States, which has some 2,500 troops in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition.

A senior Iraqi security official told AFP that Baghdad had asked Tehran not to strike US targets in its territory.

"The request was made. They promised us positive things," the official said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

An Iraqi government official, also requesting anonymity, said "Iraq officially asked the United States of America not to allow Israeli aircraft to violate Iraqi airspace".

Baghdad on Friday lodged a complaint with the United Nations over Israel's use of its airspace to attack Iran.

Israelis said the initial euphoria over the shock attacks on Iran has given way to fear, after Iranian missiles slammed into central Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel, causing widespread destruction and killing at least three people.

Bright orange flashes illuminated the sky over Tel Aviv early on Saturday as Israeli air defence systems appeared to down some of the incoming missiles.

Still, fires and plumes of smoke could be seen in several areas of Tel Aviv, while explosions were also reported in Jerusalem.

Images and videos verified by Middle East Eye showed apartment blocks in Tel Aviv's suburbs and the nearby city of Ramat Gan almost completely destroyed and the wreckage of several vehicles among the debris.

Emergency services reported early on Saturday that at least three people were killed across Israel and more than 40 were injured.

Read more: Israel: Euphoria gives way to fear after Iranian missiles rain down on Tel Aviv

Iranian media reported a "massive explosion" on Saturday following an Israeli drone strike on the South Pars refinery in the southern port city of Kangan.

"An hour ago, an Israeli drone hit one of the South Pars Phase 14 refineries, causing a massive explosion and fire in the refinery," the Tasnim News Agency reported.

The Fars News Agency said firefighters were working to extinguish a blaze that had erupted as a result of the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will launch stronger attacks on Iran in the upcoming days. 

"We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days," Netanyahu said in a video message. 

The prime minister claimed that the overnight assault has already set Iran's nuclear program back, possibly by years, adding that the Israeli military was tearing down Iran's ballistic missile manufcaturing capabilities.

The Governor of Iran’s northeast province of East Azerbaijan indicated that 30 soldiers and one Red Crescent member have been killed since Israel's first wave of overnight attacks on the Islamic Republic.

Azerbaijan will not allow its airspace or territory to be utilised for launching attacks on Iran or any other country, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said in a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.

Bayramov offered condolences over the killings as a result of Israel's overnight assault, expressing solidarity with the Islamic Republic and condemning Israel's aggresion.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that continuing indirect negotiations with US amid Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic is "unjustifiable."

He indicated, in a phone call with the Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, that the latest Israeli assault was a result of US support. 

"Iran has given a decisive response to the Zionist regime's aggressions to protect its national sovereignty, people, and security, and is resolved to use its legitimate right to take countermeasures," he said.

The Israeli army said it has killed more than 20 Iranian military leaders in its initial attack on the Islamic Republic. 

Meanwhile, the Iranian Hamadan Province Police Chief announced that the head of the Public Security Police and another officer were killed in a drone attack in Asadabad.

An Israeli drone has been shot down near Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz, the Islamic republic announced. 

Amid Israeli strikes on Iran, the head of the crisis management department for Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, Majid Farshi, said an Israeli drone was detected and shot down in Tabriz. 

The pilot was reported to have been ejected from the jet, however, his current whereabouts are unknown.

The Iranian Ministry of Health announced that its crews are providing medical treatment to more than 800 wounded people across the country following Israeli attacks. 

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a China-led regional alliance of ten member states, has sharply criticised Israel’s military offensive on Iran, raising alarm over the growing instability in the Middle East.

In a statement issued by the group, the SCO said Israeli air raids targeted civilian and nuclear infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties.

"This seriously violated the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter, undermined Iran's sovereignty, undermined regional and international security, and had a serious impact on global peace and stability," the SCO warned.

The group said it "strongly condemns" the strikes and called for restraint to prevent further escalation.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy says he is “alarmed” by the escalation in violence between Israel and Iran following a wave of overnight strikes.

“Alarmed by further strikes in the Middle East overnight, with reports of fatalities and injuries in Israel. We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians,” Lammy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added that he had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to “urge calm” amid fears the confrontation could spiral further.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency says three members of the elite Revolutionary Guard have been killed in Israeli air raids targeting Zanjan province in the country’s northwest.

The mountainous region came under fire as Israel expanded its military campaign across Iran, following earlier strikes on air defence systems in the Tehran area.