Iran launches fresh counter-strikes on Israel, 3 dead

Three people have been killed in Iran's strikes across central Israel with dozens of people injured, the BBC reported citing Israel's national emergency service. 

On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed the chief of Iran's armed forces intelligence unit.

This comes after Israel attacked Iran early on Friday, hitting nuclear facilities, military sites and populated areas. Iran has responded with drones and ballistic missiles.

Explosions rocked major Israeli cities early on Monday, including Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa, where around 30 people were injured. Overall, 74 people were injured in Israel in the latest Iranian strike, according to local media.

Israel earlier said that 14 people have been killed in the country since Friday.

At least 224 Iranians have been killed in Israeli strikes since hostilities began on Friday, with 90% of casualties reportedly civilians, the BBC reported citing Iran's health ministry.

US President Donald Trump has said he hopes Israel and Iran can reach a deal, but that sometimes countries have to "fight it out". US media reported that Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel launched what it calls Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities in the early hours of Friday, calling it a preemptive strike designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran has denied plans to develop such weapons. Tehran retaliated by launching counterstrikes on Israel.

Iran has accused the US of complicity in the Israeli attack but Washington has denied any involvement, although admitted having knowledge of the Israeli plan beforehand.