The Israel Defense Forces said the air force had launched strikes against missile sites in central Iran, as the Middle East conflict entered a fourth day.

Hundreds of civilians, mostly in Iran, have been killed by dueling airstrikes despite international pleas for de-escalation.

By Alexander Cornwell, Parisa Hafezi and Jeff Mason TEL AVIV/DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa in an early morning raid on Monday, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week's G7 meeting that the battle between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.

In a small, tight-knit town near Haifa in northern Israel, residents here never thought they would experience such horror.

President Trump rejected an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a senior U.S. official told USA TODAY.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday confirmed Israel killed its intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi. In a Fox News interview, Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said his country had killed Kazemi as part of a broader campaign targeting Iran's nuclear and military capability.

BCA Research' Matt Gertken expects Iran to act in a restrained manner for the time being to protect its nuclear program; but warns Hormuz risks remain as Tehran might escalate if it finds that U.S. forces have become directly involved.