Greg Myrie

Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, says that in addition to those killed and seriously wounded, others sustained minor shrapnel injuries.

The brief statement did not provide details.

However, the reference to shrapnel wounds suggests the casualties were caused by the missiles or drones that Iran is firing at U.S.

forces in the region on land and at sea.

U.S.

and Israeli airstrikes last June and in the current air campaign have significantly weakened Iran's military.

but it still has the ability to carry out deadly attacks.

In another lethal Iranian strike, a missile hit a civilian area near Tel Aviv on Sunday, killing at least nine people.

Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.

Israel's military says it launched this new wave of large-scale attacks.

And we've heard these explosions ringing out in Tehran.

Israel says the goal is to establish air superiority.

And really one of the most striking elements in this U.S.-Israel bombing campaign, both last June and again this time, has been how quickly they've crippled Iran's air defenses.

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Hi, Mary Louise.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's the real distinctive thing here.

And they're always looking, the Israelis, when they do this, always looking for a way to catch people off guard.

And it seems that Saturday is the first day of the work week in Iran.

So, in effect, it was a Monday morning there.

And so instead of doing this at night like they might normally do, they did it on the equivalent of a Monday morning.