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.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with

Several people were killed when Iran fired a barrage of projectiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel's surprise attack on its foe’s nuclear facilities and military leadership. Follow along for live updates,

The strikes came after the Israeli military said it had carried out fresh strikes on Iran nuclear infrastructure sites.

The Israeli attack, which comes amid an unprecedented exchange of strikes between Israel and Ansar Allah's Axis of Resistance coalition ally, Iran, was reported by a number of Israeli outlets as well as Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath network.

Israel’s attack on Iran was long in the making – the result of years of meticulous planning by Israel and days of high-stakes talks between Tel Aviv and Washington, officials told CNN.

The head of the United Nations atomic agency, Rafael Grossi, said Iran told the agency that Israel attacked the Fordow enrichment plant on Friday, meaning Israel struck the three core sites of Iran's nuclear program.

Israel has conducted roughly 150 strikes on Iran over two days, while Iranian forces have fired roughly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory in addition to scores of drones, according to an Israeli military official.