Iran has launched a series of missile strikes on Israeli military targets in Tel Aviv, including the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in response to Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the killing of top military leaders.
The powerful barrage breached Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, resulting in explosions and damage across central Tel Aviv. At least one person was confirmed dead and over 60 others injured, several of them critically. Emergency teams are continuing rescue operations in the affected areas.
Earlier, the IDF had warned that its offensive against Iran could extend for two weeks, focusing on key Iranian nuclear and military installations.
In reaction, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “painful revenge,” promising “severe punishment” for Israel’s actions. Tehran also issued a stern warning to any country aiding Israel, stating that support for Tel Aviv would have consequences.
On Friday night, Iran followed through on its threat, launching ballistic missile attacks that killed at least three people and injured 91, according to Anadolu Agency. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting multiple sites in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
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These missile strikes came after an earlier, unprecedented Israeli assault on Iranian cities including Tehran, Natanz, Isfahan, and Shiraz. That attack killed at least 78 individuals, including senior IRGC commanders and prominent nuclear scientists, and wounded more than 320 others.
The United States, while aware of Israeli plans in advance, has publicly distanced itself from the strikes, urging Iran not to target American bases or assets in the region.
As tensions escalate, the region braces for further retaliation and potential conflict spillover, raising global concerns about wider instability in the Middle East.