The Israeli military launched a massive attack on Iran on Friday in a dramatic escalation of their long-running conflict that drew a retaliatory missile assault from Tehran and raised the risk of another war in the Middle East.
The Israeli strikes took out a significant swath of Iran's top military leaders and senior scientists, as Israel unleashed more than 200 fighter jets across roughly 100 targets. They were aimed at Iran’s main enrichment facility and targets associated with the country’s ballistic missile program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
In a firm response Friday evening local time, Iran launched missiles toward Israel, the nation’s defense forces said, prompting its highly sophisticated defense systems to "intercept the threat."
Heavy smoke appeared in the night sky over Tel Aviv as incoming rockets from Iran descended on the city, with many intercepted by Israel’s missile defense systems. Before the retaliatory attack began, the Israel Defense Forces directed residents across the country to remain close to protected spaces, minimize movement in public areas and avoid public gatherings.
Police officers and bomb disposal experts responded to reports of fallen projectile debris, according to the Israeli Police, which advised people to report “suspicious findings” to an emergency hotline.
Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom, said it was providing medical treatment to 34 injured people following a rocket strike in Israel's central region.
The Israeli paramedic organization also said it was providing treatment and evacuating at least 21 people after a strike south of Tel Aviv.
Iran later launched a fresh wave of missiles in the early hours of Saturday morning local time, Israel Defense Forces said.
A Tel Aviv hospital treated seven people with injuries following the early morning attack, The Associated Press reported.
Israel's strikes have killed 78 people so far, including senior military officials, and injured 320 people, according to Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Ali Bahreini. Residential buildings were among the structures damaged in Tehran.
Loud explosions in Iran were heard in the northern part of the capital on Friday night, while state media reported attacks in Qom, located south of Tehran and a holy city for Shia Muslims. Fars reported on X that explosions could be heard in the area of the heavily fortified nuclear site of Fordow, which is located deep underground near Qom.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly vowed retaliation, telling his nation in a televised address Friday evening local time that Israel would be punished.
