Hours after dozens of Israeli airstrikes struck various parts of Iran, the Iranian government retaliated by launching missiles into Israel, most targeting the capital, Tel Aviv.
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that it had detected dozens of missiles and intercepted many of them.
Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, with the BBC reporting plumes of smoke across Tel Aviv.
Iran first launched about 100 drones, possibly to test Israeli defences, before firing about 100 ballistic missiles.
Although many of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defence, and with US support, others struck various parts of Tel Aviv, with officials saying at least 40 people were injured, including some in critical condition.
Bloomberg reported that Israel’s military stated that “all of Israel” was “under fire” as a result of the missiles fired at the country.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iranian forces “carried out its crushing and precise response against dozens of targets, military centres and airbases,” Al Jazeera reports.
Apart from the drones and missiles, Iranian media also reported that Iran shot down two Israeli fighter jets, although that has yet to be independently verified.
Israel Attacks Iran, Hits Nuclear Program In Unprecedented Strikes
Dembele, Yamal Leads 2025 Ballon d’Or Race + FULL LIST
Passenger Who Survived Plane Crash that Killed 241 Speaks + PHOTO
Israel attacked Tehran earlier in the day, after the US-Iran talks on nuclear development stalled and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors censured the country for the first time in two decades over its lack of cooperation with inspectors.
Multiple reports from Iran indicated that loud explosions were heard in various parts of Iran.
Confirming the attack, the Israeli military officials stated that the Israeli Air Force targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites. Images circulating in the media showed that the airstrikes also destroyed buildings in residential areas.
Israeli strikes targeted nuclear facilities and missile sites in Iran. It also killed three military commanders, including the Chief Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Hossein Salami and six nuclear scientists. Dozens of Iranians are believed to have been killed in the attacks.
Following the Israeli attacks, which Israel has vowed to continue, the Iranian government vowed to launch a swift and forceful retaliation.
The Iranian spokesperson for the Armed Forces’ General Staff, Abolfazl Shekarchi, said both the US and Israel will pay a “heavy price” for the “deadly airstrikes” against the country. However, the US has said it was not involved in the attacks.
Mr Shekarchi declared that Israel “will pay a heavy price and should await a strong response from the Iranian armed forces.”
Credit: Premium Times
