WAR: Iran Retaliates, Launches Massive Missile Attack on Israel
Air raid sirens echoed across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday night as missiles fired from Iran triggered loud explosions over Israeli skies. The dramatic escalation comes as Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles in response to Israel’s most extensive military assault on Iranian territory, which included strikes on critical nuclear infrastructure and the assassination of top military commanders.
Iran’s state media reported that “hundreds” of ballistic missiles targeted Israel, following what it described as unprovoked Israeli attacks on its Natanz underground nuclear facility and the killing of several high-ranking officials, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the launch of “Operation Rising Lion,” aimed at dismantling Iran’s strategic military assets, particularly its missile and drone launch sites. Israel claimed to have struck additional targets in Isfahan, home to another nuclear facility. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, declared the offensive essential for the nation’s survival, comparing the threat from Iran to the Holocaust and warning the campaign would continue until the danger was eliminated.
“In the face of annihilation, we act,” Netanyahu said. “History will remember that we rose to the occasion to defend our future.”
Meanwhile, Iranian air defenses were activated in major cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and near the holy city of Qom, as reports of fresh explosions surfaced. Footage from Iranian media showed devastated apartment blocks, claiming nearly 80 civilian deaths and over 300 injuries.
The unprecedented Israeli strikes also decimated Iran’s military leadership, with at least 20 commanders killed in what regional observers described as a “decapitation strike.” Iran confirmed the deaths of six of its top nuclear scientists. Major General Mohammad Pakpour, newly appointed head of the Revolutionary Guards, vowed revenge, declaring: “The gates of hell will open to the child-killing regime.”
Tensions spiked further as the United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at Iran’s request. Tehran condemned the Israeli attacks as “cowardly” and warned of further retaliation.
Read Also:
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to Reuters, revealed prior knowledge of the Israeli plans and urged Iran to stop its bombardment, suggesting that a nuclear deal was still possible. “They can still work out a deal,” Trump said. “It’s not too late.”
Trump also stated that scheduled nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran for Sunday might still go ahead, though their status remains uncertain.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump added: “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Israeli security sources disclosed that Mossad operatives had carried out covert missions within Iran ahead of the strikes, targeting critical components of Iran’s missile infrastructure. Israel also reportedly established a drone operations base near Tehran to support the offensive.
Despite the intensifying conflict, Iran denied Israeli claims that it had launched over 100 drones at Israeli territory, and no confirmed drone impacts have been reported.
The broader regional implications remain unclear. Oil prices surged amid fears of expanded hostilities across the Middle East, although there were no reports of direct damage to oil facilities. OPEC has yet to adjust production in response.
Elsewhere, a missile believed to have originated from Yemen — fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels — struck Hebron in the West Bank, injuring three Palestinian children, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The sudden turn of events has plunged Iran into chaos, with widespread fear among civilians. Residents in Tehran and Qom described panic as explosions lit up the night sky and people scrambled to withdraw cash or find routes out of the country.
While some Iranians expressed quiet hope for political change, others pledged loyalty to the regime and its nuclear ambitions. “We will die for our right to nuclear power,” said Ali, a Basij militia member in Qom.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog recently reported that Iran remains in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Israeli government argues that the military strikes are intended to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
With diplomatic solutions hanging in the balance and the possibility of wider war looming, global leaders now face a critical test in de-escalating a conflict that has already shaken the Middle East to its core.
By PRNigeria
