Iran has launched a wave of ballistic missile attacks on Israel in retaliation for what it calls a “criminal” Israel strike that killed several high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.
Explosions rocked central Tel Aviv on Friday night, with eyewitnesses reporting thick plumes of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in Jerusalem, amid the incoming barrage.
Initial reports indicate that one of the missiles struck near the Israeli Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed ongoing military operations against Iranian targets, including strikes on Revolutionary Guard bases, nuclear research facilities, and major cities across Iran.
The IDF accused Iran of orchestrating a direct attack on Israeli territory and vowed to maintain military pressure “until the threat is neutralized.”
The Iranian response came hours after the IDF confirmed the assassination of Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside several senior officials in what Iran has described as a “targeted aerial assault” on Iranian soil.
In addition to military casualties, six top nuclear scientists were reportedly killed. Israel Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has just posted a stern warning on X, a declaring that Iran “must expect severe punishment” for what he termed an act of war. “The Zionist regime has committed a grave crime by shedding the blood of our heroes and scientists,” Khamenei said. “We will inflict heavy blows in return.”In Washington, U.S.
President Donald Trump urged Iran to halt its missile campaign and return to negotiations over its nuclear program, saying “it’s not too late” for diplomacy. However, he warned that continued aggression would result in “even more brutal” retaliatory action from Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the United States was not involved in the Israeli strikes and called on Tehran to avoid targeting American bases in the region. “Let me be clear: The United States did not take part in these attacks,” Rubio stated. “Any attempt to threaten or harm U.S. personnel or facilities will be met with decisive force.”
Despite calls for de-escalation from international leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that the military campaign would continue. “We will act with full force to defend our citizens and ensure that those who seek our destruction are held accountable,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
Military analysts say Israel has taken a calculated but high-risk gamble in striking Iran so directly. As of late Friday, Israeli hospitals were on high alert, and emergency services in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were responding to several sites affected by the missile strikes.
The full extent of the damage and casualties remains unclear.With both nations exchanging direct military blows, regional observers warn that the conflict risks spiraling into a broader war with global implications.
UN officials have called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of diplomatic channels to avert further bloodshed.
