IRAN: Iran unleashed a significant barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Israel on Friday, retaliating after an unprecedented Israeli air assault struck deep into the Islamic republic’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Air raid sirens wailed and powerful explosions rattled multiple Israeli cities as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, warning that this may be just the beginning of “several waves of Iranian attacks.” Amid the chaos, plumes of smoke rose over Tel Aviv’s downtown skyline, signaling the severity of the counter-strikes carried out by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard, who confirmed hitting dozens of targets across Israel.
The strikes came on the heels of Israel’s extensive bombing campaign that officials claim decimated much of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ air force command and destroyed approximately 200 strategic sites, including nuclear research centers. This exchange marks one of the most direct and forceful confrontations between the two long-standing adversaries in recent years, pushing the region closer to a wider conflict. Emergency services reported multiple casualties and confirmed that several people were trapped inside a high-rise in central Israel, highlighting the human toll of this rapidly spiraling conflict.
Amid the intensifying violence, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation, vowing that the Islamic republic would not rest until Israel faces total ruin. In a stern televised speech, Khamenei rallied the armed forces and called upon the Iranian people to stand united in what he described as a sacred struggle against a “malevolent enemy.” His remarks reflected a hardened stance that leaves little room for diplomatic maneuver, suggesting that Tehran is prepared for sustained military engagement despite the risk of broader regional destabilization.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump weighed in on the crisis, urging Iran to reconsider its nuclear ambitions and negotiate an agreement to avoid harsher consequences. Warning of “even more brutal” military responses if Iran continues its defiance, Trump’s statement underscored the international ramifications of the conflict. The sudden escalation has alarmed world powers, raising fears of a protracted confrontation that could ignite multiple flashpoints across the Middle East, disrupt global energy markets, and test fragile alliances already strained by years of geopolitical rivalries.
