Iran launched a large-scale missile barrage on Israel late Friday, triggering air raid sirens across the country and marking a dramatic escalation in a conflict that now threatens to spiral into a full-scale regional war.
The assault was in retaliation for deadly Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and the killing of top military commanders, a move that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed would not go unpunished.
“The armed forces of the Islamic republic will inflict heavy blows upon this malevolent enemy,” Khamenei said as he vowed revenge in a televised address, adding, “the consequences of the Israeli attack will bring it to ruin,” as reported by AFP.
Israel's military confirmed dozens of missiles had been launched by Iran, with explosions heard across cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF), many were intercepted mid-air, while others made impact, prompting authorities to urge citizens to take shelter. “The attack is ongoing,” said the IDF in a statement, noting that the “explosions you are hearing are from interceptions or fallen projectiles.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the retaliatory strikes, stating it had targeted “dozens of military positions” inside Israel. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency further claimed its forces shot down two Israeli fighter jets during a retaliatory Israeli air raid, though this has not been independently confirmed.
The violence erupted after Israel launched one of its most significant military operations in decades, striking Iranian nuclear and military sites early Friday.
About 200 Israeli aircraft and a network of pre-positioned explosive drones were used to hit nearly 100 high-value targets, including Iran’s key uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, a smaller facility in Fordo, and a nuclear research centre in Isfahan.
Israel’s military also said that its attack killed several senior Iranian figures, including Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and missile chief Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh—deaths later confirmed by Iranian officials. “This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who added that the operation had been “months in the making.”
Iran dubbed its counterattack “Severe Punishment” and said it had fired hundreds of ballistic missiles. IRNA reported the attack came directly in response to what Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described at the United Nations as “state terrorism.” In a letter to the UN Security Council, Araghchi said, “Israel will come to deeply regret this reckless aggression.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Natanz facility had been hit and stated it was closely monitoring for any radiation leaks.
On the ground, the impact of the conflict was immediate. Residents in Israel rushed to supermarkets to stock up on essentials, while public spaces in major cities remained eerily deserted.
The IDF began calling up reservists and positioning troops across all combat zones, preparing for potential attacks from Iran-backed proxies like Hezbollah, which has so far held back from direct involvement.
According to AP, the US had cautioned Israel earlier in the week against launching strikes that could derail sensitive nuclear negotiations with Iran.
However, Washington was informed of Israel’s plans in advance. US forces in the region were placed on high alert and some diplomatic staff in Baghdad were pulled out earlier in the week.
US President Donald Trump weighed in Friday, urging Iran to negotiate. “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,” he warned on Truth Social.
Khamenei, addressing the Iranian public as missiles were still flying toward Israel, accused the Israeli government of “striking residential centres” and promised that Tehran would not allow it to “escape safely from this great crime.”
As global leaders urge restraint and the UN Security Council prepares for an emergency meeting, the shadow war between Israel and Iran has erupted into open confrontation, one that could engulf the entire Middle East in conflict.