Israel-Iran crisis: Tehran launches fresh wave of attacks at Israel; 3rd retaliation in 24 hours

Iran launched a new wave of attacks on Israel early Saturday, according to state media, shortly after Israel’s military reported detecting incoming missiles from Iranian territory.

"New round of Honest Promise 3 attacks," state television reported, referring to the name of the Iranian military operation against Israel, following deadly Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic, reported news agency AFP.

The latest attacks followed hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged retaliation for Israel’s strikes on the nation’s nuclear and military facilities, despite Tehran having already unleashed a deadly overnight missile barrage on Israel.

In a recorded address to Iranians, Khamenei said: "We will not permit them to evade consequences for this significant wrongdoing they have perpetrated".

Assuring that Iran's military was ready to respond, Khamenei said, "Do not assume that they attacked and it's finished. No, they initiated the actions and began the conflict".

Tensions in the Middle East spiralled overnight as Iran fired missile strikes toward Israel late on Friday and into early Saturday. The attacks came in retaliation for the Operation "Rising Lion".

The confrontation was triggered by what Israeli officials described as the nation’s "greatest military operations in history" against Iran. On Thursday night, Israel launched a massive, carefully coordinated offensive using warplanes and drones, some of which were reportedly pre-positioned inside Iran.

The strikes penetrated deep into Iranian territory, hitting crucial sites including nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and key command hubs. Several high-ranking Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists were also killed in the operation.

In the aftermath, Iran retaliated by launching a volley of ballistic missiles aimed at the heart of Tel Aviv, after its military issued a chilling warning that "everyone will feel it."

Late Friday, Iran fired a fresh wave of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israeli cities. Loud explosions rocked Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as air raid sirens wailed, with Israeli authorities urging residents to find shelter immediately.

Buildings trembled as near-simultaneous blasts echoed across the cities, some of which were believed to be the result of Israeli air defences intercepting incoming projectiles. Israel on Saturday said Iranian missile struck near homes in central Israel, injuring 10 people.