OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: On Friday night, explosions were reported over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, triggering air raid sirens across Israel. The Israeli military attributed the incident to missile launches originating from Iran.
Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, stated that the missile barrage—comprising hundreds of ballistic missiles—was a direct response to what it described as Israel’s most extensive assault on Iranian territory to date. These Israeli strikes reportedly targeted the underground nuclear facility at Natanz and resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian military officials.
Initial reports did not confirm any casualties resulting from the missile attacks.
Israel subsequently announced the commencement of a military campaign dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.” In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of provoking the confrontation and declared that such actions amounted to the initiation of war.
U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to de-escalate the situation, emphasizing that diplomatic avenues—particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear program—remained open.
By the evening, Iranian media reported explosions on the outskirts of Tehran, both in the north and south, as well as near the Fordow nuclear facility close to the city of Qom. This site had remained untouched during the initial round of Israeli attacks. In anticipation of further strikes, Iran activated its air defence systems across multiple cities, including Isfahan, where explosions were also heard.
The Israeli military stated that it was actively targeting Iranian missile and drone launch infrastructure, and confirmed that it had also carried out strikes on a second nuclear facility in Isfahan.
In a national address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the ongoing military operation as a necessary response to what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran. He invoked historical parallels, citing the failure to prevent the Holocaust during World War II as a warning against inaction.
“This operation will persist for as long as required to neutralize the threat,” Netanyahu asserted. “History will record that our generation stood firm, acted with resolve, and ensured the security of our collective future.”
