The Middle East has been plunged into its most explosive crisis in decades, as Iran launched a massive retaliatory missile barrage on Tel Aviv late Friday following Israel’s unprecedented airstrikes on Iranian soil. Explosions rocked both capitals, prompting fears of a full-scale regional war.
In a chilling warning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the strikes on Iran were “just the beginning” and promised more was on the way. “They don’t know what hit them nor what will,” he said, vowing to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions once and for all.
The latest exchange began after Israel launched a massive aerial assault on Iran early Friday, targeting over 100 sites, including nuclear facilities and military command centers. Iran responded with up to 100 missiles aimed at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. While most were intercepted by Israel’s advanced defense systems, several missiles breached the Iron Dome, leaving destruction in their wake.
In Tel Aviv, sirens blared just after 9pm. Within minutes, residents witnessed missile intercepts overhead, followed by the terrifying thud of direct hits. One Iranian warhead struck a residential high-rise, blowing out windows and tearing apart part of the building’s structure. Thick plumes of smoke choked the skyline as debris and shrapnel rained onto the streets below.
Israeli authorities reported at least 34 injuries and one fatality. Firefighters were seen sifting through rubble and burning cars, with local TV broadcasting images of the devastation.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had vowed retribution during a national address, warning that the attacks on Iran’s territory would “open the gates of hell” and bring Israel to ruin. Newly appointed Revolutionary Guard chief Mohammad Pakpour echoed those words, following the assassination of his predecessor in Israel’s strikes.
Iran’s Mehrabad airport in Tehran, which houses a military airbase, was reportedly struck by two projectiles, igniting fires and forcing emergency shutdowns.
The Israeli attacks codenamed Operation Rising Lion were aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and decapitating its military leadership. According to Israeli sources, the pre-dawn strikes killed IRGC chief Hossein Salami, Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and Khatam al-Anbia commander Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid. Six top nuclear scientists, including former Atomic Energy Organization head Fereydoun Abbasi, were also among the dead.
Israel also claimed to have destroyed the surface-level uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi confirmed the destruction of the site but reported no change in radiation levels. Investigations were ongoing into attacks on Fordow and Isfahan facilities.
In a late-night statement, Netanyahu announced that the IDF had dismantled a large portion of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and eliminated top nuclear personnel. “This regime has never been weaker,” he said.
Iran’s envoy to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the Security Council that 78 Iranians had been killed, including civilians, and accused the US of being complicit in the strikes. “Washington is responsible,” he declared, condemning the use of American intelligence and logistical support.
The US response has been ambiguous. While President Donald Trump had publicly called for diplomacy ahead of scheduled US-Iran nuclear talks, he later praised the Israeli assault. “They got hit very hard. And there’s more to come,” Trump said, revealing that he had given Tehran a 60-day warning which had now expired.
A source told ABC News that the US had provided “exquisite” intelligence to Israel and stood ready to assist in defense. However, critics allege the US played both sides, trying to catch Iranian leadership off guard.
Reports also suggest Mossad agents were active inside Iran before and during the attacks. Grainy footage released by Israeli intelligence purportedly shows Mossad operatives targeting Iranian missile silos and radar systems. One video appears to capture a direct hit on a long-range missile.
Tehran residents described a night of chaos and fear. “The windows shook, people screamed. We thought it was an earthquake,” said Golnar, a resident in northern Tehran. “It happened so fast. There was no warning.” Another citizen, Ahmad Moadi, said, “We must retaliate enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted that Iran had crossed “red lines” by targeting civilian areas. However, Iranian officials pointed out that Israel’s initial strikes had themselves hit residential districts in cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz.
The war that has loomed for years is now unfolding in real time, with many asking how far it will go and whether the US will become directly involved. For now, both nations remain locked in a cycle of escalation with no clear exit—and the world watches anxiously as the conflict deepens.
