Iran
retaliated against
Israel
for its surprise attack with over 100 ballistic missiles, and has battered the Jewish state with three barrages so far. The United States has
jumped into the fight
to help Israel shoot down Iranian missiles while maintaining distance from Israel’s initial attack.
Just before 6:00am local time on Saturday, Iran began its third round of attacks against Israel. Explosions were heard in the skies above Jerusalem.
“An additional barrage of missiles was launched toward the State of Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. First responders said several people were injured.
The IDF additionally said the Israeli Air Force shot down three drones that were supposedly launched from Yemen.
Iran had begun a second attack just after 1:00 a.m. local time earlier in the day. Loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem minutes after the Israeli military warned that it had identified incoming missiles.
The Israeli military later
said
dozens of Iranian missiles were intercepted in a third missile barrage. Footage shows that civilian areas, such as downtown Tel Aviv, have been targeted in Iran’s strikes. Israel targeted military sites and personnel involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv said it has treated seven injured people, six of whom had light injuries and one with moderate injuries. One woman in Israel was killed after a weapon fragment fell on the ground, police said.
Iran’s United Nations envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Israel’s strikes on Iran killed at least 78 people, including senior military officials, and injured more than 320 people.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for Israel and Iran to halt the conflict.
“Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian missile strikes in Tel Aviv,” Guterres
wrote
on social media. “Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail.”
McCoy Pitt, the senior official in the U.S. State Department Bureau of International Organization Affairs, told an emergency meeting of the U.N.’s Security Council Friday that “the consequences for Iran would be dire.”
“Let me be crystal clear,” he said, “no government, proxy, or independent actor should target American citizens, American bases, or other American infrastructure in the region.”
Also at the meeting, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, called Israel’s attack on Iran “an act of national preservation.”
“It was one we undertook alone, not because we wanted to, but because we were left no other option,” Danon said, adding, “The plan was not aspirational. It was operational, and it was nearing execution.”
An Iranian official
told
CNN that the country would target regional bases of countries that aid Israel in its attacks.
“Iran reserves the right — under international law — to respond decisively to this regime,” the official told the outlet.
“Any country that attempts to defend the regime against Iran’s operations will, in turn, see its regional bases and positions become new targets,” the official said.
Iranian state media additionally reported missiles in Tehran early around 2:00 a.m. local time. It noted a fire was burning at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. Two projectiles
reportedly
hit the area around the airport.
Earlier Friday, the Israel Defense Forces announced the expected retaliation, with Iranian state media showing footage purporting to be some of the launches. Damage has been reported in Tel Aviv.
The IDF said it identified missiles “launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. The defense systems are working to intercept the threat.” It warned residents to “enter the protected areas and remain there until further notice.”
An IDF press conference was cut short after the launches were detected.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a response in a televised address.
“Life will be dark for them,” he said. “They should not think they have attacked and it’s over.”
“They started it, they started a war,” Khamenei added. “We will not allow them to escape this big crime unharmed. Iran’s armed forces will definitely be striking hard.”
ISRAEL LAUNCHES MAJOR ATTACK ON IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM: WHAT TO KNOW
Israeli Channel 12 quoted a senior Israeli official warning against celebrations over the success of Israel’s initial attacks.
“Iranian missiles will get here, and it won’t take them long. The results will not be minor. That’s precisely why we need to use every moment to attack and not hold back. We won’t take our foot off the gas. We are preparing for a lengthy conflict. This is one of the most significant historic events since the establishment of the state,” the official said.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
