Missiles fired from Iran target Israel in major escalation

The Israeli military has reported that missiles have been launched from Iran toward Israel, escalating an already tense conflict in the region. Air raid sirens are sounding in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with civilians instructed to take shelter as rockets rain down.

According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on X (formerly Twitter), Israelis have been ordered into bomb shelters as the country braces for further attacks. The first wave of missiles was followed by a second round, with bright flashes of defensive interceptions lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and the sound of explosions echoing through the city.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for the missile barrage, saying it is in retaliation for the deaths of key leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, two of Iran’s primary regional proxies. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Abbas Nilforoushan were killed last week in Lebanon, while Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in Tehran in July.

Reports from Israeli Army Radio suggest that nearly 200 missiles have been launched from Iran, though it remains unclear how many have struck their intended targets. Most witnesses have described seeing missiles flying overhead, intercepted by Israel’s advanced missile defense systems.