TEHRAN/TEL AVIV – In a sharp escalation of regional tensions, Iran launched its fifth wave of retaliatory missile strikes against Israel, killing at least four people and injuring more than 90, according to official reports.
The operation, identified by Iranian officials as the “True Promise 3” phase, involved a heavy barrage of ballistic and hypersonic missiles targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. Air raid sirens were heard across major urban centers, with civilians urged to seek shelter.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that multiple layers of air defence, including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, were activated. Despite the interceptions, several projectiles breached the defences and caused damage to critical infrastructure.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency, citing Israeli sources, reported that a 50-storey building in Tel Aviv sustained significant damage. It also claimed that dozens of missiles and drones penetrated Israel’s airspace. “No part of Israel will be safe,” Iranian authorities warned.
The missile salvos reportedly began late Thursday and continued into Friday morning. “At this stage, four fatalities have been confirmed, and more than 90 people have been injured. Property damage is extensive,” said an Israeli police spokesperson.
According to AFP and Al Jazeera, the victims include a woman, while several others remain in critical condition. Medical responders in Tel Aviv stated that seven people suffered minor injuries. The Israeli government has since banned the release of any video or images showing destruction from the attacks.
State-run Tasnim News Agency in Iran claimed two Israeli fighter jets were shot down and that a female pilot was captured. However, these claims remain unverified, with no comment from the IDF.
The missile attacks come in direct response to Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian soil, which killed several senior military officials. Those confirmed dead included Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, and IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami, along with six nuclear scientists. Iranian sources reported that 78 civilians also lost their lives in the Israeli assault.
Iran described the Israeli operation as “the largest coordinated strike on Iranian soil in recent history.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared, “Israel had sealed its bitter and painful fate” with the attack.
The situation has raised international alarm, with fears of a broader conflict. “In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the state of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted,” said an Israeli military spokesman.
Meanwhile, Iran’s IRNA reported that hundreds of missiles were launched in response to Israel’s offensive, which included strikes on the Natanz nuclear facility.
Public events have been suspended in Israel amid heightened alert levels. In Iran, state TV broadcast footage of military mobilizations across key regions. Despite the ongoing crisis, there has been no official response from the United States or the United Nations as of this report.
As both nations brace for further escalation, calls for immediate diplomatic intervention are growing louder to prevent a full-scale regional war.