Iran has unleashed a fresh wave of attacks on Israel, launching a barrage of missiles and drones in direct retaliation to Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” offensive. The Israeli military confirmed it has identified incoming projectiles from Iran, with defense systems actively working to intercept them as sirens blare across the nation.
“All of Israel is under fire as Iran fires projectiles,” declared the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), instructing the public to seek immediate shelter.
This dramatic escalation plunges the Middle East deeper into conflict, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning Israel of “severe punishment” for attacking Iranian military and nuclear sites.
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The Iranian assault comes hot on the heels of Israel’s large-scale offensive, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated was aimed at “roll[ing] back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival” and dismantling Iran’s nuclear weaponization program.
This is a developing story.
The dramatic escalation follows weeks of heightened rhetoric and alleged covert operations between the two long-standing adversaries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, declared the operation’s objective is to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” He vowed the offensive “will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” asserting that Iran has “brazenly, openly, called for Israel’s destruction” and accelerated its production of “uranium for nine atom bombs,” taking “steps to weaponize this enriched uranium.”
Netanyahu stated that the “first stage” of Operation Rising Lion involved dozens of Israeli Air Force jets striking at “the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program,” specifically targeting the main enrichment facility in Natanz. He also accused Iran of pursuing a “new plan to destroy Israel” by attempting to “encircle Israel with a ring of fire” through its proxies, drawing a parallel to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Reports indicate that the Israeli strikes also targeted Iranian military leadership, with several top-level military commanders and six nuclear scientists reportedly killed.
READ: Iran Vows “Severe Punishment” Against Israel After Launch Of “Operation Rising Lion”
In a swift and furious response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel that it “must expect severe punishment” following what he termed the “crime” of attacking Iran. Shortly after the Israeli strikes, the Israeli military reported that Iran launched approximately 100 drones, with the army actively working to intercept them. Israeli media later indicated that all Iranian drones targeting Israel were intercepted, suggesting that Israeli pre-emptive strikes on Iranian ballistic missile launchers may have hampered Iran’s immediate retaliatory capabilities.
The full extent of the damage from both the Israeli strikes and the Iranian drone attack remains unclear, as do any potential casualties.
International reactions have been swift and varied. United States President Trump publicly praised the Israeli attacks as “excellent,” stating that Iran still has time to make a deal over its nuclear program before “there is nothing left” of the country. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while not condemning the Israeli actions, emphasized that the US is “not involved” in the strikes and issued a stern warning to Iran against attacking American bases in the region. Other international bodies, including the UN and the EU, have urged de-escalation and restraint.
READ: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Pledges Relentless Bombing Until Iran Threat Vanishes
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address painted a grim picture of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, warning that “if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year.” He reiterated that Israel “will not let the world’s most dangerous regime get the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
In a notable shift, Netanyahu also directly addressed the Iranian people, stating, “Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe that the day of your liberation is near.” He expressed hope that “when that happens, the great friendship between our two ancient peoples will flourish once again.”
The Prime Minister concluded his address by linking Israel and America, stating that Iran refers to Israel as “the small Satan” and America as “the great Satan,” leading to chants of “death to Israel and death to America.” He declared, “Today, Israel is responding to those genocidal calls with action and with a call of our own. Long live Israel, and long live America. Our action will help make the world a much safer place.”
As missiles continue to be intercepted over Israel, the world watches with bated breath, fearing a full-scale regional conflict. The repercussions of “Operation Rising Lion” and Iran’s retaliation are expected to reverberate across the Middle East and beyond for days to come.
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