Iran Retaliates, Hits Israel With Missiles After Killing Of Top Generals
Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday night in retaliation for Israel’s attack on its nuclear infrastructure and killing of top military heads.
Explosions were reported across Israel, including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as air raid sirens blared and civilians scrambled for shelter.
Israel’s military said the Islamic Republic fired under 100 missiles, most of which were intercepted or fell short. Iran’s state media, however, claimed the figure was in the hundreds.
AP reports that at least five people in the Tel Aviv area were treated for shrapnel wounds, while live footage showed a missile striking an urban neighborhood.
Authorities say a woman in critical condition was admitted to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
The U.S. military assisted in intercepting incoming Iranian missiles, two U.S. officials confirmed, showing America’s continued support for Israel amid fears of a broader regional conflict.
The strikes followed Israel’s aerial assault on Iran early Friday, which reportedly targeted key nuclear sites including the underground Natanz facility and killed dozens of senior Iranian military officials, among them top generals and nuclear scientists.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli strikes, accusing the Jewish state of initiating war.
“Nowhere in Israel is safe, the revenge will be painful.” a senior Iranian official warned.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, saying it was to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat.
“This operation will continue for as many days as necessary. Generations from now, history will record that we acted in time to secure our future,” he said in a televised address.
He appealed directly to the Iranian people, urging them to stand up to their leadership.
“I am with you. The Israeli people are with you,” he said.
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. However, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog declared this week that Iran was in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
U.S. President Donald Trump said diplomatic options were still on the table. “It’s not too late,” he told Reuters, adding that Iran could halt the Israeli campaign by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.
Talks between the Trump administration and Iran were scheduled for Sunday, although Trump admitted it was uncertain whether they would proceed.
“I tried to save Iran from humiliation and death. They can still work out a deal,” he said.
Trump also revealed that the U.S. had prior knowledge of Israel’s plans. “We knew everything,” he said.
Iranian media confirmed the deaths of at least 20 top commanders, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards leader Hossein Salami.
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour has since been named Salami’s replacement. In a message read on state television, he vowed fierce retaliation.
“The gates of hell will open to the child-killing regime,” he said.
Iran also confirmed the deaths of six senior nuclear scientists and nearly 80 civilians, with over 300 wounded. Reports showed widespread devastation across multiple Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran and Natanz.
Meanwhile, Iran’s ability to strike via regional proxies has repeatedly diminished. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza have both suffered devastating blows from Israel over the past year.
Additionally, the loss of Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad has further weakened Iran’s regional influence.
Iran Retaliates, Hits Israel With Missiles After Killing Of Top Generals is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
