About 150 missiles have been launched from Iran towards major Israeli cities in Tehran's first wave of retaliation, which came after the Israeli military's surgical strike that killed top Revolutionary Guard commanders and scientists advancing the country's nuclear program.
According to media in Israel, the IDF has already notified civilians that they can leave their shelters because the Iranian attack is over.
At least seven sites in and around Tel Aviv were hit by Iranian missile attacks on Israel this evening, an Israeli military official told The New York Times, without specifying the extent of the damage.
The Israeli Defense Minister, in his first reaction after Tehran's response, said that " Iran has crossed a red line by daring to launch missiles at civilian population centers in Israel . "
" We will continue to protect Israeli citizens and ensure that the ayatollahs' regime pays a very high price for its criminal actions ," Katz said.
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned of a retaliatory offensive against Israel through a post on the 'X' platform this evening, shortly before the missile attack that hit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem began.
" The Zionist regime has made a big mistake, a grave error, and committed a reckless act. With God's help, the consequences of this action will lead that regime to destruction. The Iranian nation will not allow the blood of its valuable martyrs to remain unavenged, and will not ignore the violation of our airspace ," Kahmenei said.
The Iranian leader further added that his country's Armed Forces are ready, and senior officials and the entire people are behind them.
“ Today, we must respond strongly to the evil, disgusting and terrorist Zionist identity. With God’s help, we will respond forcefully and show no mercy to them. Life will surely become bitter for the Zionists. The Zionist regime will not escape safely from this terrible crime it has committed. This much is certain: The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic will deal heavy blows against this evil Zionist enemy. The Iranian people are with us. They support the Armed Forces, and the Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime, God willing ,” Khamenei added.
Israel's attack last night caused the deaths of several senior Iranian commanders, including Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television claimed that a female Israeli Air Force pilot was captured after her fighter jet was shot down during the operation, but the Israel Defense Forces denied this.
Iran has also claimed that its air defense forces successfully shot down and destroyed two F-35 aircraft as well as a large number of small drones. (A2 Televizion)
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