In a major escalation, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched fresh airstrikes on military targets in western Iran early Sunday, hours after Tehran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, injuring at least 16 civilians.
In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the retaliatory operation: “The IAF has begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Additionally, the IAF struck missile launchers prepared to attack Israeli territory and eliminated Iranian soldiers involved in the launch.”
According to Israeli state media TPS, missile strikes from Iran hit areas in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and central Israel, setting off multiple air raid sirens and sending civilians into bomb shelters. One missile struck Haifa without any warning sirens preceding the impact.
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, updated the toll of the missile attack to 16 injured, including one man in serious condition. Fifteen others suffered minor injuries from shrapnel and related incidents.
Responding to the attack, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein condemned Iran’s aggression: “The Iranian regime is firing ballistic missiles at civilian population centres in Israel.”
This latest exchange follows the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan overnight. According to CNN, the US deployed six B-2 bombers that dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs—on the Fordow site, Iran’s main uranium enrichment centre.
US President Donald Trump, in his first remarks after the strikes, warned Tehran of further consequences if diplomacy fails: “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we’ve witnessed over the last eight days,” he said from the White House.
Tensions in the region have soared since Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran responded with “Operation True Promise 3,” a missile and drone offensive aimed at Israeli strategic sites.
The situation remains highly volatile, with fears of a wider regional conflict mounting by the hour.