Dozens dead, cities shaken, and fears of a broader war grow as missile fire rattles Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Jerusalem and Tehran – Explosions shook both Tehran and Tel Aviv overnight as Iran and Israel exchanged heavy missile fire in their most direct and deadly confrontation in years, killing scores on both sides and stoking fears of a wider regional war.
The tit-for-tat strikes followed an Israeli air assault on Friday that killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Iran’s response came swiftly and with force.
By Saturday morning, at least 80 people in Iran, including women and children, had been killed. In Israel, four deaths and more than 200 injuries were reported, many from missile strikes that evaded the country’s famed Iron Dome defence system.
“They started this war. We won’t let them escape the consequences,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared in a nationally televised address.
In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz offered a blunt warning:
“If Khamenei continues to target Israeli civilians, Tehran will burn.”
Missiles Over Cities
Air raid sirens howled through the night in both capitals. In Tel Aviv, missiles struck high-rise buildings and sent families fleeing to bomb shelters. Nine apartment blocks were reported destroyed in Ramat Gan, according to reports. A high-rise in central Tel Aviv took a direct hit, prompting frantic rescue operations.
In Tehran, the thud of Israeli missiles hitting Mehrabad airport and nearby government installations could be heard from miles away. Iranian media said the runways were not damaged, but acknowledged explosions rocked the military section of the airport.
At least nine Iranian nuclear scientists are believed to have been killed over two days of Israeli strikes, including attacks near the Fordow enrichment facility, a critical site in Iran’s nuclear programme. An official at the Atomic Energy Organisation said much of the sensitive material had already been moved, and denied reports of contamination.
On the Ground: Death, Anger, and Shelters
In central Israel, the military confirmed seven soldiers were wounded in Friday night’s attacks. All were later discharged from hospital.
Meanwhile, in Palestinian territories, shrapnel from rocket fire injured five civilians, including three children near Hebron. Israel has since imposed sweeping closures across the occupied West Bank, limiting movement and access.
The violence has also forced U.S. diplomats in Israel to take shelter. Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, posted on social media that he had sought refuge five times during the night.
“It’s now Shabbat here. Should be quiet. Probably won’t be,” he wrote.
Iran Threatens Wider Retaliation
As tensions spiral, Iran issued a warning to Israel’s backers the United States, United Kingdom, and France that any direct involvement in Israel’s defence would bring consequences.
“All regional bases of complicit governments, including ships and military installations, will be targeted,” read a government statement, as reported by media.
Iran accuses Washington of direct complicity in Israel’s assault and says the U.S. must bear responsibility for what follows.
A Dangerous New Phase
While Israel and Iran have been locked in shadow warfare for years, this is the first time they have openly exchanged missile fire on such a scale. Military experts now fear both nations are prepared for a drawn-out confrontation.
“Israel is banking on Iran retaliating,” said Prof. Shahram Akbarzadeh, a Middle East politics expert. “Because once it does, Israel knows the U.S. will be drawn in.”
Back in Tehran, the mood among civilians is grim.
“We’re living under war and sanctions now it’s real war,” one resident told press. “It’s not just soldiers dying, it’s ordinary people.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to rise against their leaders and “seek freedom from an evil regime”. But in Tehran, many brushed off his words as political theatre.
“We don’t need lectures from those bombing our cities,” a shopkeeper said, pointing to shattered windows.
What Comes Next?
With missiles still flying and diplomatic channels silent, the risk of broader conflict is real. Both governments insist they are defending themselves. But with each attack, the death toll climbs and so does the danger for the region.
As sirens fade and smoke clears, neither side appears ready to stand down.
