Midnight Mayhem: Iranian Missile Strikes Rock Israeli Cities

Explosions echoed across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem just minutes after the Israeli military warned of incoming Iranian missiles. The powerful blasts occurred around 1:30 a.m., startling residents and sending many running for cover. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had earlier issued a nationwide alert following the detection of multiple ballistic missiles launched from Iran.

Visual confirmation of the attack came swiftly as Reuters captured smoke rising above Tel Aviv, showing the impact of at least one projectile. Reports from Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya confirmed that several missiles managed to penetrate Israeli air defenses. Sirens wailed throughout the night, and emergency services scrambled to assess the damage.

Iran described the offensive as "Operation True Promise III," a counterattack in response to Israeli strikes earlier in the day. Those Israeli strikes—part of “Operation Rising Lion”—targeted nuclear and military installations inside Iran and allegedly killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials. Among them was reportedly IRGC commander Hossein Salami, a significant blow to Tehran.

Israel’s Iron Dome and other defense systems intercepted many of the missiles, aided by U.S. military coordination. However, not all projectiles were stopped. Some crashed into urban areas, including neighborhoods around Tel Aviv, damaging buildings, injuring civilians, and shattering windows. Officials noted multiple injuries and substantial infrastructure losses from the impacts.

Iran claimed it launched over 150 ballistic missiles in a two-phase strike aimed at several Israeli cities. Israeli defense sources, however, stated that less than 100 missiles entered their airspace, thanks in part to joint interception efforts. Regardless, the scale of the assault raised fears of a much wider conflict.

Casualty figures continued to emerge throughout the morning. Iranian sources reported at least 78 people dead and over 320 wounded due to Israeli air raids earlier that day. Meanwhile, Israeli health officials confirmed that 22 people were injured by the missile strikes, two of them critically, mostly from debris and shockwaves.

The international community reacted swiftly. Crude oil prices surged, and diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent further escalation. Global leaders called for calm, and the United Nations Security Council prepared for an emergency session. As IDF forces remain on high alert and sirens persist in parts of Israel, officials warn that more missile attacks could still follow.