Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel on Friday evening, in response to unprecedented Israeli airstrikes that targeted more than 200 military and nuclear sites on Iranian soil.
Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel on Friday evening, in response to unprecedented Israeli airstrikes that targeted more than 200 military and nuclear sites on Iranian soil.
Warning sirens sounded across the country, as smoke rose over Tel Aviv, the largest city in central Israel, shortly after a call for people to seek shelter.
The alert was lowered later that evening.
At least two waves of dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles targeted Israel, the Israeli military announced, while Iran claimed to be targeting "dozens of targets," "bases, and military infrastructure" in the country.
Israel expects to be exposed to "several waves of Iranian attacks," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned after the massive attack launched early Friday across Iran, which killed the country's highest-ranking officers.
The time has come for Iranians to revolt against the "evil and oppressive regime" that rules them, Mr. Netanyahu declared Friday evening.
He asserted that his country had launched "one of the largest military operations in history" against Tehran and that the Iranians should expect more strikes.
The Israeli army announced Friday evening that it had "dismantled" a uranium plant in Isfahan, in central Iran. The damage to these facilities, as well as to the Fordo site south of Tehran, was minor, according to the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency (AEOI).
Several explosions were heard in Tehran during the day, according to media reports, which also reported, in particular, a new strike on the Natanz uranium enrichment center in central Iran.
"We are continuing with full force, at a high pace, in order to achieve the objectives we have set for ourselves," said Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir in the evening.
This attack follows growing pressure on Iran, suspected by the West and Israel of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this and defends its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program.
The attack also comes two days before a new round of indirect negotiations, the holding of which is now uncertain, scheduled for Sunday in Oman between Tehran and Washington on Iran's nuclear program. "Declaration of War"
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the Israeli attack, which targeted Tehran and killed 18 people in the northwest of the country, a "declaration of war," according to a media report.
In Israel, rescue workers reported several injuries in the Iranian response, while firefighters reported "major" incidents near Tel Aviv, where they intervened in a skyscraper to rescue trapped people and extinguish a fire.
Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of crossing "red lines" by firing missiles at urban centers.
As calls for de-escalation grow worldwide, the UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Friday at Iran's request.
"Death to Israel, death to America!" shouted Iranians protesting in central Tehran, where the streets were deserted except for lines outside gas stations.
Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree, called for a "stinging response" against Israel, a country not recognized by Iran.
The Israeli military said it had intelligence proving that Tehran was approaching the "point of no return" toward an atomic bomb. According to her, "the Iranian regime had a concrete plan to destroy the State of Israel."
In Israel, residents expressed their concern on Friday.
"I'm worried about my children and also about my livelihood, because it's affecting the market. We can't work, we can't do anything," lamented Vered Saar, a 54-year-old pastry chef from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli military reported that approximately 200 aircraft participated in the early hours of the attack, to which Iran responded by launching "approximately 100 drones" toward Israel, which were intercepted.
Early Friday, General Hossein Salami, head of the Revolutionary Guards, and other officials, including the commander of the Guards' Aerospace Force, Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in a strike on their headquarters.
Iran's chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, and six scientists from Iran's nuclear program were also killed in the strikes.
The Natanz site was targeted "multiple times," according to Iranian state television, which showed thick smoke rising above the facilities.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, "no increase in radiation levels" was observed at Natanz.
"Even more brutal"
