Iran Launches Massive Missile Strike on Israel: 15 Dead, 200 Injured
News Desk
Islamabad: In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran launched a massive missile and drone assault on Israel late Saturday night, killing at least 15 people and wounding over 200 in one of the most intense confrontations between the two countries in years.
Dubbed Operation True Promise III, the Iranian offensive targeted multiple major Israeli cities—including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem—as retaliation for Israeli airstrikes earlier in the week that killed senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.
Iranian Missiles Rain Down on Israeli Cities
The attack, which began late Saturday and stretched into early Sunday, saw Iran fire more than 100 supersonic ballistic missiles, according to Iranian state media. The strikes hit a range of military and industrial sites, with Haifa and Tel Aviv bearing the brunt of the assault.
Footage aired on Iranian television and circulated online showed massive fires at the Haifa oil refinery, with thick black smoke clouding the skyline. Israeli outlets confirmed significant damage to critical infrastructure, including power grids and oil depots. Reports also indicated that ammonia storage tanks in Haifa were hit, sparking fears of hazardous chemical leaks.
Electricity blackouts were reported in northern cities like Nazareth, Afula, and parts of the Galilee after targeted strikes on power distribution systems.
Civilian Casualties and Public Panic
Sirens blared across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as residents rushed to bunkers amid the incoming barrage. Israeli authorities confirmed that a multi-storey residential building in Tel Aviv had been destroyed. At least eight civilians were among the dead, including a woman, while 35 people remain missing.
The Iron Dome missile defense system was activated but struggled to intercept the large number of high-speed missiles, many of which Iranian officials claimed were radar-evading and precision-guided.
Israel Responds with Counterstrikes
Within hours, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting key sites in Tehran, including the Ministry of Defence and a military research facility in the Nobaniyed district. Explosions were reported across the Iranian capital, although local authorities confirmed only limited damage and did not release casualty figures.
Additionally, Israel claimed responsibility for a separate strike in Yemen that killed Houthi military commander Mohammed Al-Ghammari, further expanding the regional dimensions of the conflict.
Tensions Reach Leadership Level
In a pointed statement, an Israeli military spokesperson suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could become a future target. “We’re not saying he is our target—but nothing is off the table,” the spokesperson warned. The remarks drew swift condemnation from Tehran, which called the statement a dangerous provocation and pledged further retaliation if Israeli strikes on Iranian soil continued.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the use of advanced missile systems, including the Emad, Qadr, and Kheibar Shekan models—projectiles known for their long range and high accuracy.
International Community Calls for RestraintThe United Nations and several global powers voiced deep concern over the intensifying conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued an urgent appeal for calm, stating he was “deeply alarmed by the dangerous trajectory of the conflict” and urged both nations to de-escalate.
The United States reaffirmed its support for Israel’s security but cautioned against further escalation. “We are closely monitoring developments and are in ongoing communication with regional partners,” a State Department spokesperson said.
With both countries trading direct blows and tensions at their highest point in years, the risk of a broader regional conflict looms large—raising urgent questions about what comes next in this volatile standoff.
