Iran launched a wave of missile attacks on Israel on Saturday, responding to a large-scale Israeli offensive a day earlier that targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities and reportedly killed senior generals and nuclear scientists.
The escalating conflict has already claimed lives on both sides. Israeli emergency services confirmed two deaths and at least 19 injuries on Saturday after rockets struck a residential area in Israel’s central coastal region. Footage showed buildings destroyed and streets covered in debris in cities like Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.
Overnight, air raid sirens and explosions echoed across Israel, sending residents into bomb shelters until the military lifted the alerts. Dozens of Iranian missiles were launched, with some intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, while others caused significant damage.
According to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, they hit dozens of targets across Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli forces were seen rescuing trapped residents from damaged buildings, including a high-rise in Tel Aviv that was struck Friday night.
The deadly exchange follows Friday’s Israeli airstrikes on Iranian soil, which reportedly killed at least 78 people and wounded 320 others, including six nuclear scientists and top officials in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, according to Iranian state media.
In retaliation, Iran fired multiple salvos of ballistic missiles — around 150 in total, said Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, who also warned that Iran still has a stockpile of roughly 2,000 missiles.
In Tehran, explosions and heavy smoke were seen early Saturday around Mehrabad Airport, as Iran activated air defenses to counter incoming strikes. Israel later confirmed it had hit “defensive systems” in the Tehran area.
The strikes prompted anti-Israel demonstrations in Iran, with crowds waving national flags and chanting slogans in support of the military.
At the same time, global leaders called for calm. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to stop escalating and prioritize peace: “Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
The United States confirmed its support for Israel’s air defenses, but maintained it had no role in the initial Israeli strikes on Iran. Former President Donald Trump, who is again seeking the presidency, spoke with both UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, encouraging “dialogue and diplomacy.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s targeted attacks on nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan raised new fears over nuclear proliferation. Iran downplayed the damage, saying it was mostly above ground and not critical. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization assured the public that radiation levels remained unchanged.
However, the situation has already disrupted planned nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. set to take place in Oman.
In a televised address, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed revenge and promised to bring Israel “to ruin.” In response, Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to rise up against their government, stating: “We are clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom.”
As tensions rise, the region — and the world — watches anxiously, fearing that further escalation could spark a broader war.