TEHRAN: Iran has launched a large-scale missile assault on Israel, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles in what Tehran calls the beginning of its “crushing response” to Israeli strikes earlier on Friday.
The operation began immediately after the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, delivered a televised message, saying that the “despicable” Israeli regime would be “rendered helpless” by the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has confirmed that Iran has launched a large-scale retaliatory strike, firing 100 hypersonic missiles toward Israel.
The development marks a major escalation in tensions between the two nations, following recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory. Israeli defence forces are currently assessing the extent of the damage and considering possible response measures.
Israel’s Ministry of War targeted
Reports say Israel’s Ministry of War has been hit. Israeli Air defence batteries around other specific targets were also taken out before missiles came down to hit the high-profile targets.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a brief statement after the strikes began that dozens of Israeli targets, including military sites and airbases, were being hit in pinpoint strikes.
According to Israeli media reports, at least 15 people were injured in central Israel, including one with moderate injuries.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have shaken buildings in Israel, according to former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, who says he and his family are now in a “safe room.”
“The building shook not a little bit a couple of minutes ago,” the former Israeli ambassador to the United States told CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Friday.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that missiles were launched from Iran towards various parts of the country, with an IDF spokesperson declaring that “all of Israel is under fire.” Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system was seen in action over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where explosions and smoke filled the skies as projectiles breached the defence shield.
#Iran / #Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱: Iranian Forces have launched hundreds of Ballistic Missiles.
Several missiles have struck multiple locations in the city of #TelAviv.
Some of the missiles were launched from the city #Ishafan —shortly after the city was hit by Israeli Airstrikes. pic.twitter.com/81O0e3h0ok
— war_noir (@war_noir) June 13, 2025
Video footage from Tel Aviv showed rockets slamming into residential areas, causing property damage, though no injuries have been reported “at this stage,” according to an Israeli police spokesperson. Bomb disposal teams and emergency services are working to secure the impact zones.
Iran downs two Israeli fighter jets: IRNA
Iranian state news agency has also said the country’s forces downed two Israeli fighter jets on Friday, during a massive Israeli air raid.
“At least two Israeli fighter jets were shot down in Iranian skies,” the official IRNA news agency reported, without elaborating.
Iranian Armed Forces will act strongly: Supreme Leader
Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said the Iranian Armed Forces will act “The great Iranian people can be assured that the Armed Forces will act powerfully in support of them and will deliver heavy blows to this regime,” Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.
In a message to the Iranian nation on Friday, he condemned recent Israeli attacks that resulted in the deaths of civilians, scientists, and senior military commanders.
He described the Israeli regime’s actions as a “despicable crime” and assured the Iranian people that there would be no negligence in responding. “The Zionist regime will not escape unpunished,” he said, warning that the consequences of Israel’s aggression would render it powerless.
Ayatollah Khamenei further emphasized that Israel had committed a “grave mistake,” and that the repercussions would significantly weaken and expose the regime.
“They (Israelis) started this work and waged the war, and we will not allow them to escape unscathed from this great crime,” the Leader pointed out.
The global community is on edge as the situation develops, with emergency sessions expected at the United Nations (UN) and calls for de-escalation growing louder. However, with both sides promising more action, the risk of a full-scale war looms large.
