In a sharp escalation amid growing regional tensions, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Iran will target regional military bases belonging to any country that attempts to defend Israel.
The official affirmed Iran’s unwavering stance, declaring that “Iran reserves the right to respond firmly to the Zionist regime.”
As Iranian missiles rained down in retaliation, the Israeli army acknowledged that emergency and rescue teams were deployed across several sites throughout the occupied territories following reports of multiple Iranian strikes.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz confirmed that entire buildings in Tel Aviv have collapsed as a result of direct Iranian missile impacts.
In a statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed it had deployed advanced smart missile systems with high precision targeting during Operation True Promise 3.
Senior IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, speaking to Iran’s state television, reinforced Tehran’s position:
“We will continue to respond to Israeli aggression for as long as necessary.”
Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Aggression and Iran’s Retaliation
At dawn on Friday, the Zionist occupation—backed tacitly by the United States—launched a large-scale assault on Iran, involving over 200 fighter jets in an operation dubbed “Rising Lion.”
This unprovoked attack targeted nuclear facilities, missile bases, and resulted in the assassination of prominent military commanders and nuclear scientists across various regions.
The Israeli military described the aggression as a “preemptive strike”, executed under direct orders from its political leadership.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly stated that the goal was to cripple Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and key military assets.
Iran’s Response: Precision Missiles and Strategic Impact
By Friday evening, Iran launched a wide-scale retaliatory missile attack, firing over 150 ballistic missiles at key Israeli targets.
The strikes hit nine locations, including a major fire near the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv.
According to Hebrew media reports, the response injured 44 individuals, including two in critical condition, and inflicted significant structural damage.
Footage from the scene showed thick columns of smoke rising from the heart of Israel’s Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv.
Haaretz again confirmed that entire buildings in Tel Aviv had collapsed due to the missile impact.
Further validating the scope of the attack, Fox News confirmed that one of the Iranian missiles had directly struck the Kirya military headquarters, Israel’s equivalent of the Pentagon, located in Tel Aviv.
