In a historic escalation, Iran launched two massive missile offensives on Israel just 18 hours after enduring a wide-scale Israeli attack on its territory. The barrages, consisting of dozens—possibly hundreds—of ballistic missiles, mark the most powerful Iranian strike against the Zionist regime to date.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) swiftly confirmed responsibility, declaring that its forces struck “numerous military targets and air bases belonging to the occupying Zionist regime.” Reuters quoted an Iranian official stating, “There will be no safe place in Israel… Our retaliation will be painful. The Zionist enemy will pay a heavy price for assassinating our leaders, scientists, and citizens.”
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities maintained a veil of silence regarding the extent of the damage. The Israeli army urged civilians not to post videos or share details about the missile impact locations, warning that “the enemy monitors such footage to improve its targeting capabilities.”
Iran named the operation “True Promise 3”, a continuation of its previous retaliatory strikes—“True Promise 1” in April 2024 and “True Promise 2” in October 2024. This third operation signals a shift from symbolic responses to full-scale strategic targeting.
So what happened exactly? What were the main targets? And what are the known casualties and damages so far?
Casualties and Human Toll
Initial reports gradually confirmed mounting casualties. Shortly after the strikes, Israel’s official broadcast authority reported that 17 people were injured, without specifying the severity of the wounds.
Later, Magen David Adom (Israel’s national emergency service) updated the toll to 21 wounded, with two in critical condition, following missile impacts in central Israel.
They also confirmed that multiple people were trapped inside a building in Tel Aviv after it was hit by a direct missile from Iran.
Hours later, Yedioth Ahronoth raised the injury count to 63. The figure has now reached 70 wounded, with one confirmed fatality, making this one of the most damaging strikes Israel has faced in recent history.
Widespread, Unmatched Destruction
The Chief of Tel Aviv District Police described the strike as “a major event spanning numerous locations,” adding that rescue operations were ongoing to reach those trapped in sealed shelters.
He confirmed that various types of missiles struck the city, with entire floors of buildings destroyed and multiple structures suffering complete collapses.
Israel’s Channel 13 reported “unprecedented destruction” across the greater Tel Aviv area. Dozens of buildings and vehicles sustained direct hits from Iranian missiles or were damaged by debris from Israel’s failed interception attempts.
According to Haaretz, a 32-story building in Tel Aviv was severely damaged. Channel 12 reported that 300 residents had to be evacuated from homes across the metropolitan area due to structural damage.
In Ramat Gan, nine buildings were completely levelled, and hundreds more were partially damaged. The mayor confirmed that over 100 people were left homeless in that city alone.
Nine Regions Targeted by Iranian Missiles
Israeli media confirmed that at least nine regions inside Israel were struck by Iranian ballistic missiles.
Videos circulated by both Israeli and Palestinian outlets showed massive smoke plumes rising from the heart of Tel Aviv, while sirens rang out across Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, and other cities. Panic gripped the population as missiles continued to rain down.
Israeli police admitted to dealing with “multiple impact sites,” and the army issued strict shelter-in-place orders, instructing citizens not to leave underground bunkers until further notice.
Israel’s Military Response Measures
As Iranian drones and missiles approached Israeli airspace, all air defence systems were activated. These included:
- The Iron Dome (for short-range projectiles),
- Arrow and David’s Sling systems (for ballistic missiles and long-range threats),
- Anti-drone and radar systems.
Sirens blared across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and surrounding areas, while residents were ordered to take cover.
Israeli defence forces reportedly launched dozens of interceptors in a bid to neutralise the incoming wave. An Israeli official confirmed that the United States had also provided assistance in intercepting Iranian projectiles.
Despite these efforts, the sheer volume and precision of the Iranian strikes overwhelmed Israeli defences in many areas, resulting in substantial physical and psychological damage.
