Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Air Raid, Prompting Retaliation and Regional Alarm
Iranians confirm 42people were killed in Tehran
including 6 prominent scientists and several top
military commanders, and hundreds of injured
Web Desk
Tehran/Jerusalem/Washington: In a dangerous escalation of hostilities, Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes across Iranian territory early Friday, killing at least 42 people and injuring more than 120, according to Iranian officials. The attacks hit key military installations in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, with Israeli officials claiming they targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure and nuclear-linked facilities.
The assault came just days after Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel — a retaliatory move for the April bombing of its consulate in Damascus, which Iran blamed on Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli strikes as a blatant “act of war” and promised a swift and crushing retaliation. In a televised address, he stated:
“The blood of our martyrs demands justice. The Zionist entity and its backers will face consequences they have never imagined.”
Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) immediately activated its contingency protocols, triggering a rapid military counterattack.
Just hours after the Israeli bombardment, Iran launched “Operation True Promise” — a coordinated missile and drone retaliation aimed at Israeli military bases in the Negev Desert, Golan Heights, and Tel Aviv’s outskirts.
Iran’s Ministry of Defense claimed the attack caused “serious damage to Israeli military infrastructure” and was “just the beginning.” While Israeli air defenses intercepted a majority of the incoming projectiles, at least 14 people were reportedly injured in the cities of Dimona and Beersheba.
Unverified footage circulating online appeared to show explosions near Israeli military installations. Meanwhile, Iran warned that if Israel retaliated further, it would expand the operation region-wide.
U.S. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, expressed full support for Israel and condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
“The United States will not tolerate attacks on our closest ally,” Trump said during a televised White House briefing, adding that American forces in the region were on high alert.
The Pentagon announced the deployment of additional assets to the Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, including a carrier strike group and Patriot missile systems.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday evening. The U.S. and UK backed Israel’s right to defend itself, while Russia and China accused Israel of provoking a wider war. A draft resolution calling for a ceasefire failed to pass amid sharp divisions.
Meanwhile, oil prices surged past $112 per barrel and global financial markets reacted nervously. Travel advisories were issued for U.S. citizens in the region, and international airlines suspended flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the precision of the airstrikes and warned of a forceful response to any further Iranian attacks.
“We will continue to defend our people from existential threats. Our enemies will regret choosing this path,” he said in a national address.
Israel has reportedly placed its Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems on maximum readiness and recalled reserve units to bolster border defenses.
In Iran, large funeral processions were held for the victims of the Israeli strikes. Black flags were raised over mosques and government buildings, with tens of thousands joining anti-Israel protests. The IRGC confirmed it has mobilized elite Quds Force units and placed missile units on alert in western Iran and the Persian Gulf region.
The operation, named “True Promise”, has also seen a cyber component, with Iranian-linked hackers claiming credit for briefly disabling several Israeli government websites.
With no indication of de-escalation from either side, fears are mounting that the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into a broader regional war. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, and Houthis in Yemen have issued statements supporting Tehran’s position and hinted at potential involvement.
Analysts warn that this is the closest the region has come to a direct, sustained war between Israel and Iran — a development that could fu
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