A night of intense fighting has erupted between Israel and Iran, with both nations launching air strikes in a dramatic escalation of hostilities that has left at least two civilians dead and dozens more injured.
The latest confrontation was triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and missile bases on Friday, according to military sources. In response, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles into Israeli territory overnight, prompting widespread public shelter alerts.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that key Iranian military targets had been struck, including locations where three high-ranking Iranian military commanders were killed. Tehran later responded, confirming the deaths of six Iranian nuclear scientists in the Israeli raids.
As missiles rained down across Israel through the night, at least two people were confirmed dead and dozens more injured in affected areas. Air raid sirens wailed across central and northern Israel, as residents scrambled for safety.
The BBC’s Ione Wells, reporting from the region, described hearing an explosion in Jerusalem, while black smoke rose above Tel Aviv’s skyline — a stark reminder of the gravity of the escalation. “We heard a loud blast not far from here. People are shaken,” Wells reported early Saturday.
Iranian state media described the Israeli strikes as “a declaration of war,” while Israeli officials defended the actions as necessary preemptive measures against what they described as imminent threats from Iranian missile programs.
The international community has begun voicing concern over the rapid deterioration of relations between the two regional powers, with diplomats urging both sides to de-escalate before the conflict spreads further.
Follow us on:
