Jerusalem/Tehran, June 14: Iran launched a fresh barrage of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel early Saturday, marking the fourth wave of attacks in 12 hours, Iranian state media said, following Israeli airstrikes on key nuclear and military facilities in the Islamic Republic.
The renewed strikes, dubbed “Honest Promise 3” by Iranian state television, come amid soaring tensions in the Middle East and follow an overnight missile assault that Tehran described as retaliation for what it called “unprecedented” Israeli aggression.
Israel’s military confirmed it had detected incoming projectiles from Iranian territory and reported that at least 10 people were injured after missiles struck near residential areas in central Israel. Loud explosions were heard across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as sirens blared and residents rushed for shelter.
The Iranian offensive comes in response to Israel’s Thursday night operation, codenamed “Rising Lion,” which targeted multiple strategic sites inside Iran. According to Israeli officials, the large-scale strike involved warplanes and drones, some launched from within Iranian airspace, and hit high-value targets including nuclear facilities, ballistic missile production centers, and command hubs. Several senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists were reportedly killed.
In a televised address, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged continued retaliation, stating, “We will not permit them to evade consequences for this significant wrongdoing. Do not assume that they attacked and it’s finished.”
The Iranian military had earlier warned that its response would be severe and far-reaching, with a spokesperson declaring that “everyone will feel it.”
The exchange marks one of the most serious escalations between the two regional rivals in years and has raised concerns of a broader conflict. Israel’s military said its air defense systems intercepted several incoming threats but acknowledged damage in urban areas from successful missile strikes.
No official casualty figures have been released by either side regarding the initial Israeli strike or Iran’s subsequent retaliation. Regional powers and international observers have urged both nations to exercise restraint, warning that the spiraling hostilities could destabilize the broader Middle East.
