At least five Israelis were killed and more than 67 injured after Iran launched its largest-ever missile assault on Israel early Sunday morning, according to multiple Israeli media outlets including The Jerusalem Post, Channel 12, and Ynet News.
The barrage, which Israeli emergency services say included over 100 ballistic and hypersonic missiles, struck several key cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and occupied Jerusalem. The assault followed a day of escalating hostilities, during which Israeli forces reportedly targeted multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad.
In Tel Aviv, residents reported a night of panic and fear as explosions echoed through the city. “The booms this time were much, much stronger than ever,” Israeli journalist Gideon Levy told Al Jazeera. “Windows were shattered and sirens of ambulances and emergency workers soon followed. It was very, very strong and quite fearful.”
The Israeli media described the Iranian offensive as “the largest attack ever” by Tehran. One of the missiles is said to have directly struck a residential building in northern Israel, according to emergency response organisation Zaka.
A power plant in Haifa caught fire following a direct missile hit, leading to widespread power outages in central Israel. Authorities said that several areas remained without electricity by Sunday morning. The Israeli army instructed residents across the north and centre to seek immediate shelter and remain indoors.
The Iranian attack, reportedly part of Operation True Promise III, comes in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes earlier in the week that killed senior Iranian military figures, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and General Gholam Ali Rashid. Civilian casualties were also reported in those strikes.
Iranian media claimed that 90 percent of those killed in Israeli attacks were civilians, including women and newborns. In Tehran, several buildings sustained damage, including the Foreign Ministry complex. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said in a video message that the ministry’s library windows were shattered in the assault.
Sirens blared throughout the night in Israeli cities as citizens rushed to bunkers. Israeli authorities also ordered a complete shutdown of the country’s airspace and airports, according to The Times of Israel.
Emergency services across Israel reported extensive damage. Arab media outlets cited several injuries and destruction of infrastructure due to what they referred to as a hypersonic missile strike, a development which, if confirmed, marks a significant shift in Tehran’s military capabilities.
The death toll from Iran’s attacks in the past 48 hours now stands at 17, according to CNN, while Iranian officials claim that at least 224 people have been killed in Israeli air raids on Iran during the same period, with more than 1,200 others injured.
Despite the scale of the Iranian strikes, Israel continues its offensive, launching further attacks on Iranian targets including the Fordow nuclear facility, one of the country’s most sensitive sites.
As the situation escalates, international observers warn of a broader regional conflict. The United Nations and several Western capitals have urged both nations to show restraint, though no ceasefire appears imminent.
