Iran Launches Aerial Counterattack on Israel Amid Escalating Conflict
New Delhi, June 14: Iran has launched a massive aerial offensive against Israel in what it calls "Operation True Promise 3," marking a significant escalation in the conflict between the two nations.
According to reports from international media outlets on the ground, dozens of missiles and drones were launched towards key Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting multiple military bases and strategic sites deep inside Israel.
The aerial assault resulted in bright flashes illuminating the night skies as Israel's Iron Dome air defence system intercepted the barrage. Despite interception efforts, several projectiles hit their targets, causing damage and injuring at least five people in Tel Aviv, while 40 civilians were treated across hospitals in Israel.
Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, with authorities urging the public to take shelter. Missiles were visible over Tel Aviv's skyline, according to military reports.
The Iranian government confirmed that it had targeted Israeli military installations allegedly involved in earlier airstrikes on Iran. According to IRGC statements, a significant number of ballistic missiles successfully struck their intended targets. However, Israel denied major losses and said most of the missiles were neutralized and intercepted.
Iran's response followed what it described as an Israeli offensive earlier in the day, during which residential buildings and strategic facilities in Tehran and other cities were reportedly hit. Iranian state media reported that top Iranian military commanders, including Major General Mohammad Baqeri and IRGC Chief Commander Hossein Salami, were killed in those Israeli strikes.
The Iranian counterstrikes are the most forceful to date, exceeding the intensity of previous drone incursions. Footage from Israeli cities showed large fireballs and secondary explosions as Iranian missiles breached Israeli defenses.
Meanwhile, the homeland security of Israel has warned citizens of the potential for further escalations, urging them to remain near shelters. Fires were seen at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport amid fresh explosions heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
The conflict has intensified rapidly, with both sides trading high-level attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israeli operations against Iran will continue for days, aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.
As regional anxiety deepens amid calls for restraint, international observers warn that the conflict could widen unless both nations step back from the brink. With each side hardening its stance, the risk of further escalation remains dangerously high.