Tehran Fires Ballistic Missiles at Israel After US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites; Tensions Soar Across Region
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran launched 15 ballistic missiles at Israel on Monday, just a day after the United States carried out precision airstrikes targeting three key nuclear facilities deep inside Iranian territory. Explosions echoed across Jerusalem, with sirens wailing across multiple Israeli cities including Ashdod and northern regions, prompting the Israeli military to instruct civilians to take immediate shelter.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), multiple missile launches were detected from Iranian territory in the early hours of Monday. Some of the missiles made direct impacts on Israeli soil, with emergency services deployed in Ashdod to respond to possible casualties and damage. The IDF confirmed that Iran had fired approximately 15 ballistic missiles in what appeared to be a coordinated military retaliation, signaling a sharp intensification of the ongoing conflict.
The fresh Iranian missile barrage followed unprecedented U.S. airstrikes on Saturday night that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. American B-2 stealth bombers, supported by a U.S. Navy submarine firing over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, struck air defense systems and released 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators — also known as “bunker busters” — on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.
Preliminary satellite imagery suggests that the heavily fortified Fordow site, which houses uranium-enriching centrifuges underground, suffered significant damage. However, nuclear experts cautioned that full verification would require further analysis.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in a series of posts on social media, claimed the attack inflicted “monumental damage” on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he wrote, adding that Iran “must now make peace” or face “far greater and a lot easier” future attacks.
In a fiery video statement, Iran’s military command vowed revenge, targeting both U.S. and Israeli assets. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters, warned Washington of “heavy consequences,” and directly addressed President Trump: “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”
Iran’s missile offensive has been branded “True Promise 3,” marking a new phase of its campaign to pressure Israel militarily. Iranian state media reported that the strikes targeted strategic Israeli locations, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, using a combination of drones and ballistic missiles.
In response, the Israeli military launched its own offensive earlier in the day, striking six Iranian military airports across eastern, western, and central regions of Iran. The IDF claimed that 15 Iranian aircraft, including F-14, F-5, and AH-1 helicopters, were destroyed, and key runways and underground command facilities were severely damaged.
The exchange marks the 11th consecutive day of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Iran. However, with the U.S. now directly engaged, the conflict has morphed into a broader regional crisis with global implications.
The international community reacted with deep alarm. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites as a “perilous turn” in an already volatile region. “From the outset of the crisis, I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East,” Guterres told an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday.
China issued a sharp rebuke of the U.S. strikes, calling them a breach of international law and warning that further instability could trigger long-term damage to regional and global peace. “China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in, expressing “deep concern” over the escalation in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Modi called for de-escalation through “dialogue and diplomacy,” urging restraint from all sides.
With fears mounting of a wider war engulfing the region, diplomatic efforts are intensifying. But with both Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance doubling down on their positions, the path to de-escalation remains perilous and uncertain.
IT.
