Israeli Jets Strike Iran; IRGC Ballistic Missiles Hit Tel Aviv in Retaliation

Israel's military announced on Monday morning that its fighter jets had launched a series of strikes targeting western and central Iran. Hours after these reported attacks, air raid sirens sounded across occupied Palestinian territories, signaling a retaliatory missile response from Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran confirmed that its sovereign territory had been targeted by what it described as air-launched ballistic missiles from Israel. Explosions were reportedly heard in several major Iranian cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, and Karaj. Israeli media, citing Channel 12, reported that Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran was among the targets hit during the Israeli offensive. Separately, Iranian media indicated that an Israeli strike also hit the Karoun Petrochemical Company in Khuzestan Province, causing damage to facilities.

Meanwhile, an Al Mayadeen correspondent in Baghdad reported hearing explosions of unknown origin in the Iraqi capital. Following the Israeli strikes, Israeli media reported an elevated state of alert in Tel Aviv and southern regions in anticipation of further retaliatory attacks.

These events represent a continuation of escalating tensions. Iran's actions are framed as a response to alleged Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the recent seizure of a ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The cycle of attacks saw Tel Aviv targeted again when, at 5:56 a.m. local time, sirens wailed in central occupied Israel, attributed by the military to a missile attack launched from Yemen. Shortly after, at 7:00 a.m., Israeli authorities reported a new wave of missile attacks launched from Iran towards central and southern occupied territories, triggering further air raid sirens.