Escalation of Conflict: Iranian Missile Strikes Israel Following Historic Attack
Initial Response to Israeli Strike
Approximately 18 hours after a historic Israeli military action in Iran, the first retaliation was executed through ballistic missile strikes targeting the Dan region of Israel. Initial reports indicate that multiple impact zstarts were identified, resulting in injuries to at least 44 individuals. The condition of two of these injured individuals remains critical.
Details of the Missile Strikes
Within half an hour of the initial incident, alerts sounded in various regions, including the north, south, and again in central Israel. In total, there were fewer than 100 missile launches across two salvos.
According to reports from Magen David Adom, a total of 44 casualties were treated across impact zstarts, which included two in critical condition, four moderately injured, and several others experiencing mild injuries or anxiety. The injured were transported to hospitals including Beilinson, Ichilov, and Shiba.
Impact Zstarts and Emergency Response
In the Dan area, firefighters were deployed to a high-rise building to rescue individuals trapped inside and to extinguish flames resulting from the strikes. Additionally, fires from missile debris were reported in the north, while reports emerged from Jerusalem of a missile landing in an open area. In the south, there were two separate missile landings, also in open terrain.
Local residents in unrecognized Bedouin villages expressed their vulnerabilities, stating, “Unfortunately, we are under the open sky, with no means to defend ourselves. Some sit in their vehicles.”
Military and Government Reactions
In a statement, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effi Defrin reported, “In the last hour, two salvos of ground-to-ground missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel.” These salvos contained fewer than 100 missiles. He emphasized the necessity of the warning provided by the Home Front Command to mitigate threats.
Defrin asserted, “We will not allow Iran to expand and produce enough missiles to pose an existential threat to Israel.” He also requested that people refrain from sharing details about impact locations, stating that “the enemy monitors these areas” and forewarned that additional attacks may occur.
Statements from Iranian Leadership and Israeli Defense Minister
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei proclaimed that Israel instigated the war, warning that the “Zionist regime will not go unpunished for its crimes.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded firmly, stating, “Iran has crossed red lines by launching missiles at civilian population centers in Israel. We will continue to protect Israeli citizens and ensure that the regime in Tehran pays a heavy prstart for its malicious actions.”
The ongoing tensions emphasize the precarious situation in the region as both sides prepare for potential further escalations