Tel Aviv, June 14 — The long-simmering hostility between Israel and Iran has erupted into open conflict, as both nations exchanged deadly missile attacks overnight.
The violence marks one of the most serious escalations in years, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, following Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed top Iranian military officials.
In Tel Aviv, explosions rocked the city as black smoke billowed into the sky, and eyewitnesses in Jerusalem also reported loud blasts.
Israeli health authorities say 40 people have been hospitalized as a result of the Iranian retaliation, including two individuals in critical condition.
Tehran, for its part, claims that six Iranian scientists were killed in the Israeli strikes.
In a public statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to rise against their government, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran should pursue a deal on its nuclear program or face “even more brutal” Israeli attacks.
