Air raid sirens echoed across Jerusalem on Friday evening as the Israeli military confirmed missile launches from Iran, marking a dangerous escalation in ongoing hostilities between the two regional powers. Loud explosions were heard over the city, with AFP journalists reporting booms similar to those from past air defence interceptions.
In an official statement, the Israeli military said: “A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles from Iran toward the State of Israel.” While it remains unclear how many projectiles were launched or intercepted, the sirens prompted immediate concern across Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
Simultaneously, Iranian state media reported that its air defence systems intercepted a fresh wave of projectiles just hours after a large-scale Israeli air assault targeted multiple sites in Iran overnight. The renewed explosions in Tehran and its surrounding areas marked the second wave of high-intensity attacks in less than 24 hours.
“There were reports of explosions heard in the west of Tehran province,” stated Iran’s official news agency IRNA, naming the cities of Shahriar and Malard, along with the Chitgar district of Tehran. Separately, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported another blast in Pakdasht, located southeast of the capital.
The dual reports of missile activity in both countries suggest a deepening military confrontation, with each side trading strikes amid already soaring regional tensions.
While there has been no official confirmation of casualties or the specific targets hit, both Israeli and Iranian media are treating the developments as a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict.
International observers are urging restraint, fearing that continued retaliation could spiral into a broader regional war.
Read also: Israel launches new airstrikes, hitting military targets in Tabriz and Shiraz
