Blasts heard in more than 10 Iranian cities
Explosions have been heard in more than 10 Iranian cities, where attacks are reported to take place. Part of those blast sounds could be related to targets being hit, and others could be air defences being activated.
Iranian officials say the country will continue its retaliatory action against Israel. So far, we have heard ballistic missiles being launched from Iran to Israeli targets as well as drone attacks.
The Iranian people’s sentiment over what is going on is mixed. Different people I talked to say they are angry, as some of the targets hit in Iran are not necessarily military or nuclear – they are rather residential buildings.
There is also anxiety and fear among the people. Weeks ago, they were very hopeful when Iran started the trajectory of talks with the US that could pave the way to de-escalation of the situation. Now, with the new developments, everybody has doubts.
Netanyahu issues new threats to Iran
The Israeli prime minister said Israel’s strikes have set Iran’s nuclear programme back, possibly by years, and that heavier blows were yet to come. “We will hit every site and every target of the ayatollahs’ regime and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,” Netanyahu said in a video message.
He added that the military was now destroying Iran’s ability to manufacture ballistic missiles.
Israeli media silent on Iranian strike on Tel Aviv Defence Ministry complex
Live coverage from Fox News and visual analysis by The New York Times showed that a missile fired by Iran struck a section of Israel’s Defence Ministry complex in Tel Aviv late last night.
Despite these reports and circulating footage suggesting a hit on the Gush Dan area, Israeli media remains silent, likely constrained by strict military censorship rules that prohibit confirmation or discussion of such attacks.
During the live coverage by US-based Fox News, security forces were seen escorting the television crew away from the area and preventing it from further filming the scene, where one of the buildings within the Defence Ministry complex was struck.
Meanwhile, a visual investigation team from The New York Times stated that footage circulating on social media appears to show a strike in central Tel Aviv, including the area housing the Defence Ministry complex. The footage prominently features the Marganit Tower, a well-known structure within the “Kirya” Defence Ministry compound.
