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3. Iran Fires Ballistic Missile Barrage at Israel as Air Defenses Activated Nationwide

Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Saturday, triggering nationwide air raid sirens and marking a dramatic escalation in what has now become an open confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had identified missiles launched from Iranian territory toward Israel, prompting the activation of national air defense systems.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said in a statement posted on X.

Sirens Across Israel

Israel’s Home Front Command reported that early-warning systems were activated as missiles were detected. Sirens sounded across wide areas of northern Israel, including the Galilee region, before extending to the greater Tel Aviv area and other parts of central Israel.

Israeli media reported powerful explosions in northern Israel, likely linked to interception attempts. The military later confirmed that an additional wave of missiles had been launched and that aerial defense systems were actively tracking and intercepting incoming threats.

Precautionary alerts were sent directly to mobile phones in affected areas, instructing civilians to seek shelter.

Netanyahu Declares Joint Campaign

In a recorded national address shortly after the missile launches, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced what he described as a coordinated military operation with the United States.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short while ago Israel and the United States launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran,” Netanyahu said.

He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called “historic leadership,” framing the campaign as a joint effort to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“For 47 years, the ayatollahs’ regime has called for ‘Death to Israel,’ ‘Death to America,’” Netanyahu said. “We must not allow this murderous terror regime to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity.”

He referred to the military campaign as Operation “Lion’s Roar”, warning Israelis to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and prepare for several days of heightened tension.

“In the coming days… we will all need patience and fortitude,” he said. “Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”

Netanyahu also directly addressed Iran’s population, calling on “Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, and Ahvazis” to “cast off the yoke of tyranny,” signaling political messaging aimed beyond the battlefield.

Explosions in Western Iran

Inside Iran, the state news agency IRNA reported explosions in areas west and south of the city of Ilam in western Iran, near the Iraqi border. The cause and targets of the blasts were not immediately clarified.

Separately, Iranian media reported that the coastal city of Bushehr had come under attack, though there were no confirmed reports of damage to the Bushehr nuclear power facility.

Regional Spillover

The confrontation appeared to spill beyond Israel and Iran’s borders. Regional reports indicated that an interceptor missile fell in the northern Jordanian city of Irbid, underscoring the cross-border risks posed by missile exchanges over the region. Jordanian authorities have yet to release detailed information on the incident.

Reuters, citing an informed source, also reported that personnel were evacuated from the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military installation in the Middle East, suggesting precautionary repositioning amid fears of further escalation.