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3. Strikes Hit “Heart of Tehran” as Iran Launches New Missile Barrage on Israel

Explosions rocked northern Tehran for a second consecutive day on Sunday as Israeli forces launched what they described as a broad wave of airstrikes targeting sites “in the heart of the Iranian capital,” while Iran responded with renewed missile attacks on Israeli territory.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from a building in northern Tehran, though the precise nature of the target was not immediately confirmed. Iranian authorities have not yet detailed the damage or casualties resulting from the latest strikes.

The escalation comes amid an unprecedented direct confrontation between Israel, the United States, and Iran following the reported assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli Air Campaign Expands

The Israeli military announced that its air force had carried out intensive operations over the past 24 hours aimed at achieving “air superiority” and “opening the route toward Tehran.”

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes form part of a sustained campaign targeting military infrastructure and command assets inside Iran.

Israeli officials did not specify which facilities were hit in Sunday’s wave of attacks but emphasized that the objective is to degrade Iran’s operational capabilities and prevent further missile launches.

20,000 Reservists Mobilized

As Iranian missile attacks continue, Israel has mobilized approximately 20,000 reserve soldiers, primarily to reinforce the Home Front Command and assist civilian populations.

The IDF said the reservists joined both regular and reserve forces over the past 24 hours to support nationwide emergency operations.

The Home Front Command reported that millions of Israelis have been forced into shelters approximately 20 times over the past day due to repeated Iranian missile barrages.

Sirens sounded again Sunday morning across multiple regions, and air defense systems were activated to intercept incoming projectiles.

Iran Launches New Missile Wave

Iran carried out a fresh missile attack on Israel Sunday morning, according to the Israeli military, which said its defense systems were engaged in intercepting the threats.

Residents in several parts of the country were instructed to return to protected spaces as sirens blared across central and northern Israel.

Tehran has pledged “wide-scale retaliatory strikes” targeting U.S. military installations and Israeli sites following the killing of Khamenei in joint U.S.–Israeli airstrikes.

Iranian officials have described the retaliation as ongoing and warned that further phases are expected.

Regional Fallout

The confrontation has already triggered instability beyond the immediate battlefield. Protests erupted outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi following news of Khamenei’s death, with local reports indicating multiple fatalities during unrest.

Meanwhile, several Gulf states remain on high alert as missile and drone activity continues to cross regional airspace.

The exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran now appears entrenched in a cycle of escalation. Israeli officials have framed their campaign as a strategic effort to dismantle Iran’s military command and missile infrastructure, while Tehran has vowed sustained retaliation.