Iran Retaliates Against Israel on the Day of Attack…"Launches Hundreds of Missiles"

35 Injured Including in Tel Aviv… Damage to High-Rise Buildings

Khamenei: "Israel Started the War"

Israel: "Airstrikes on Civilian Areas are a Red Line"

On the 13th (local time), Iran launched a large-scale air raid, firing multiple missiles as retaliation for damage to its nuclear facilities caused by Israel's airstrikes. On the same day Israel carried out its biggest-ever airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities under the justification of a preemptive attack to thwart Iran’s nuclear weapons development, Iran immediately responded with a massive attack, raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

The Israeli military stated that around 9 p.m., it detected dozens of missiles coming from Iran and sounded air raid sirens throughout the country. The Israeli military said Air Force assets conducted interception operations to eliminate the threat.

Israeli media such as Ynet reported that some high-rise buildings in central Tel Aviv were hit by missiles, with video footage showing smoke rising.

N12 reported that 150 to 200 missiles were launched by Iran toward Israel, and around nine sites were struck. However, Israeli military spokesperson Efi Defrin stated that fewer than 100 missiles were launched by Iran in two waves, most of which were shot down before entering Israeli territory, and only a few buildings were damaged by debris.

The Associated Press, citing U.S. military sources, reported that the U.S. military assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles heading toward Israel. About an hour after the air raid alert was issued, at around 10:20 p.m., the Israeli military notified citizens that it was safe to leave shelters throughout the country, although it advised people to stay near shelters and follow Home Front Command instructions.

According to The Times of Israel, the Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom said 35 people were injured in areas including Tel Aviv, with one in critical condition and four seriously injured.

Iran’s state-run IRNA News Agency reported, "Hundreds of various ballistic missiles were launched in a determined operation to firmly respond to the Zionist regime’s (Israel's) brutal attack."

Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian missiles targeted Israel's Ministry of Defense and intelligence agencies in central Tel Aviv and successfully landed after breaching Israeli air defenses. The port city of Haifa, near Tel Aviv, was also a target of the airstrikes. Press TV reported that the Iranian military successfully destroyed two Israeli F-35 fighter jets and multiple drones.

Tasnim claimed that after Iranian air defenses shot down Israeli fighter jets, a female pilot was captured, but the Israeli military spokesperson dismissed this as "completely unfounded news spread by Iranian media."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in a release, "Iran crossed the 'red line' by launching missiles at densely populated civilian areas in Israel. We will ensure that the Ayatollah regime (Iran) pays a heavy price for its evil actions."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran stated that this retaliatory operation was named 'Promise of Truth III,' carrying out overwhelming and precise strikes on dozens of military centers and air force bases belonging to the Zionist regime. The operation's name indicates continuity with two previous air raids targeting mainland Israel last year. Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated to Israel, "They started and waged the war. The wicked and vicious Zionist regime has made a grave mistake and error."

Earlier, on the same day, the Israeli military deployed 200 fighter jets in the early morning to conduct airstrikes on the Natanz nuclear facility in Isfahan, central Iran, as well as key military commanders and nuclear scientists. In the afternoon, jets were again deployed to strike Iranian ballistic missile production sites and launchers.

Reporter Sam Ko, Hankyung.com jsk@hankyung.com