News Desk: In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile and drone offensive against Israel on Friday, breaching the heavily fortified Iron Dome defence system and striking Tel Aviv. The retaliation followed Israel’s covert military operation, Rising Lion, which targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and killed several top-ranking Iranian military officials.
Missiles Rain Down on Tel Aviv
Sirens blared across Tel Aviv around 9 PM local time, as dozens of Iranian missiles approached the city. Residents rushed for cover, their phones flashing with urgent alerts. Interceptions lit up the night sky — but not all threats were stopped. One Iranian ballistic missile hit a high-rise residential building in the heart of the city, shattering windows, twisting steel, and causing fires amid the wreckage.
According to The Times of Israel, at least 15 people were injured, including two critically. Emergency responders rushed to at least five impact zones, battling fires and searching for trapped civilians.
Iran’s “Crushing Response” to Israel’s Covert Attack
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised statement, declared that Israel would “face ruin” for its aggression, and vowed “heavy blows” in return. Just hours earlier, Israeli airstrikes had killed over 78 people in Iran, including senior officials and nuclear scientists, as reported by Tehran’s UN envoy.
The new chief of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned of a “gates of hell” response. Iranian media later confirmed explosions near northern Tehran, further escalating tensions.
What is the Iron Dome—and How Did It Fail?
The Iron Dome is Israel’s world-renowned missile defence system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and operational since 2011. It is specifically designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets, artillery shells, and missiles in mid-air before they can hit populated areas.
-
Success Rate: Normally boasts an interception rate of 90% or more, especially for projectiles deemed to pose a threat to civilian zones.
-
Multi-Layered Defence: Works in conjunction with Israel’s other systems like David’s Sling and the Arrow System to protect against both short- and long-range threats.
-
How It Works: Using radar and Tamir interceptor missiles, the Iron Dome identifies threats, calculates their trajectory, and eliminates them if they pose danger to infrastructure or lives.
But Friday’s assault overwhelmed the system with a wave of drones followed by ballistic missiles. According to military sources, Iran launched over 100 drones and missiles in multiple phases—deliberately designed to saturate and breach Israel’s defence layers.
While many were intercepted, at least a few ballistic missiles slipped through. Analysts say this marks the first significant breach of the Iron Dome in a high-intensity, state-to-state conflict, raising serious questions about its vulnerability under sustained attack.
Israel Vows Retaliation
In a defiant late-night video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “This is just the beginning. The regime in Tehran doesn’t know what’s about to hit them — it has never been weaker.” He claimed that Israel had destroyed nuclear sites, weapons caches, and eliminated several top Iranian figures in just 24 hours.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant accused Iran of a war crime for targeting civilians and vowed a “heavy price” would be exacted.
The Road Ahead: Full-Scale War?
As West Asia holds its breath, the world watches a potential multi-front conflict unfold. With Iran and Israel trading deadly blows and rhetoric, and both armed with powerful military technology, fears of a full-scale regional war have surged to new heights.
