Retaliation from Iran has begun, according to the Israeli military.
The alert comes hours after Israel launched a wave of coordinated airstrikes on Iranian soil, an operation it described as “pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence.”
The campaign, named Operation Rising Lion, reportedly targeted key Iranian military figures and infrastructure.
Among the casualties is Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces, who was reportedly killed during the assault.
In response, Iran has fired more than 100 drones toward Israel.
“All (aerial) defense arrays have been operating to intercept the threats,” said IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin.
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“This is a different event to what we’ve experienced thus far, and we’re expecting difficult hours.”
Israel is now on emergency footing as the incoming attack unfolds.
The latest developments mark one of the most dangerous escalations between the two rivals in recent years.
The full scope of the Iranian response and how far this conflict could go remains uncertain.