Israel launches airstrike on Iran: Middle East tensions at their highest

In an unprecedented military action since the start of the latest escalation, Israel has launched an airstrike against strategic facilities in Iran, in direct response to the recent wave of Iranian missile attacks that left at least nine dead in Israeli cities.

The Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed that the operation targeted military infrastructure in the provinces of Kerman and Esfahan, including command centers and missile depots, while Tehran denounced the attack as “a formal declaration of war.”

Netanyahu: “We will not let any aggression go unpunished.”
In an urgent statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel “does not seek all-out war, but neither will it tolerate provocations or lethal attacks against its population.”

“Today we send a clear message: whoever attacks Israel will pay a devastating price,” Netanyahu declared from a military base.

Iran Responds with Mobilization and Warnings
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei convened a meeting of the Supreme National Security Council and promised “multiple and forceful responses” to the Israeli aggression. Thousands of Revolutionary Guard troops were deployed in key areas, while blackouts and airspace closures were reported in several provinces.

“Israel has crossed a red line. Our response will be prolonged and painful,” the Iranian military spokesman said at a press conference in Tehran.

International Reaction: Concerns about a Regional War
The UN, the EU, and powers such as China and the United States have expressed extreme concern about the possibility of an all-out war in the Middle East. The Security Council has been urgently convened, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offers to mediate.

Developing Scenarios
Attacks continue in some areas of southwestern Iran, where air raid sirens have sounded for hours, according to local media. Israel maintains its forces on high alert, and international flights from Tel Aviv have been suspended.