In a bold response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for unconditional surrender, Iran has escalated the ongoing conflict with Israel, launching a pair of ballistic missile barrages at the Jewish state early Wednesday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marked the intensification of hostilities with a chilling declaration that “the battle begins,” accompanied by a call for showing “no mercy” toward Israelis.
This violent retaliation comes as Israel continues to target Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure with airstrikes in Tehran.
The first barrage of missiles from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel at approximately 12:40 a.m., triggering air raid sirens across a vast stretch of the country. A total of 15 ballistic missiles were launched, with another smaller barrage of around five missiles following 40 minutes later.
The timing and scale of the attack heightened fears of a broader conflict erupting in the region.
Israel’s military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was quick to respond, issuing alerts to the public and instructing residents to seek shelter immediately. The IDF’s sophisticated air defense systems, including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, intercepted the majority of the incoming missiles, preventing major casualties.
However, debris from one of the intercepted missiles sparked a fire in a central Israeli parking lot, damaging around 20 vehicles. Thankfully, no injuries were reported from either missile barrage, but the psychological impact of such a large-scale attack on Israeli soil is profound.
The IDF later confirmed that several missile defenses successfully neutralized the missiles, and the military took steps to reassure the public that it was safe to emerge from shelters after the immediate danger passed. Despite these successful intercepts, the growing threat of additional Iranian missile and drone attacks looms large, as demonstrated by several smaller salvos earlier on Tuesday, followed by the later missile strikes.
The IRGC, which is responsible for the majority of Iran’s missile operations, boasted that it had used hypersonic missiles in its assault on Israel. However, Israel’s defense officials have firmly denied that Iran possesses such advanced missile technology, casting doubt on the IRGC’s claims. According to Iranian state media, the missiles launched were part of the ongoing “Operation Honest Promise 3,” a military campaign that Iran claims is aimed at asserting its dominance over what it refers to as the “occupied territories.”
Iran also claimed to have “gained complete control over the skies of the occupied territories,” a bold assertion that many military analysts see as exaggerated. While Israel's interception of most of the missiles suggests that Iranian air defense systems are not yet capable of challenging Israel's superiority in the air, the ongoing missile exchanges signal that both sides are preparing for a prolonged conflict.
In the aftermath of the missile attack, Khamenei took to social media to address the situation directly, declaring, “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime.” His message, posted on his official accounts in English, Hebrew, and Persian, left little doubt as to the severity of Iran’s intentions.
Khamenei’s insistence on showing no mercy to Israel reflects the growing animosity between the two nations, which have been at odds for decades over a range of issues, most notably Iran’s nuclear program.
The Iranian Supreme Leader framed the missile strikes as part of a larger ideological battle, invoking the historical significance of the Battle of Khaybar, a 7th-century military confrontation in which Muslim forces defeated the Jewish inhabitants of the town. In an image posted alongside his message, Khamenei depicted a warrior holding a sword in front of a fiery backdrop, symbolizing the flames of war that are now consuming the region.
His words served as both a rallying cry for his supporters and a warning to Israel that Iran would not back down from this conflict.
As Iran launched its missile salvos, Israel retaliated with a fresh wave of airstrikes against key military sites in Tehran. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) targeted several high-profile facilities, including a centrifuge production site that plays a critical role in Iran’s nuclear weapons development program, as well as weapon-production factories associated with the IRGC.
The IDF confirmed that more than 50 IAF fighter jets participated in the strikes, hitting around 20 targets across Tehran. The operation marked a significant escalation in the Israeli campaign to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Israel views as an existential threat.
The strikes specifically targeted sites involved in uranium enrichment, missile production, and the assembly of surface-to-air missiles that could potentially be used to counter Israeli aircraft.
One of the most significant targets of the Israeli airstrikes was the Khojir missile production facility, which has long been associated with Iran’s ballistic missile program. Previous Israeli operations have successfully damaged this site, and the recent strikes appear to have dealt another blow to Iran’s missile production capabilities.
Additionally, reports from Iranian news outlets confirmed that explosions had rocked a university in eastern Tehran linked to the IRGC, along with the Khojir and Karaj facilities, further signaling Israel’s determination to dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure.
The military exchanges between Israel and Iran have resulted in significant casualties on both sides. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed, and more than 500 others have been wounded as a result of Iranian missile attacks. In Iran, Israeli airstrikes have claimed at least 224 lives, according to Iranian officials.
The toll of the conflict is mounting, and as both sides continue to escalate their military efforts, the potential for further loss of life and destruction is high.
Despite these tragic casualties, both nations are digging in their heels. Israel has made it clear that it will not relent in its efforts to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities, viewing them as a threat to the survival of the Jewish state. Meanwhile, Iran is determined to stand firm against what it views as an existential battle against the Israeli “Zionist regime,” with Khamenei repeatedly calling for no mercy in his statements.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community is growing increasingly concerned. Both the United States and European Union have expressed their fears that the situation could spiral out of control, potentially leading to a wider regional war.
The United Nations has called for restraint on both sides, urging Israel and Iran to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, with both nations digging in their heels, the prospects for diplomacy appear slim.
The United States, which has long been a strong ally of Israel, has remained largely neutral in the direct military exchanges between the two nations. However, President Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric, calling for Iran’s unconditional surrender, has further exacerbated tensions in the region.
The U.S. has shown no inclination to mediate between Israel and Iran, and the deployment of additional U.S. forces to the region has further complicated the already volatile situation.
As the conflict enters its sixth day, both Israel and Iran are preparing for more rounds of military action. While Israel continues its targeted strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Iran is launching increasingly powerful missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory.
The escalating violence and the threat of further escalation present a grim future for both nations, as well as for the broader Middle East.
The international community will continue to watch closely as these two regional powers engage in an increasingly bitter and dangerous conflict. With both sides showing no signs of backing down, the prospect of a prolonged and devastating war seems all but certain unless some form of diplomatic intervention is introduced.
But with Khamenei’s call for no mercy and Israel’s firm resolve to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, it remains unclear how or when this conflict will end.
