Iran launches over 30 missiles at Israel, triggering fires, while IDF retaliates near Tehran’s Mehrabad airport
Sirens blared across northern and central Israel late Tuesday night as Iran fired over 30 missiles in a surprise assault, prompting a swift Israeli military response. While no casualties were reported, multiple fires broke out after missile shrapnel struck residential areas, triggering panic and emergency evacuations.
The barrage, launched just after midnight on June 18, saw incoming missiles intercepted over the Golan Heights and central Israel. Residents scrambled for shelter as Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency teams raced to five impact sites where shrapnel had fallen. Some individuals sustained injuries while fleeing to protected areas, but no one was directly hurt by the missiles.
Flames engulfed parts of several neighbourhoods in the centre and north of the country, with local firefighting crews battling blazes sparked by debris crashing into rooftops and open land. Videos posted online showed bright streaks of light cutting across the sky, intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,i appeared to claim responsibility with a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo and the caption: “The battle begins.”
Moments after the initial barrage, a second wave of missiles was detected, this time targeting central Israel and the West Bank. Though Israel’s air defence systems intercepted most of the incoming projectiles, the psychological impact on the population was immense, with families fleeing their beds in the middle of the night for bomb shelters.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) quickly escalated the confrontation. In a rare move, the military issued a warning to residents of Tehran, urging evacuations from the city’s 18th district — home to Mehrabad International Airport. Shortly after the advisory, Israeli airstrikes began hitting targets near the airport, marking a dramatic new phase in the Israel-Iran shadow war.
Military analysts say the retaliation signals a calculated and direct response from the Israeli government, indicating it sees the missile barrage as a significant escalation from Tehran.
The attack is the latest development in the ongoing proxy and cyber conflict between the two regional rivals. But this time, the confrontation burst into the open with a direct exchange of long-range missiles — a highly unusual event in the history of Israel-Iran tensions.
Israeli defence officials remained tight-lipped about the extent of damage inflicted inside Tehran. However, unconfirmed videos circulating on social media appear to show smoke rising from western parts of the Iranian capital. Iran has yet to formally comment on the airstrikes.
The attack follows weeks of escalating hostility in the region. Israel’s recent operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the killing of Hamas leaders in Iranian territory have strained ties and raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Tehran had vowed retaliation following the assassination of senior commanders and attacks on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) interests.
In April, Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile assault on Israel in retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Damascus, which killed IRGC officers. Tuesday’s barrage appears to be a continuation of that cycle of reprisal.
World leaders have urged restraint amid fears the situation could spiral out of control. The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting, while the US State Department reiterated its “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security.
As the dust settles, the region remains on edge, with both sides bracing for possible follow-up attacks. The IDF remains on high alert, and Iran’s response — or lack thereof — in the coming hours will determine whether the Middle East inches closer to a broader conflict or retreats from the brink.
