Iran launches hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for airstrikes

Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded on Friday night across Israel following what the country's military spokesman said was the firing of missiles from Iran.

Iran's state news agency IRNA said hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched as part of “Operation True Promise 3”, in retaliation for Israel's biggest ever attacks on Iran, blasting Iran's huge underground nuclear site at Natanz and wiping out its top military commanders.

Iranian state media said the country's forces downed two Israeli fighter jets and detained one pilot. "At least two Israeli F-35 fighter jets were shot down in Iranian skies," Iranian media reported.

Iranian media declared that Tehran's response to Israel had "officially begun," marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions.

At least 21 people have been injured in an Iranian attack on a building in Tel Aviv, Israel's paramedics service Magen David Adom said on Friday.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they carried out attacks against dozens of targets in Israel in retaliation for the latter's biggest attacks ever against Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected calls on Tehran to show restraint following Israel's large-scale deadly attack on the Islamic republic.

Araghchi "rejected calls for Iran to show restraint in the face of Israeli aggression" in call with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement.

Iranaian senior official told Reuters that nowhere in Israel will be safe, adding that the country's revenge will be painful.

Air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early Friday as Israel's military confirmed the launch of multiple missiles from Iran. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) instructed civilians to seek shelter immediately and remain there until further notice.

Loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with AFP and Reuters correspondents reporting booms consistent with missile interceptions. Iran's state media confirmed that hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched in response to recent Israeli strikes.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the country was actively intercepting the incoming threats and emphasized that Israel could defend itself without foreign assistance.

The US military has helped shoot down Iranian missiles that were headed toward Israel, two US officials said on Friday. One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that for now the US interceptions had been carried out by ground-based systems.