Israel continues its offensive against Iran that began early this morning. Israeli planes have bombed the nuclear plant in Isfahan, where they claim Iran was converting enriched uranium for the production of nuclear weapons. Iran has responded on Friday by launching dozens of missiles against Israel. One of them has hit Tel Aviv.
Leaders from around the world have called for de-escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu states that the operation, dubbed "Rising Lion," reached "the heart of the Iranian nuclear enrichment program."
As a precautionary measure, Israel has decided to temporarily close its embassies worldwide. The Israeli military continues to attack targets in the country after launching an initial barrage last night. The nighttime attack was a large-scale offensive against Iranian military and nuclear targets in which several high-ranking officials and nuclear scientists were killed, including the head of the Revolutionary Guard, Hussein Salami.
Iran's new commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guard, General Mohammad Pakpur, stated on Friday that "the gates of hell will soon open for the Zionists," in his first statements as head of the elite military body following the assassination of his predecessor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Friday that they had informed the U.S. and had meetings before attacking Iran. The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday. The meeting was requested by Iran and received support from Russia and China.
The third Iranian wave over Israel: local media report impacts in Tel Aviv
Israeli media reported "several impacts" in the Tel Aviv area after Iran launched a third wave of missiles against Israeli territory, with no information yet on casualties.
The newspaper The Times of Israel reported "several impacts" in the Jerusalem district, which had already suffered at least one missile strike in earlier waves on Friday, and the online newspaper Haaretz reported that "Iranian missiles hit several buildings in central Israel."
Currently, there is no official information on the events or possible casualties.
Iran launched a third wave of missiles against Israel after midnight, triggering alarms in wide areas of the country and seen in the sky of Jerusalem, where several explosions were heard, possibly from interceptions. So far, no impacts have been reported in the holy city.
New warning from Israel to its citizens to return to shelters
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ordered the public to enter protected spaces and take shelter until further notice. "Recently, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel," they stated in a statement. "Leaving the protected space is only allowed following explicit instructions."
Iran has launched a new wave of attacks with missiles against Israel. "A new round of Iranian missile attacks on the Zionist regime begins from Tehran and Kermanshah," a city in western Iran, said the television.
Air defense systems in Tehran activated, explosions heard in the Iranian capital
Air defense systems in Tehran were activated early on Saturday to counter Israeli airstrikes, according to state media.
An AFP correspondent reported loud explosions in the Iranian capital and saw a red glow in the sky.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN says his country is acting to "prevent its destruction"
The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated before the UN Security Council that Israel's goal is to "prevent its destruction" by dismantling the Iranian nuclear program.
"We know our enemies. We know their ideology. And when a regime builds ballistic missiles, enriches uranium almost to the grade of weaponry, and openly declares its intention to destroy us, we believe them," he stated.
He added that Israel was forced to act due to Iran's uranium enrichment and the hiring of nuclear scientists.
"We act to ensure the lives of our people. We act so that Jewish children in Jerusalem do not wake up to the sound of air raid sirens activated by a nuclear launch," he stated.