Israel warns of ‘prolonged war' as missile strikes continue
Israel's top general has warned citizens to brace 'for a prolonged conflict' as Israel and Iran continue to trade blows over nuclear sites and weapons.
Iran fired missiles at central Israel early Saturday morning as the feud entered its ninth day, but the Israeli Defence Force were quick to intercept the attack.
One interception sparked a roof fire but the blaze was quickly extinguished. The military says Israeli Air Force shot down more than 15 drones launched from Iran at Israel overnight, with no reports of casualties so far.
The IDF has also launched a new wave of missile strikes as part of its mission to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, with fighter jets targeting 'missile storage and launch infrastructure in central Iran'.
On Friday afternoon, Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, setting off alarms across the country and sending millions running for bomb shelters.
Sites in Haifa and Karmiel where hit in northern Israel and Beersheba was targeted again in southern Israel, already reeling from a major hospital being struck just days earlier.
The missiles wounded at least 23 people in Haifa, striking a mosque, and one woman had a heart attack and died in a shelter in Karmiel, The Times of Israel reports.
Footage from Beersheba showed Iran likely targeted the city with a cluster bomb, with one of the small munitions hitting Colel Chabad Daycare Center. Two homes were also damaged, but no one was hurt, police and medics said.
'Miraculously, no children or staff were physically harmed, as the strike occurred Friday afternoon outside the center's regular operating time. However, the destruction of classrooms and play areas has deeply impacted dozens of local families who rely on the center for stability, safety and childcare,' a Colel Chabad Daycare Center spokesperson said.
The attacks came as Israel's IDF chief warned Israelis to brace for a 'prolonged campaign' to 'eliminate a threat of this magnitude'.
In a video statement, Eyal Zamir said Iran had been 'building for years a clear plan to destroy the State of Israel' and that in recent months, 'the plan reached the point of no return, where the capabilities reached operational capability.'
'Had we delayed, there was a risk of losing these conditions and entering the campaign in the future from a position of clear disadvantage,' he said.
'We understood that history would not forgive us if we failed to act now to defend the existence of the Jewish people in the State of Israel.'
Zamir added the strikes had already 'eliminated the enemy's senior command, inflicted deep damage to components of the nuclear program, opened an aerial corridor to Tehran and identified and destroyed about half of the missile launchers'.
He reassured citizens that alongside offensive operations defence of the home front continued.
'We are preparing for a range of possible developments,' he said. 'We have embarked on the most complex campaign in our history. We launched this campaign in order to eliminate a threat of this magnitude, against such an enemy, which requires readiness for a prolonged campaign,' said Zamir.
'The IDF is prepared for this. With each passing day, our freedom of action is expanding, and the enemy's is shrinking. The campaign is not over. While we have achieved significant results, challenging days still lie ahead, and we must remain alert and united until the mission is complete.
'I am confident that together, we will finish this campaign with Israel's hand on top.'
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