Smoke engulfs skyline: Iranian missile hits Israel's Ashdod; IDF strikes Tehran
Heavy smoke billowed over Tehran on Monday after Israeli fighter jets launched retaliatory strikes on Iran's capital, hours after Iranian ballistic missiles hit the Israeli city of Ashdod.
The escalation comes amid an intensifying 11-day conflict between the two regional foes, with the United States now deeply involved following direct strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.
The Israel Defense Forces said air raid sirens rang out across northern Israel as Iran fired a new salvo of missiles and drones from its territory, targeting several locations including Tel Aviv and Haifa.
One Iranian missile struck near a major power station in southern Israel, temporarily knocking out electricity to nearby towns.
The Israel Electric Corporation later confirmed that supply had been fully restored.
Iran's HUGE Attack On Israel: Nearly 100 Injured In Tel Aviv, Haifa; Gaza-Like Scenes On Cam
Search and rescue operations were underway at several locations in Israel, though most injuries were minor, according to emergency services. Israeli media confirmed an impact near Ashdod, and explosions were reported in Jerusalem, though damage assessments remain restricted under military censorship.
In response to Monday's attack, the IDF launched a broad offensive on Iranian targets in and around Tehran.
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Witnesses described smoke engulfing the skyline, but it remains unclear which military or strategic assets were hit. Iran has claimed the missile attacks are part of its 'Operation True Promise 3,' warning both Israel and the United States that further retaliation is imminent.
The situation worsened over the weekend when American B-2 bombers dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan – causing what the head of the UN nuclear watchdog described as 'very significant damage.'
Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA said the attacks likely destroyed sensitive centrifuge infrastructure, although inspectors have yet to assess the full scale of the damage.
In Tehran, the chief of Iran's armed forces, Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, threatened the US directly, declaring that Iran's military now had a 'free hand' to strike American troops stationed across the Middle East. The Trump administration insisted its strikes were a limited operation aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear capabilities, but President Trump warned further action could follow if Iran continued its aggression.
International reaction has been swift, with EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels and warning of catastrophic consequences if the conflict spirals further. 'The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge,' said EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, adding that Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz would endanger global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, signalling Tehran's effort to bolster support from key allies as it faces simultaneous military pressure from both Israel and the United States.
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