In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran has launched a large-scale drone attack against Israel in retaliation for a series of deadly Israeli strikes that targeted key Iranian military and nuclear officials. According to international news agencies citing Israeli authorities, over 100 drones were launched by Iran toward Israeli territory. The unprecedented retaliatory action comes amid heightened tensions and military alert in Israel. Fearing ballistic missile strikes from Iran, the Israeli government has declared a state of emergency and advised citizens to remain close to bomb shelters.
In a televised address to the Iranian nation, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli attacks as a heinous crime against the Iranian homeland. “By targeting residential buildings, the Zionist regime has once again exposed its vicious and depraved nature,” he said. “Their hands are soaked in blood, and God willing, the strong arms of Iran’s armed forces will not rest until Israel is punished.”
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that the successors of fallen commanders and scientists will carry forward their mission. “Israel has chosen a bitter and painful fate, and there is no doubt it will pay the price,” he added.
The Israeli strikes, carried out over the past days, reportedly targeted multiple strategic locations within Iran, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian state media confirmed the martyrdom of several senior Iranian figures in these attacks.
Among the slain are IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami, Quds Force senior commander Esmail Qaani, and Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to the Supreme Leader and head of Iran’s nuclear program. Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and senior IRGC commander General Gholam Ali Rashid were also reported killed.
An Iranian military spokesperson warned that Israel and the United States will face severe consequences for their actions. “The Zionist aggression will not go unanswered. Our armed forces are fully prepared for a large-scale response,” the spokesperson stated, confirming the martyrdom of several top Iranian commanders.
The developments mark one of the most serious escalations between Iran and Israel in recent years, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
