Iranian missiles strike Isreal, exposing pressure on air defences

Deaths, power outages and evacuations reported amid widening confrontation

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Iranian missile strikes have hit Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, causing casualties, infrastructure damage and widespread disruption, as the confrontation between Iran and Israel continues to intensify.

Israeli media reported that at least two people were killed and dozens injured after missiles struck parts of the city and nearby regions, including Ramat Gan. Emergency services were deployed across multiple locations as first responders searched for survivors and assessed damage.

Officials said several areas experienced power outages following the strikes, while thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. Transport was also affected, with the mayor of Tel Aviv confirming that rail services in and around the city had been suspended after a major station sustained damage.

The attacks, reported to have begun in the early hours of Wednesday, are said to have occurred in successive waves. Israeli defence systems were activated, but some projectiles appeared to penetrate air defences and hit urban regions.

Iranian military officials said the strikes were part of a broader campaign in response to recent attacks on Iranian targets. In a statement, the country’s armed forces said they had deployed advanced weapons systems not previously used in the conflict, though no independent verification of those claims has been provided.

They also said drones had been launched towards Ben Gurion Airport, describing it as a site linked to Israeli military operations. Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed the extent of any damage there.

Elsewhere in the region, there were reports that military installations linked to Western forces had been targeted. Australia’s defence authorities said a base in the United Arab Emirates had been damaged, though details remain limited.

The latest developments follow a sharp escalation in hostilities after strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites late last month. Since then, both sides have exchanged attacks across multiple fronts, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict.

Analysts say the scale and frequency of the latest strikes suggest a shift in the nature of the confrontation, with increasingly direct targeting of critical infrastructure and urban centres.

The situation remains fluid, with fears growing that continued escalation could draw in more regional actors and further destabilise an already volatile region.

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