Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jun 8: A missile launched from Iran, or debris resulting from an interception attempt, struck a settlement in the occupied West Bank on Monday, damaging three residential buildings and intensifying fears of a broader regional conflict.
According to Israeli media reports, the impact caused significant property damage, while dramatic videos circulating online showed thick smoke billowing from the affected area. Emergency authorities confirmed that no casualties were immediately reported.
The missile attack set off air-raid sirens across Jerusalem and several parts of the West Bank, sending residents scrambling for shelter. Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions as Israeli air defence systems engaged incoming projectiles.
Shortly afterward, a second wave of missiles was launched from Iran, prompting the Israeli military to issue fresh warnings for residents in central parts of the country to remain in protected areas.
The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two longtime adversaries. The flare-up comes amid ongoing diplomatic discussions involving the United States and Iran and follows Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday that reportedly killed at least two people.
In response, Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israeli territory. Israel subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes early Monday, targeting military-related sites in western and central Iran.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that Israeli attacks had struck locations inside Iranian territory. According to Iranian state media, the operations involved air-launched ballistic missiles and led to explosions in several major cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan and Karaj.
The Israeli military later acknowledged conducting air operations against military targets in Iran, stating that the strikes were carried out by the Israeli Air Force.
Iranian media also reported that the Karun Petrochemical Complex in Mahshahr, located in the country's southwest, sustained partial damage during the Israeli attacks. Israeli authorities later confirmed the strike.
Meanwhile, regional tensions widened further as the Israeli military announced the interception of a missile launched from Yemen. The projectile triggered warning sirens in central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, before being successfully neutralized by Israeli defence systems.
The continuing exchange of strikes across multiple fronts has raised concerns about the possibility of a wider conflict involving several countries and armed groups across the Middle East.