Iran Fires Missile Barrage at Israel After Assassinations of Militant Leaders

Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in a major retaliatory strike, escalating tensions across the region after a series of high-profile killings blamed on Israel. The attack came in response to the recent deaths of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, as well as an Iranian general, prompting Tehran to carry out one of its largest direct assaults on Israeli territory.

Israeli officials said most of the missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, with support from U.S. forces in the region. Air raid sirens sounded across much of Israel for hours as residents rushed to shelters. Despite the scale of the attack, casualties were reported to be minimal, though some damage was caused by falling debris and impacts in limited areas.

The missile barrage marks a sharp escalation in the shadow conflict between Iran and Israel, which has intensified amid the war in Gaza and repeated strikes on Iran-backed groups across the Middle East. While both sides have signaled a desire to avoid full-scale war, the latest exchange underscores the risk of broader regional confrontation. International leaders have called for restraint as security officials monitor for further retaliation.