Iran launched a series of ballistic missile attacks targeting Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, escalating tensions in the Middle East to a critical point.

The assault, described by Israeli officials as a retaliatory response to Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, prompted a robust defense from Israel, bolstered by significant U.S. military support.

According to Fox News, Iran fired approximately 100 ballistic missiles in multiple waves, with some breaching Israel’s advanced air defense systems and striking civilian areas in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that most missiles were intercepted by Israel’s multilayered defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems, or failed to reach their targets.

However, several buildings were hit, with Channel 12 reporting two people critically injured, eight moderately injured, and 34 with minor injuries due to shrapnel.

The attack followed Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” a large-scale offensive that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz and Isfahan, as well as military infrastructure and senior commanders, including Hossein Salami of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as “one of the greatest military operations in history,” aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Explosions illuminated the skies over Tel Aviv, with sirens urging residents to seek shelter. Social media footage showed missiles streaking across the night sky, some intercepted with bright flashes, while others caused damage to residential areas.

In Ramat Gan, an apartment block suffered significant structural damage, and emergency services worked to rescue trapped individuals.

The United States played a pivotal role in Israel’s defense, deploying ground-based air defense systems, including Patriot Pac-3 and THAAD, to intercept incoming missiles.

Two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke, positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean, also contributed to the effort.

Fox News reported that U.S. forces assisted in shooting down multiple projectiles, a move described by Pentagon officials as critical to preventing a larger-scale catastrophe.

A U.S. official emphasized that while the U.S. was informed of Israel’s strikes on Iran, it did not participate in the offensive operations.

At the UN Security Council, U.S. representative McCoy Pitt reiterated that Israel’s actions were “necessary for its self-defense,” underscoring America’s commitment to Israel’s security while advocating for diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.