Fighting across West Asia intensified sharply as Iran fired advanced ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv while United States and Israeli forces expanded coordinated air strikes deep inside Iranian territory, pushing the conflict into its seventh day and widening fears of a prolonged regional war.Iran’s armed forces launched a large-scale barrage that included Kheybar Shekan ballistic missiles, a long-range weapon developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and capable of striking targets across the region with high precision. Explosions and fires were reported in several neighbourhoods of Tel Aviv after missiles penetrated Israeli air defences and struck residential areas. Emergency services rushed to extinguish fires and evacuate residents as debris scattered across apartment blocks and commercial districts.
Israeli authorities reported multiple casualties and extensive damage to buildings. Sirens sounded across central Israel as defence systems attempted to intercept incoming projectiles. Officials described the attack as one of the most significant direct strikes from Iran against Israeli territory during the escalating confrontation.
The missile barrage followed a coordinated air campaign launched by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military and strategic infrastructure. Washington described its participation in the offensive as part of a broader effort to neutralise Iranian missile capabilities and command networks. The joint operations were carried out under the code names Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury.
Aircraft and cruise missiles struck a series of targets across Iran, including facilities in Tehran, Isfahan and Qom. Military installations, command centres and suspected missile depots were among the objectives. Explosions were reported in several districts of the capital as air defences attempted to repel the attacks.
Iranian authorities confirmed widespread damage and mounting casualties across several cities. Humanitarian groups and officials inside the country said more than a thousand people had been killed since the conflict erupted, with many others injured as air raids and missile strikes struck both military and civilian areas. Residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure facilities were reported among the damaged sites, deepening concern over the growing humanitarian toll.
Hostilities were triggered by the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the initial wave of strikes targeting senior leadership and strategic facilities in Tehran. Iranian officials confirmed his death following an air attack on his compound that also killed several members of his inner circle and military commanders. The killing removed the most powerful figure in the country’s political system and triggered vows of retaliation from Tehran.
Iran’s leadership structure shifted quickly after the attack, with political and military figures attempting to stabilise governance while coordinating the response to the military campaign. President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials formed an interim leadership arrangement while the country prepared for a future transition in its supreme leadership structure.
Tehran has portrayed its missile strikes as a direct response to what it calls an unlawful act of aggression and the assassination of its leader. Military commanders warned that further waves of missile and drone attacks could target Israeli cities and United States military installations across the region.
The conflict has already spread beyond the immediate confrontation between Iran and Israel. Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon launched rockets and artillery attacks against northern Israel, prompting retaliatory Israeli air strikes in Lebanese territory. Lebanese health authorities reported civilian casualties as the fighting expanded into the border region.
Several countries hosting United States military bases also heightened security following missile and drone attacks directed at installations in the Gulf. Air defence systems were activated in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait as authorities monitored the risk of additional strikes.
Global diplomatic efforts have struggled to halt the escalation. The United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire and warned that continued fighting risked destabilising the entire region. International leaders expressed concern that the confrontation could disrupt energy supplies and global trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for oil shipments.
Energy markets reacted swiftly as traders assessed the possibility of disruptions to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure. Oil prices surged amid fears that prolonged hostilities could threaten tanker traffic or trigger further attacks on regional facilities.
Military analysts describe the conflict as one of the most dangerous confrontations between Iran and Israel in decades, with the direct involvement of United States forces raising the stakes considerably. The scale of missile exchanges, air strikes and proxy engagements suggests a shift from shadow warfare to open interstate conflict.