Iran Retaliates, Smoke Billows Over Tel Aviv After Missile Attacks
Tel Aviv, 14 June 2025 – Thick plumes of black smoke rose over Tel Aviv’s skyline on Friday night as Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel’s unprecedented strikes on its nuclear facilities and military leadership. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported that over 150 missiles were fired in three waves, overwhelming parts of the country’s Iron Dome defence system. Explosions echoed across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with sirens urging residents to seek shelter in bomb shelters.
The Iranian counterattack, dubbed “True Promise 3” by state media, came 18 hours after Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” which targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment complex and killed senior military figures, including Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned Israel’s actions as “state terrorism,” vowing a “severe and wise” response. Videos circulating on social media showed missiles streaking across Tel Aviv’s night sky, with some evading interception and striking central areas, igniting fires and damaging buildings.
Hospitals in Tel Aviv and surrounding cities reported treating dozens of injuries. Ichilov Hospital admitted 18 patients, while Beilinson and Sheba hospitals treated seven and nine, respectively, for shrapnel wounds, smoke inhalation, and shock. Seven people were reported injured near Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, with one in critical condition. Israeli emergency services scrambled to rescue people trapped in struck buildings, and firefighters battled blazes amid mangled vehicles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the nation from a secure location, declared that the public could leave shelters but urged vigilance, stating, “More is on the way.” He defended Israel’s initial strikes as necessary to neutralise an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Defence Minister Israel Katz called Iran’s attack a “red line” for targeting civilian areas, hinting at further escalation.
The United States, a key Israeli ally, confirmed its military assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, with a U.S. official noting “exquisite” intelligence support. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. played no direct role in Israel’s initial attack. The conflict’s ripple effects were felt globally, with crude oil prices surging over fears of broader disruption in the oil-producing region, though no damage to production infrastructure was reported. Airlines rerouted flights, and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport temporarily closed.
In a statement on Friday night, as per Iran’s Press TV, less than 24 hours after the Israeli aggression, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed the launch of the retaliatory operation, dubbing it “True Promise III.”
The public relations department of the IRGC said the targets numbered “dozens,” including Israeli military centers and airbases.
Iran called the response “crushing and precise,” with the IRGC delivering the counterstrike in its role as “the defensive and offensive arm of the Iranian nation.”
The retaliation, according to the statement, was carried out relying on “divine power, the Leader’s wise guidance, and the unified demand and support of the noble Iranian people.”
It came in response to the “incursion and aggressive actions by the bloodthirsty and child-killing Zionist terrorist regime,” the statement added.
