Iranian missiles hospitalise scores of Israelis as Tel Aviv bombarded by waves of retaliatory strikes

13 June 2025, 19:43 | Updated: 15 June 2025, 12:12

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025.
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. Picture: Alamy

By Jacob Paul

Scores of Israelis were injured in strikes overnight after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned he would 'inflict heavy blows' as the threat of all-out war in the Middle East continues to grow.

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Israel's ambulance service reported 34 people were injured on Friday night in Tel Aviv, most with minor injuries. Police later reported one person died.

An Iranian missile reportedly hit homes in the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, killing two people and injuring 19.

The injuries include shrapnel damage, smoke inhalation and shock.

This comes as Israel launched a "pre-emptive" attack on Iran on Friday morning.

The Iranian ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said 78 people have been killed and more than 320 were injured, according to reports.

Israel's strikes killed three of Iran's top military leaders: General Mohammad Bagheri, armed forces leader; General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the ballistic missile programme; and General Hossein Salami, leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

An Israeli emergency responder inspects a site hit by a missile fired from Iran in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
An Israeli emergency responder inspects a site hit by a missile fired from Iran in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. Picture: Getty

A fresh wave saw Israeli civilians ordered to return to bomb shelters just hours after being told they could leave after more 'missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel' were identified by the IDF.

'Leaving the protected space is only permitted following an explicit directive', the military said in a statement.

Explosions were reportedly heard in Jerusalem, with drones seen in the skies.

It comes after the IDF said its air force intercepted a suspicious aerial target in the Eilat area, in southern Israel, just hours after telling people they could leave sheltered areas.

A damaged building at a site hit by a missile fired from Iran in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
A damaged building at a site hit by a missile fired from Iran in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. Picture: Getty

They also investigated a similar incident in Arava, where two suspicious aerial targets were reportedly intercepted.

Earlier, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned Iran 'will inflict heavy blows' in a chilling threat after Israel 'launched war' with a second wave of strikes on its nuclear sites on Friday.

He warned in a flurry of posts on X that Israel cannot make 'hit and run' attacks without severe consequences.

'The Zionist regime (Israel) will not remain unscathed from the consequences of its crime,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei added.

He said the 'Iranian nation must be guaranteed that our response will not be half-measured,' he says, as he warned Iran will 'inflict heavy blows' on Israel.

Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles, and made a 'few hits', according to the Israeli military

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X: 'There are a limited number of buildings that were hit, some due to shrapnel from interception operations.'

Read more: Israel's strikes on Iran divide opinion with LBC callers

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Picture: Alamy

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran crossed 'red lines' by targeting civilian areas

'Iran has crossed red lines by daring to fire missiles at civilian population centres in Israel,' he said in a statement.

Israel's Iron dome had been intercepting the missiles over Tel Aviv, with huge plumes of smoke visible over the city. Meanwhile, several blasts were reportedly heard over Jerusalem.

The US military helped to shoot down Iranian missiles on route to toward Israel, two American officials said on Friday.

It comes after Iranian media reported that two loud explosions were heard near Iran's Fordow nuclear station - where one Israeli drone was reportedly shot down.

The Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain and located south of the capital, is one of two nuclear sites where Iran has been enriching uranium to near-bomb grade.

Iranian citizens also reportedly heard explosions in western Tehran, as well as other parts of the city.

Following the reports of explosions in Iran, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) says they have carried out strikes against Iran's nuclear plant in Isfahan.

Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025.
Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. Picture: Alamy
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer makes a statement in Downing Street.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer makes a statement in Downing Street. Picture: Alamy

Air Force jets attacked the nuclear site, which is where the process of reconversion of enriched uranium takes place, according to the IDF.

Iran has claimed that 78 people have been killed and more than 320 are injured in Israeli attack.

Speaking from a UN Security Council meeting in New York, Amir-Saeid Iravani said the 'overwhelming majority' are civilians.

He labelled the attacks 'barbaric and criminal', adding that the 'deliberate and systematic' killings were a 'chilling display of calculated aggression'.

He added that the US are 'complicit' after providing 'aid and assistance'.

'We will not forget that our people lost their lives as a result of the Israeli attacks with American weapons,' he said.

'Britain has grave concerns'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held a call with US President Donald Trump amid the surging tensions.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this evening.

“The leaders discussed the military action in the Middle East overnight and agreed on the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

“Updating on his conversations with partners today, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programmes.

“The leaders looked forward to speaking again at the G7 in Canada next week.”

Earlier, Sir Keir urged "all parties to step back" after Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks across Iran.

He convened a Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the escalating situation, after Israeli missiles were intercepted south of Tehran by the Iranian air defences for the second time in 24 hours.

Sir Keir called for tensions to be "urgently” reduced in the region, but also admitted his "grave concerns" about Iran’s nuclear programme and backed Israel’s right to self defence.

This latest missile strike from Israel follows their wide-reaching overnight attack on sites across Iran - which also targeted a range of nuclear and military facilities.

Dubbed Operation Rising Lion, it sent 200 warplanes to conduct a wave of air strikes across Iran before dawn, hitting nuclear facilities and missile factories, killing military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted "Iran's nuclear programme and other military targets" and were a part of their efforts to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The IDF added that it had "destroyed a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for converting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure".

In the hours that followed, Iran ominously declared Israel’s assault on its military facilities a "declaration of war".

Jerusalem's air raid alert system was triggered following Iran latest missile launch. Residents were instructed to stay close to protected spaces and minimise movement in open areas.

'Responsibility'

Iran's representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, spoke at a Security Council meeting and said the strikes on Iran have killed 78 people and injured more than 320, with most of the casualties being civilians, he adds.

He said: "This is not merely an attack on one country.

"This is a direct assault on the international order. An attack on the charter of the United Nations."

Iravani accuses the US of providing intelligence and political support for Israel's attacks on Iran.

He said: "By aiding and enabling these crimes, they share full responsibility for the consequences."

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the UN Security Council that Iran was on the verge of producing enough material for multiple bombs.

Israel's emergency services say Iran's airstrikes left 34 people injured in Gush Dan, or the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. They have all been taken to hospital - including one critically-injured woman, one seriously-injured man and two people who were moderately injured, it said.

Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, told NBC: "We plan to accomplish the total annihilation of Iran's nuclear weapons programme.

"They have made no secret of their intention of using that program to eliminate the state of Israel."

Mr Leiter adds: "We reached the conclusion that we'd have to act because this is... an existential issue.

"This is our existence. We don't have time."

This is a breaking story. More to follow.

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