Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory early Saturday June 14, striking back just hours after Israeli forces carried out a major air assault on multiple sites across Iran in one of the most direct military confrontations between the two nations in recent memory.
According to Al Jazeera’s live updates, explosions were reported in areas across Israel, including near Tel Aviv and Beersheba, as Iran retaliated for the Israeli strikes that reportedly hit several Iranian cities early Friday morning. Israel’s military confirmed that air defenses were activated and intercepted many of the incoming threats.
Smoke spotted after retaliatory missile attack on Tel Aviv, Israel Photo Courtesy Leo Correa AP
Iran’s counterattack followed a wide-ranging Israeli aerial operation that struck cities including Isfahan, Karaj, and areas near Tehran. Iranian officials said air defense systems had responded to the assault and claimed they had intercepted a number of Israeli missiles. Despite these efforts, damage and power outages were reported in several areas, and emergency services remain on high alert.
Key Developments:
-
Iran launched missiles and drones into Israel in direct retaliation for Israeli airstrikes.
-
Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted many, though damage and injuries were reported.
-
Israeli bombing targeted Iranian military and alleged nuclear-linked sites.
-
Power outages and emergency responses were reported in Iranian cities.
-
The UN and international leaders are calling for urgent de-escalation.
Civilian Impact and Nuclear Site Monitoring
While full casualty figures have not yet been confirmed, Iranian authorities reported damage to key infrastructure. Some schools and public facilities in affected cities have been closed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely. No radiation leaks or threats to nuclear material have been detected.
U.S. Involvement and Criticism of “Self-Defense” Doctrine
Israel has not formally commented on the operation, but U.S. officials said they were informed of the strike in advance and emphasized that American forces were not involved.
However, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara criticized Israel’s justification, saying the government regularly invokes “self-defense” to carry out military actions in the region with impunity due to U.S. backing.
“Israel has military superiority thanks to the United States. You could also say that it is not Israel. It is the American-supported Israeli army,” Bishara said, referencing Israel’s use of U.S.-made weapons in the bombing of Iran.
He further argued that international law is being undermined by double standards.
“Iran doesn’t have the right of self-defense. But Israel does. So Israel takes that right in order to bomb Iran. But if Iran bombs Israel — no, Iran does not have the right of self-defense,” he added.
Bishara also accused Israel of using the self-defense argument to justify prolonged regional violence.
“It carries out genocide in the name of self-defense. It carries out the invasion of different countries in the name of self-defense. It maintains an occupation for six decades in the name of self-defense. Now it’s going to bomb more and more of Iran in the name of self-defense.”
Global Reaction and Growing Concerns
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session Friday night. World leaders have called for both sides to exercise restraint amid growing fears of regional escalation. Parts of Middle Eastern airspace remain closed, major airlines have suspended flights, and global oil prices surged on fears of disruption.
Observers warn that continued military escalation could trigger a wider conflict involving regional actors and non-state groups.
Why It Matters
This week’s events mark a dangerous turning point in the decades-long standoff between Israel and Iran. While the two countries have engaged in proxy battles for years, these direct state-to-state strikes push the conflict into a volatile new phase.
With alleged nuclear facilities targeted, international law under scrutiny, and U.S. support being publicly challenged, the situation has now become a critical test for regional stability and global diplomacy.
