Missiles fired from Iran triggered explosions over Jerusalem on Thursday as Israel’s air defence systems scrambled to intercept incoming projectiles, according to the Israeli military, marking another escalation in the rapidly intensifying conflict between the two regional rivals.
The Israel Defense Forces, IDF, said it detected missiles launched from Iranian territory toward Israel and immediately activated its defensive systems to intercept them. Air raid sirens sounded across several parts of the country, including Jerusalem, as residents rushed to shelters amid fears of impact.
AFP journalists and local media reported hearing loud explosions in the skies over Jerusalem and other cities, including Tel Aviv, shortly after the warning sirens were triggered. The blasts were believed to be the result of Israel’s missile defence systems intercepting the incoming projectiles mid-air.
The Israeli military said its air defence units were “operating to intercept the threat” after identifying the launches from Iran, while emergency services were placed on high alert across the country.
Initial reports from Israel’s emergency response agency, Magen David Adom, indicated that no immediate fatalities had been recorded, though several people sustained minor injuries while rushing to protected shelters when the alarms sounded.
Iranian state media and officials said the missile launches were aimed at military installations and security targets in Israel, claiming the attacks were part of Tehran’s response to ongoing Israeli strikes on Iranian and allied positions in the region.
The latest barrage comes as hostilities between the two countries continue to widen, drawing in armed groups allied to Iran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict has already seen heavy bombardments across parts of the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Military analysts say the exchange of missile attacks represents one of the most direct confrontations between Iran and Israel in recent years. Previous waves of missile and drone strikes have triggered nationwide sirens in Israel and caused damage in several cities, although many of the projectiles were intercepted by Israel’s sophisticated air defence systems.
Authorities in Israel have urged residents to remain close to shelters and follow safety instructions as the situation continues to develop, warning that additional missile launches cannot be ruled out.
International observers and several governments have meanwhile called for urgent de-escalation to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the already volatile Middle East.
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