Middle East on Fire: Iran and Israel Exchange Deadly Airstrikes

Iran and Israel attacked each other with missiles early on Saturday after Israel launched a big attack on Iran to stop it from making nuclear weapons, according to Reuters.

Before sunrise, air raid sirens rang out in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel’s two biggest cities. People ran to shelters while Israel’s army tried to shoot down the missiles.

The Israeli military said, “Dozens of missiles have been launched at Israel from Iran. Some of them were stopped by our defence systems.” They also said rescue teams were helping in places where missiles hit, but they didn’t say if anyone was killed or hurt.

In Iran’s capital, Tehran, explosions were heard, according to local news. Two missiles hit Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, which is close to important government buildings and has military aircraft. Flames were seen at the airport.

In Tel Aviv, a missile hit a tall building, damaging its lower floors. An apartment building in nearby Ramat Gan was completely destroyed. One person died, and 34 others were injured in the Tel Aviv area.

Iran fired a third round of missiles on Saturday, after two earlier attacks on Friday. Iran said these attacks were revenge for Israeli airstrikes on Friday that targeted Iranian military leaders, scientists, and nuclear sites.

The U.S. military also helped shoot down some of the Iranian missiles aimed at Israel. Israel said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday, and most of them were destroyed or missed. However, some missiles did hit buildings in Tel Aviv.