Tehran, June 14, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces launched a wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel on Friday evening, in response to an earlier Israeli attack on Iranian territory. The escalation marks a dramatic turn in regional tensions, with both nations engaging in direct and high-impact military operations.
The Iranian strikes came just hours after what Tehran described as “unprovoked aggression” by the Israeli regime, which reportedly targeted multiple locations in Iran, including civilian residential areas in the capital, Tehran, and other cities.
In a swift and coordinated counteroffensive, Iran’s missile and drone units, led by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), targeted a range of Israeli military installations and infrastructure. As missiles rained down on Israeli territory, images and footage emerged showing explosions lighting up the night sky over major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Initial reports indicated that Israel’s Ministry of War had been hit, while several of the country’s air defense systems were disabled ahead of further strikes. The IRGC confirmed in a statement that dozens of Israeli targets — including military bases, airfields, and weapons manufacturing facilities — were struck with precision.
A second IRGC statement released around midnight declared that “missile and drone units successfully struck Israeli military bases used in the earlier aggression against Iran.” The statement added that satellite imagery and other intelligence sources confirmed multiple direct hits, particularly on high-value targets.
The Iranian response coincided with a state of emergency declared across Israel by Defense Minister Israel Katz. Anticipating a strong Iranian reaction, Israeli forces began launching further strikes on Iranian territory, including areas near Tehran. In what appeared to be a dramatic escalation, Iranian military leaders were directly targeted.
Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, and Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, were both reportedly assassinated in Israeli strikes on the Iranian capital. In response, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei immediately appointed new top commanders to ensure the continuity of national defense operations.
Addressing the nation shortly before Iran’s counterattack, Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a firm warning to Israel. “Strong action should be taken, and will be taken,” the Leader stated in a televised address. “We will have no leniency on them. Life will undoubtedly turn bleak for them.”
The situation remains fluid as both nations brace for further developments amid growing international concern. Regional and global actors have begun calling for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent a wider conflict.
