Iran launches fourth missile attack toward Israel in response to attack on nuclear sites

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sirens and a round of explosions, possibly from Israeli interceptors, could be heard booming in the sky over Jerusalem early Saturday, with the Israeli military saying another attack was taking place.

The Israeli military urged civilians, already rattled by an earlier wave of missiles, to head to shelter.

The Iranian outlet Nour News, which has close links with the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said a wave was being launched.

Earlier, Iran launched dozens of missiles toward Israel Friday afternoon in retaliation for the "preemptive" strike on Iran's nuclear program Thursday night.

"All of Israel is under fire as Iran fires projectiles," the Israeli military confirmed. "The Iranian attack is ongoing. Dozens of additional missiles were launched toward Israel."

The U.S. military is helping intercept missiles that Iran fired in retaliation at Israel, a U.S. official says.

The U.S. has been moving assets nearer to Israel to assist in missile intercepts and to provide better protection of U.S. bases in the region.

While the official did not say how the U.S. provided assistance, both U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft and destroyer-based missile defenses have intercepted missiles in previous attacks.

Iran's state news agency said the military dubbed the operation "Severe Punishment."

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) instructed the public to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.

"Leaving the protected space is only permitted following an explicit directive. Continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command," IDF said.

Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei said in a televised message that "the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces won't let them go unpunished."

"In the enemy’s attacks, several commanders and scientists have been martyred. God willing, their successors and colleagues will carry on with their duties without delay. With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see," he continued.

Israel's ongoing attacks on Iranian nuclear sites killed 78 people and wounded more than 320 on Friday, said Iran's ambassador to the United Nations. The strikes killed generals and scientists, but the ambassador told the U.N. Security Council that “the overwhelming majority” of victims were civilians.

Israeli emergency services, Magen David Adom, reported at least five people injured from the ongoing Iranian attacks, with one person in moderate condition and four others lightly injured by "shrapnel."

After the attack on Iran, President Donald Trump pushed leaders to make a nuclear deal with the United States "before there is nothing left" after Israel launched unprecedented attacks on the country.

"I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump then warned of more death and destruction if a deal isn't made soon.

"There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire," he said.

IDF said it launched "a preemptive, precise, combined offensive to strike Iran's nuclear program."

"Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world," a statement read. The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past."

The Israeli attack hit several sites, including Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Later in the morning, Israel said it had also destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.

In response, Iran launched more than 100 drones at Israel, with both Iraq and Jordan confirming they had flown over their airspace. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through.

Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders, one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, and another who ran the Guard’s ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

Iran confirmed all three deaths, which were a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and will complicate efforts to retaliate against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strikes as "successful" in a statement released on Friday morning.

"We are after a very successful opening strike. With God's help, we are going to have many more achievements."

After the attack, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was "not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region."

Rubio also issued a warning to Iran that it should not target U.S. interests or personnel.

The announcement follows the Department of Defense's order on Wednesday to depart nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The department said that in their latest review of keeping "Americans safe, both home and abroad," they are allowing personnel and their family members to leave at the expense of the U.S. government.

Trump said on Thursday he was urging Netanyahu to hold off from taking action for the time being while the administration negotiated with Iran.

“As long as I think there is a (chance for an) agreement, I don’t want them going in because I think it would blow it,” Trump told reporters.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.