Tensions in the Middle East have escalated further as Iran launched a missile attack on Israel, with explosions reported across multiple locations in Jerusalem, according to Israeli military confirmation.
Israeli security forces reported that explosions were heard at at least 10 locations in the capital, Jerusalem. Sirens were activated across the city immediately after the attack, and residents were advised to move to safe locations. The country’s air defence system was deployed to intercept incoming Iranian missiles, though it remains unclear whether all missiles were successfully intercepted or if some strikes reached their targets.
Amid the escalation, Iran claimed that its air defence systems shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Isfahan. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the drone was intercepted and destroyed. The MQ-9 Reaper is a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle used for surveillance and strike operations.
Reports indicate that the confrontation is extending beyond the immediate parties. Iran reportedly launched a drone toward the Al-Kharj region in Saudi Arabia, which was intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defence systems. Debris from the drone caused minor damage to residential structures, with no injuries reported.
The escalation has also affected maritime activity. Reports stated that a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai was attacked, resulting in a fire onboard. No casualties were reported in the incident. The development has raised concerns regarding global energy supply and oil markets, given the strategic importance of Gulf shipping routes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that four Israeli soldiers were killed and three others injured during military operations in southern Lebanon.
