Israeli residents were told to head to bomb shelters as Iran fired hundreds of missiles towards the country
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the people in Tehran will “pay a heavy price” if Iran continues with its missile attacks, warning that the Iranian capital “will burn.”
It comes after Iran bombarded Tel Aviv with hundreds of missiles overnight in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear bases.
Air raid sirens sounded out across Israel and its citizens were ordered to move into bomb shelters, as the attack began on Friday night.
A plume of smoke could be seen rising from central Tel Aviv amid the barrage, after at least one Iranian missile appeared to bypass the iron dome missile defence system.
Israel’s paramedic service said two people were killed and another 19 people were injured after Iranian missiles struck the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces has said it is continuing to airstrikes on targets in Iran, just over 24 hours since it’s initial strike which the army claims killed three Iranian military commanders.
Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, which is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stressed his country’s fight was not against the Iranian people.
“Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,” he said.
“The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker. This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.”
Operation Rising Lion – the offensive against Tehran – has mainly targeted nuclear sites, including destroying the above ground section of Iran’s main Natanz nuclear base.
Some 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Iran, according to its ambassador to the UN.
The attack is believed to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s.
Netanyahu said “more is on the way” in a video message released on Friday night.
Danny Dannon, Israel’s UN ambassador, claimed the operation was launched because Iran was “within days” of having the capability of building nuclear weapons.
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