In retaliation, Tehran has responded with missile and projectile fire targeting Israeli territory, signalling a direct counter‑attack following the escalation, AP reported. Explosions were reported in northern Israel as air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles, and sirens sounded across parts of the country amid fears of a widening conflict. There were no immediate confirmed reports of damage or casualties from the incoming fire as engagements between the two sides continued.

Reason behind the strike

The escalation comes amid heightened tensions over stalled nuclear talks between the US and Iran. The latest round of indirect negotiations in Geneva, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, ended without a breakthrough, though both sides agreed to continue technical discussions next week.

Iran has maintained it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, while the US has pushed for strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Trump had indicated on Friday that he was “not happy” with the pace of talks but had suggested diplomats would get more time before any military action.

Earlier this week, Trump, in his State of the Union address, again labelled Iran the world’s “number one terror sponsor,” calling the Iranian regime an “imminent threat.”

Mossad outreach and Israel’s alert

As the strikes unfolded, Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, posted a message in Persian on its official Telegram channel appealing directly to Iranians. The agency said it had created a secure platform for citizens and urged them to share photos and videos documenting what it described as their “just struggle against the regime.”

Israeli authorities have advised residents to remain close to designated safe rooms but have not ordered them to enter shelters so far. Iran has not yet announced any retaliatory action.

Operation ‘Lion’s Roar’

The Israeli government has named the offensive “Lion’s Roar,” a title reportedly chosen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, replacing an earlier internal name used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The previous Israeli operation targeting Iran in June 2025 had been called “Rising Lion.”