Iran has vowed to continue its missile campaign against Israel and US targets, while urging residents of the capital to leave Tehran amid rapidly escalating regional tensions.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its military operation would continue “until the enemy is decisively defeated.” In a statement, the force claimed that Israeli and American military targets across the region had been struck by “powerful blows of Iranian missiles,” adding that all US assets in the Middle East are now considered legitimate targets.
Separately, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council advised Tehran residents to leave the capital if possible. The council urged citizens to remain calm but travel to other cities “as far as possible” given the current security situation.
On the Israeli side, the military said a new wave of Iranian missiles had been launched toward Israel and that interception efforts were underway.
“A short while ago, sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the army said in a statement. “At this time, the Israeli Air Force is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat.”
The military cautioned that its defence systems are “not hermetic,” urging the public to continue adhering to Home Front Command guidelines. Later, following a situational assessment, the army said residents in several areas were permitted to leave protected spaces. Search and rescue teams were reported to be operating nationwide in response to missile impacts.
The regional fallout has extended beyond Israel and Iran. Kuwait condemned what it described as an Iranian attack carried out in “flagrant violation” of its airspace and international law. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said it reserves the right to respond in a manner “commensurate with the scale and nature of this attack,” warning that further escalation would undermine regional stability.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the United States and Israel had acted against Iran to remove what he called an “existential threat.”
The intensifying confrontation has also disrupted international aviation. Airlines suspending or cancelling flights to destinations across the region include Air France, Air India, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways, among others.
With cross-border strikes continuing and rhetoric hardening on all sides, concerns are mounting that the confrontation could spiral into a broader regional conflict.