Tension as Iran launches another round of ballistic missiles on Israel

Sirens rang out across both northern and southern Israel on Friday as Iran launched a new wave of ballistic missile attacks, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and multiple Israeli media outlets.

This latest strike signals a further escalation in the growing hostilities between the two nations.

The missile barrage followed an earlier Israeli operation in which the IDF reported targeting numerous sites in and around Tehran overnight. Among them, officials identified a facility allegedly linked to Iran’s “research and development of nuclear weapons.”

Local media reported that emergency medical teams were being deployed in response to missile impacts across various parts of Israel.

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Meanwhile, regional tensions continued to build. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had fired more than 100 drones—described as both “combat and suicide” models—toward Israel on Thursday in what it labeled a retaliatory action.

While military operations intensified, parallel diplomatic efforts were also underway. State media in Iran reported that large crowds rallied in Tehran and other cities after Friday prayers, voicing support for the government and military.

At the international level, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with senior European officials in Geneva to address issues related to the country’s nuclear program. French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the talks, emphasized the importance of “prioritising a return to negotiations” and reaffirmed Europe’s dedication to a diplomatic path. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy similarly stated that “the coming weeks are a window to achieve a diplomatic solution.”

Foreign ministers from France, Germany, the UK, and the EU have jointly called for calm and restraint amid the rapidly evolving crisis.

In addition, Araghchi is scheduled to speak before the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN Security Council is also preparing for a second emergency meeting on the conflict, initiated at Iran’s request and supported by Russia, China, and Pakistan.