By: Fern Sidman

In a dramatic escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported early Sunday morning that Iran launched between 20 and 30 ballistic missiles toward the territory of the State of Israel. The strikes triggered widespread alarm, with sirens sounding across central and northern Israel, including in key population centers.

According to a breaking alert issued by the IDF and covered in real time by Israel National News (INN), the missile barrage prompted immediate activation of Israel’s advanced air defense systems. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF confirmed in an official statement. “Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.”

The IDF noted that the Home Front Command had issued stringent instructions for civilians, emphasizing that “leaving the protected space is only permitted following an explicit directive. Continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.” As of Sunday morning, there have been several confirmed reports of at least 10 missile impacts in the north and center of Israel, although the scope of the damage and potential casualties remains under assessment. One report indicated that an impact was reported in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

Military analysts cited by Israel National News (INN) believe the strike represents a calibrated message from Tehran as the conflict between the Islamic Republic and the State of Israel intensifies. The missile barrage is believed to have originated from Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) positions and was timed to coincide with heightened political and military pressure on Tehran following the U.S operation that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“This morning’s coordinated missile launch is not simply a tactical move — it is a strategic signal from the Iranian regime,” said Col. (res.) Shlomo Mor, a former IDF intelligence officer, in an interview with INN. “Iran is trying to reassert itself in the wake of significant damage to its nuclear program. The decision to fire missiles into the Israeli heartland is both a provocation and a declaration that they are not deterred.”

Initial reports gathered by INN suggest that at least five impact sites have been identified, primarily in the Upper Galilee and central district. Emergency response teams, including units from Magen David Adom and the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, were immediately dispatched to the affected areas. At least three homes in the Sharon region sustained minor structural damage, and there are unconfirmed reports of several civilians treated for shock and minor injuries.

IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari told INN that “the majority of the missiles were intercepted by our layered air defense systems, including Iron Dome and David’s Sling. However, a few managed to bypass these systems, and we are actively investigating how that occurred.”

The Home Front Command has raised the alert level in multiple municipalities and issued instructions for temporary closure of schools and cancellation of public gatherings in vulnerable areas.

This latest wave of Iranian aggression comes on the heels of the US’s devastating airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities — a preemptive American operation hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a pivotal moment in securing the safety of Israel for generations.”

In the wake of that strike, Iran vowed retaliation, and the Islamic Republic’s state-run media had, over the weekend, broadcast repeated warnings of “consequences.” According to the information provided in the INN report, the Iranian leadership convened an emergency session late Saturday night, during which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved a “limited retaliatory action” that would “send a message without provoking full-scale war.”

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking from an underground operations center in Tel Aviv, told INN that Israel views the morning’s missile launch as a direct act of war. “This was not a symbolic gesture. It was a clear escalation. And it will not go unanswered.”

The international community has reacted swiftly. The United States condemned the attack, with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stating that the U.S. “remains unequivocally committed to Israel’s defense and to the dismantling of Iran’s ability to threaten regional stability through ballistic missile attacks or nuclear proliferation.”

In Brussels, NATO officials held an emergency session to assess the implications of the strike, particularly in light of Iran’s recent targeting of infrastructure tied to Western technology and intelligence networks.

Meanwhile, INN reported that the IDF General Staff has authorized “all necessary preparations” for an expanded military campaign. Air Force squadrons remain on high alert, and reserve units in the Northern Command are being called up.

“This isn’t just about this morning,” said Dr. Yaakov Katz, senior military correspondent for INN. “This could mark the beginning of a broader and longer phase of open confrontation between Israel and the Iranian regime — one that has been brewing for years, but now risks boiling over into a sustained regional war.”

Despite the gravity of the moment, there is no sense of panic among the Israeli public — only heightened vigilance. Citizens have taken to social media to express solidarity with IDF soldiers and emergency responders. Community centers in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Be’er Sheva have opened their doors to residents displaced by missile damage, and volunteers are distributing food and basic supplies.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to address the nation later today. According to a government official who spoke to INN on background, Netanyahu will “reaffirm Israel’s commitment to total national defense, outline retaliatory measures, and call for unity and resilience in the face of this ongoing aggression.”

The official added, “This is not the first time we have been attacked by those who seek our destruction. But this time, we are ready. Israel will not only defend itself — it will prevail.”

The missile launches from Iran on Sunday morning represent more than an isolated incident — they mark the onset of what may become the most dangerous phase yet in the ongoing struggle between Israel and the Iranian regime. The strategic stakes are enormous, and as INN noted in its ongoing coverage, what began with shadow warfare and proxy confrontations has now shifted to direct and open confrontation.

The world watches with bated breath as the Middle East stands once again on the edge of a knife.