The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that citizens across the country are allowed to leave safe shelters. However, according to the BBC, citizens are still being urged to stay close to those shelters.
Earlier, the army had instructed citizens to stay in safe shelters until further notice.
According to the army, they have successfully intercepted several of the dozens of missiles launched from Iran in the past hour. However, there have been reports that some missiles have landed on Israeli territory.
Based on reports of missiles landing in various parts of the country, search and rescue teams have been deployed, the BBC quoted the army as saying.
U.S. helps Israel defend against Iranian missile attack
During the June 13 Iranian ballistic missile strike on Israel, the U.S. military assisted the IDF in intercepting the incoming missiles, according to senior U.S. and Israeli officials cited by Axios.
According to the report, the assault marked Iran’s most significant response to Israel’s air strike aimed to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program and military infrastructure. The missile barrage came 18 hours after the Israeli air strikes, which reportedly killed dozens of high-ranking Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists.
Israeli missile defense systems fired dozens of Arrow missiles to intercept the incoming targets. Eyewitnesses and video footage indicate that several Iranian missiles struck central Tel Aviv, and Israeli emergency services reported 15 injuries.
Israel’s Operation Strength of a Lion, involving 200 fighter jets and over 330 munitions targeting 100 targets, including Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military sites, began on June 13.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue until objectives are met.
Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel and the United States with a “tough response” for the night strikes.
The New York Times, citing two senior Iranian officials, reported that Israeli strikes killed Gen. Esmail Ghaani, the commander of the elite Quds Force responsible for Iran’s proxy operations in the Middle East.
