SHAH ALAM - Explosions rocked Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Friday night as Iran launched long-range missile strikes targeting major Israeli cities, in a retaliatory move following Israel’s largest-ever military assault on the Islamic Republic this week.
Foreign media reported air raid sirens blared across Israel as Iranian missiles pierced the night sky with at least 40 people were reported injured, including two critically, after several buildings were struck.
The Israeli military said fewer than 100 missiles were launched in two waves, with most either intercepted or falling short.
However, significant damages were still reported, especially in densely populated areas.
Israel’s airstrikes earlier in the week had targeted critical Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Natanz pilot enrichment facility, which United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi confirmed was "destroyed."
In a fiery warning, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel "must expect severe punishment" for what he labelled a "crime" - the assassination of several senior military officials and six nuclear scientists.
Among the high-ranking Iranian casualties were the armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami.
Iran said the total death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 78, with over 320 people wounded, most of them civilians.
Reaffirming Tehran’s stance, Iran’s UN envoy accused the United States (US) of complicity in the Israeli attacks and held Washington fully responsible for the consequences.
After the Israeli attacks on Iran, a nearly three-hour emergency Security Council meeting saw the Iranian ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani stating that Israel’s attack on Iran is a declaration of war.
He said it was a premeditated act of aggression, calling it "barbaric and criminal" and a direct violation of numerous international legal instruments, including the IAEA Statute and the Geneva Convention.
He dubbed these actions "deliberate and systematic killings" were not only "illegal, but inhuman."
"Iran affirms its inherent right to self-defence, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to this act of aggression at a time, in a place and by means of its choosing.
"This is not a threat. This is a natural consequence of an unprovoked military attack," he said.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon said this was an act of self-preservation for the state of Israel, saying they not only attacked Iran’s nuclear sites, but also military leaders, the nuclear programme and military infrastructure.
He claimed that "Israel waited for diplomacy to work, but it didn’t."
He claimed that there were supposed to be more talks between the US and Iran to try to reach a peaceful resolution this weekend.
He said he came to the Security Council not asking for permission, but instead, recognition that the international community has failed to stop Iran’s nuclear programme.
In other news, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US was "not involved" in the strikes and warned Iran against attacking American bases in the region.