... Iran launched a series of ballistic missile attacks against Israel on Friday night in retaliation for a major Israeli assault on its nuclear sites and military leaders. The attack came after Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior commanders in a dramatic escalation of the conflict, prompting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, to say that Israel had “initiated a war” and would not be allowed to attack without consequences. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as air-raid sirens wailed across Israel. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described its attack as a “crushing and precise response” against numerous Israeli targets, including military centers and airbases, following a direct order from Khamenei. In a statement, Khamenei insisted Iran's retaliation would be decisive and not “half-measured.” He condemned what he called the “Zionist regime’s crime” and vowed that Iran would respond forcefully to aggression against its territory and people.