The killing of two senior Iranian security officials in an Israeli airstrike has prompted a strong retaliation from Tehran, which launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel on Wednesday.
Sirens sounded across central Israel, and loud explosions were reported in Tel Aviv. Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, confirmed that two people—a man and a woman—were killed in Ramat Gan, a district east of the city.
Shrapnel from the missile also struck the city of Beni Brak, just north of Tel Aviv, lightly injuring one person, CNN reported, quoting the MDA.
Meanwhile, Israel's Home Front Command urged residents to follow all alerts and guidelines, which “have proven lifesaving during ongoing hostilities”.
The Home Front Command also advised residents that it is now permitted to exit protected spaces while urging continued vigilance and adherence to official safety instructions.
Earlier, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij, were killed in an Israeli strike. Larijani had been considered one of the most powerful figures in Iran after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war.
Reports indicate that Iran also intensified missile and drone attacks on Gulf neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Arab states. In the United Arab Emirates, explosions were reported early Wednesday morning in Dubai, followed by a missile alert. The Dubai Media Office stated that the sounds heard across parts of the city were successful interceptions by air defense systems.
Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting drones, while air defenses were active over Qatar’s capital, Doha, targeting incoming attacks.
The conflict, which erupted on February 28, has already claimed more than 1,300 lives, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
