Millions of Israelis in Shelters Amid Iranian Attacks
Millions of Israeli citizens have been forced into shelters as a fresh wave of Iranian missile attacks targets major cities. The strikes are a direct retaliation for the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and mark a rare and dangerous escalation targeting Israel's civilian heartland.
The assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the result of a joint U.S.-Israeli operation on February 28, 2026, which involved months of intelligence gathering by the CIA. The daytime airstrike on his Tehran compound also killed several family members and dozens of senior Iranian officials who were meeting with the Supreme Leader. This decapitation strike marked a significant escalation in the long-running shadow war between the nations. For decades, the conflict between Iran and Israel was primarily a proxy war, with Iran supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. This dynamic shifted to direct confrontation in 2024 and led to a 12-day war in June 2025, during which both sides exchanged missile fire. The recent assassination has now triggered a new, more direct, and widespread retaliatory phase from Tehran. In the current wave of attacks, Iran has utilized its extensive arsenal of ballistic missiles, the largest in the Middle East, with the capability to reach Israel. Cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa have been targeted, resulting in casualties and damage. One ballistic missile strike outside Jerusalem wounded three people and left a large crater on a highway, while another attack on Beit Shemesh reportedly killed nine and injured over 40. Israel is defending its airspace with a multi-layered missile defense system. This includes the short-range Iron Dome, the medium-range David's Sling, and the long-range Arrow system, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles high in the atmosphere. This integrated network is designed to counter a wide array of aerial threats from different altitudes and ranges. The international response to the escalation has been cautious, with many world leaders calling for restraint. The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the crisis. While some Western nations have expressed support for the U.S.-Israeli operation, Arab nations in the Gulf have condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes, some of which have also targeted U.S. bases in their territories.
