Israel calls up 70,000 reservists after Iran missile response escalates

Israelis woke up Saturday to news that Operation “Roaring Lion” had begun, with joint American-Israeli strikes targeting military sites in Iran. Within hours, satellite images circulating in Israeli media showed damage to a compound belonging to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly hit in the opening wave.

Air raid warnings were activated in some parts of the country after Iran launched missile bombardment in response. According to an Israeli military official speaking on background, incoming fire was “more than dozens” per round, although no significant effects were reported during the briefing. Home Front Command urged civilians to comply with updated security instructions and refrain from sharing real-time locations of missile strikes.

In a speech Saturday morning, President Donald Trump condemned Tehran’s role in regional instability, saying: “From Lebanon to Yemen, from Syria to Iraq. The regime has armed, trained and financed terrorist militias that have drenched the world in blood and guts. And it is Iran’s proxy that launched the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, and taking away 12 of our citizens.” “It was Hamas. The brutal killing of the hostage was something the world had never seen before.”

“Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism. It has always been the policy of the United States, and especially my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have nuclear weapons. I say it again. They can never have nuclear weapons.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation and warned that “we will need to show resilience in the coming days.” His remarks reflected the Israeli leadership’s broader message that the operation was necessary and potentially long-lasting.

Israeli officials said the aim of the campaign was to “completely weaken the capabilities of the Iranian regime and eliminate existential threats to the State of Israel.” The military cited Iran’s renewed efforts to advance ballistic missile production and conceal elements of its nuclear program as justification for the timing of the attack.

According to local reports, Israeli assessments indicate that Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Khamenei and an important figure with ties to Iran’s nuclear program, was most likely killed in the operation. The military has not officially confirmed that specific individuals were targeted, saying assessments are ongoing.

USA JOINS ISRAEL IN PREVENTIVE ATTACK AGAINST IRAN AS TRUMP CONFIRMED ‘MAJOR WAR OPERATIONS’

Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv transfers patients to underground fortified facilities following the start of the campaign against Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/TPS-IL)

Israel’s National Security Council issued a warning to Israelis abroad, urging them to take increased precautions in all destinations and remain alert to potential threats to Israeli and Jewish targets abroad.

Inside Israel, the reaction combined tension with discipline. Schools in some areas switched to remote learning, substitute staff received draft orders, and families checked to see if shielded rooms were occupied. The army said about 70,000 reservists were called up, largely for air defense, Home Front Command duties and border reinforcements.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

An intervention is visible in the sky over Haifa during the last barrage. (Anthony Hershko/TPS-IL)

Officials said forces were deployed to all borders in preparation for possible escalation involving Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and others. While leaders emphasized that the targets were military, not civilian, they also acknowledged that the coming days could test the country’s resilience.

For now, Israelis are watching developments closely, bracing for further retaliation, and leaders are signaling that the campaign will continue “as long as necessary.”

Related Article