By Afolabi Ayodele
Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically in the early hours of Sunday after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear installations, ordered by President Donald Trump.
Al Jazeera reports that multiple missiles landed in central Israel, leaving at least 11 people injured. Video footage released by the network shows widespread devastation, with burning buildings and emergency teams frantically rescuing survivors trapped under debris.
“Iran has officially responded with missile attacks on Israel following the U.S. assault on key nuclear facilities, including the Fordow site,” the news platform confirmed.
This military confrontation comes less than a day after President Trump hailed a “highly successful” operation that struck Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure. The American assault targeted the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, which are central to Tehran’s atomic ambitions.
“We have concluded a very successful strike on three major nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” President Trump stated. “All aircraft are out of Iranian airspace, and the full payload was delivered. Our forces are safely returning home.”
Trump lauded the operation as proof of unmatched U.S. military might, declaring, “No other military on Earth could have executed this. Now is the time for peace.”
However, Iran’s leadership swiftly condemned the American offensive, describing it as a grave violation of international norms. The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning of inevitable consequences, accusing the United States of provoking open warfare.
“The world must remember—the United States was the aggressor in this dangerous conflict,” Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Iranian nuclear safety officials assured the public that no radiation had escaped the bombed facilities. “Despite this criminal attack, prior safety measures ensured that no radioactive contamination has occurred outside the affected sites,” the head of Iran’s Nuclear Safety Centre announced.
As Iranian missiles rained down on Israeli territory, emergency alerts blared across central cities, including Tel Aviv. Scenes of panic filled residential areas as residents scrambled for shelter.
Israel’s military has yet to release a comprehensive statement on the attacks.
Back in Washington, political backlash intensified. Lawmakers such as Representative Ilhan Omar sharply criticised President Trump for authorising military action without congressional approval, warning that the Middle East is now teetering on the edge of full-scale war.
“This reckless strike bypassed Congress and risks dragging the entire region into chaos,” Omar said. “War will not bring peace; it will only inflame violence and destabilise the region. We cannot afford another endless conflict driven by bombs instead of diplomacy.”
Omar urged lawmakers to swiftly pass pending War Powers resolutions aimed at curbing presidential war-making authority. “The American public demands an end to these senseless wars. We must act before more lives are lost,” she stated.
As fears of a wider regional conflict grow, the world watches anxiously for what may follow this dangerous exchange.
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