Iran launched a missile attack on Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, firing weapons equipped with cluster warheads in retaliation for the killing of its top security official, Ali Larijani, and his son. Larijani, a senior figure in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in what Tehran described as an Israeli strike.
The missiles targeted densely populated areas of Israel’s commercial hub. While Israel’s air defence systems intercepted many of them, at least two civilians were killed, and several others were injured. Cluster warheads release multiple smaller bomblets, making them particularly dangerous in urban areas and increasing the risk to civilians.
Iran’s government called the attack “a direct response to an act of assassination” and warned that it would continue to act against Israeli operations. Israel, on its part, framed the initial strike that killed Larijani as part of a broader campaign against Iranian leadership amid the ongoing regional conflict.
Beyond Tel Aviv, there are reports that Iranian missiles and drones also targeted U.S. forces and allied positions in the Gulf, prompting interceptions by air defence systems in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The conflict, which escalated in late February 2026 following a joint U.S.–Israeli operation targeting Iranian leadership, has seen repeated cycles of retaliation. Israel has responded with strikes on Iranian positions in Lebanon and elsewhere, causing significant civilian casualties and displacements.
The latest missile strikes have heightened international concerns about the potential for a wider regional war.
Also Read: US strikes Iranian missile sites near Strait of Hormuz
