Israel launched powerful airstrikes on targets inside Iran early Friday, hitting areas reportedly linked to Iran’s nuclear program and shaking the capital, Tehran, in an unprecedented escalation.

The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at neutralizing what it described as threats tied to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In response, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz declared a state of emergency soon after the operation began.

Residents in Tehran woke up to powerful explosions and heavy shaking across the city, with many immediately recognizing the attack as coming from Israel.

“People woke up in Tehran on Friday to sounds of explosions, bombs dropping and their houses being shaken,” a witness described. The mood on the ground turned quickly from confusion to fear, as people came out of their homes to witness the destruction.

The airstrikes mark one of the boldest Israeli attacks on Iran in recent history, particularly because the target appears to have included civilian-populated areas of Tehran.

Iran’s state-run media reported multiple deaths and injuries, although no official figures were released. The bombings have shaken a city that has not seen direct war since the Iran-Iraq conflict ended in the late 1980s.

While Israel and Iran have been involved in indirect and proxy confrontations for years, this strike is seen as a major turning point.

Previous clashes have been mostly confined to regional fronts and strategic installations, but not Iran’s capital. The scale and location of this attack have deeply alarmed the Iranian public and raised fears of a full-scale war.

Iran has pledged retaliation. “The armed forces will certainly respond to this Zionist attack,” said Iranian military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi.

He also warned that the United States and Israel would “pay a heavy price” for the strikes.

Tehran was rocked again later in the day by further explosions, with more Israeli attacks reported and anti-aircraft fire lighting up the skies, according to Reuters and state media. The renewed strikes only added to the tension gripping the city and the region.

Analysts fear the latest developments could spiral into a wider and more destructive war. While Iran is expected to respond directly, there is also concern that Iranian-backed proxies across the region may stage attacks of their own.

Despite recent reports of weakening among these groups, observers warn that retaliation in various forms is likely.

This moment marks a serious shift in the long-standing hostilities between the two countries, turning what was once a shadow war into a direct and dangerous confrontation involving civilians.

The coming days are expected to reveal how Iran will respond and whether the conflict will grow into a broader regional war.