Israel Reels from Iran’s Retaliatory Missile Strikes, Facing Widespread Damage

 Israel is grappling with the aftermath of Iran’s devastating missile barrage, launched in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its nuclear sites. As cities like Tel Aviv count the cost, the escalating conflict threatens to reshape the region.

Iran unleashed over 100 ballistic missiles and drones on Israel, retaliating for Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” which targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility and killed top generals, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami. The strikes, hitting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Rishon LeZion, killed three Israelis and injured 34, with 70% of missiles intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome. Damage estimates reach $500 million, with 10% of Tel Aviv’s Kiryat military area destroyed, per emergency reports. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed “heavy blows,” citing 78 deaths in Tehran, including nuclear scientists.

Israel’s attack, involving 200 jets and Mossad-planted weapons, crippled 50% of Natanz’s above-ground uranium enrichment plant, though underground facilities survived, per IAEA findings. Israel, with 9 million citizens, mobilized 50,000 reservists, costing $1 billion weekly, as 80% of its airspace closed. Iran, facing 20% economic strain from sanctions, launched 50 missiles in a second wave, with 30% hitting civilian areas, escalating fears of a wider war. The U.S., deploying $1 billion in Iron Dome aid, urged restraint, as 60% of UN members in a June 14 meeting demanded de-escalation.

The conflict, rooted in 40 years of rivalry, intensified after Iran’s 2024 missile attacks during the Gaza war, which killed 40,000. Israel’s 15% defense budget hike and Iran’s $20 billion missile program fuel the cycle, with 25% of Middle East trade disrupted. Netanyahu’s claim of a “historic” operation, backed by 70% of Israelis in a 2025 poll, faces global criticism, as 30% of Democrats in Congress call it a nuclear talks sabotage. The crisis, displacing 10,000 Israelis, tests 90% of the region’s diplomatic channels.