The armed conflict between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically on Wednesday as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had fired a Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Israel—marking the first known use of this missile in the current conflict, according to a BBC report. Explosions were heard across Tel Aviv early in the morning, following Iran’s missile barrage, while Israeli airstrikes pounded targets near Tehran, including military infrastructure.
Iran had previously deployed the Fattah-1 during its October 1, 2024 strike on Israel. However, this is the first confirmed use of the missile in the ongoing war. The hypersonic projectile, unveiled in 2023, has been labeled by Iranian officials as the “Israel-striker.” A banner displayed during its unveiling ominously read: “400 seconds to Tel Aviv.”
Iran launched two waves of missiles at Israel in the early hours of Wednesday, triggering panic and widespread damage in the Israeli capital. In retaliation, Israeli Air Force jets conducted strikes on sites near Tehran and Karaj, with residents in Tehran’s District 18 ordered to evacuate.
Trump Considers US Involvement as Casualties Mount on Both Sides
As the conflict intensifies, US media outlets report that President Donald Trump is considering direct military involvement in support of Israel. The reports follow Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 Summit and a flurry of threatening posts on Truth Social, where he warned Iran’s leadership and demanded “unconditional surrender.”
“We know the location of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” Trump wrote, adding, “We are not going to take him out (kill!) — at least not for now.”
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A White House source confirmed that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. In parallel, the US military has deployed additional fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extended current missions in the region.
Responding to Trump’s ultimatum, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement declaring, “The battle begins. Ali returns to Khaybar.” He further vowed: “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.”
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, claimed that Khamenei had “gone into hiding underground” and called for regime change in Iran. “Like a frightened rat, he has lost control of the situation,” Pahlavi declared.
Casualty Toll Rises as Evacuations Continue
The human cost of the conflict continues to climb. According to Iran’s Health Ministry, 585 people have been killed and 1,326 injured in Israel’s airstrikes since last Friday. In Israel, the emergency department reported 24 deaths and over 1,300 injuries from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Iran has fired over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since the beginning of the war. These strikes have impacted 40 sites and forced 3,800 residents to evacuate, while the Israeli tax authority has received nearly 19,000 damage claims.
With diplomatic options dwindling and both sides escalating militarily, the Middle East conflict now teeters on the edge of wider international involvement.
