Missiles launched from Iran toward Israel triggered air raid sirens across several parts of the country on Saturday, according to the Israeli military, as the regional conflict continues to intensify.
The Israel Defense Forces said multiple projectiles were fired toward Israeli territory in a new wave of attacks. Air defense systems were activated to intercept the incoming missiles, while residents in affected areas were instructed to immediately enter shelters.
Sirens were reported in Jerusalem and other locations across Israel. Authorities also confirmed injuries in the southern city of Eilat following the latest strikes, although details on the extent of casualties were not immediately released.
The latest missile barrage comes amid escalating military exchanges between Iran and Israel, with the broader conflict now entering a prolonged and increasingly dangerous phase.
At the same time, tensions are rising around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world. United States President Donald Trump said Washington is determined to ensure the waterway remains open for international shipping.
In a message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that the United States would ensure the strait becomes “open, safe, and free,” warning that action would be taken “one way or the other.”
He urged major global powers including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send naval forces to help secure the crucial shipping route. According to Trump, multiple countries are expected to deploy warships to protect vessels traveling through the narrow corridor.
In the meantime, he said the United States military would continue attacking Iranian positions along the coastline and targeting Iranian naval assets in the area.
Trump also claimed that U.S. military operations had already destroyed the majority of Iran’s military capabilities. However, he acknowledged that Iran still retains the ability to deploy drones, naval mines and short-range missile systems.
Iran quickly rejected the claims. Tehran’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahrani, dismissed the statements as fabricated and insisted that Iran’s military capabilities remain intact.
The Strait of Hormuz sits between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula and serves as one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies move through the passage, making it critical to international energy markets.
On average, about 3,000 ships travel through the strait each month. In 2025 alone, approximately 20 million barrels of oil passed through the narrow waterway every day, making any disruption a major concern for global trade and energy prices.
Since the start of the conflict, several ships have reportedly been attacked in the area, while Iran’s new supreme leader recently suggested that Tehran could continue using the threat of blocking the strait as leverage in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iran says the war has taken a heavy toll on its civilian infrastructure and population.
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said more than 200 students and teachers have been killed since the war began, and at least 120 schools have been severely damaged during airstrikes.
Iran’s Ministry of Education previously reported that 206 students and teachers had died and another 161 were injured in the attacks.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society also released updated figures on the broader damage across the country. According to the organization, more than 42,900 civilian properties have been damaged so far during the conflict.
Of those, approximately 36,489 are residential buildings and more than 6,000 are commercial properties. Around 10,000 damaged structures are located in the capital, Tehran.
Authorities also reported damage to the iconic Azadi Tower in Tehran, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
The Red Crescent added that about 160 medical, health and emergency facilities across Iran have been severely damaged since the start of the war, further complicating humanitarian and relief efforts.
As missile exchanges continue and tensions rise across the region, international observers warn that the conflict risks expanding further, with potential consequences for global security, energy markets and civilian populations across the Middle East.