Israel urges citizens to stay near shelters as Iran fires missiles in retaliation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that the government issued urgent warnings to its citizens to remain close to bomb shelters as tensions with Iran escalate sharply.

"The Home Front Command has already instructed residents across the country to stay near shelters. Movement in public areas should be minimized, and mass gatherings must be avoided," Caliber.Az reports via IDF. 

The IDF noted that missiles have already been launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. The IDF has stressed that civilians must seek immediate shelter upon hearing warning sirens and remain there until they receive formal notice that it is safe to emerge.

The security alert follows the launch of Operation Rising Lion in the early hours of June 13, when Israeli forces carried out strikes on Iranian territory. 

The operation targeted military and nuclear infrastructure, including sites linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons development programme and locations tied to senior Iranian commanders.  

Hours later, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a retaliatory campaign named Operation True Promise 3. The operation included a barrage of missiles fired at Israel, leading to dozens of reported casualties on both sides.

By Naila Huseynova