After Israel launched Operation Lion Rising to fight against Iran’s nuclear program, Iran sent 200 missiles towards Israel since Friday night, killing three Israelis and injuring over 200 others.
By Rachel Avraham
At 3:00am on Friday morning, bomb sirens sounded across the State of Israel in order to announce the launching of Operation Lion Rising, which seeks to remove the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat to the State of Israel. After a day of Israel eliminating Iranian IRGC commanders, nuclear scientists and Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure in a preemptive strike designed to remove an existential threat to the State of Israel, Iran responded. Sirens were sounded across Israel, from the Galilee in the north to Be’er Sheva in the south, Arutz Sheva reported.
Iran sent four barrages of missiles towards the State of Israel, the first around 9:00pm Friday night, the second one at around 1:00am Saturday morning, the third one around 5:00am Friday morning, and the fourth one around 9:00am Saturday morning. Since Friday evening, 200 missiles have been fired at the State of Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran, sending Israelis across the country into bomb shelters. In fact, some Israelis have even chosen to sleep in bomb shelters Friday night.
The Jerusalem post reported that three people were killed and over 200 others were wounded in the past four barrages launched at Israel combined. According to the report, this included two who were killed in Israel’s central district after their bodies were rescued from under the rubble of a home hit by an Iranian projectile. A barrage in the early hours of Saturday morning hit a residential area in Rishon LeZion, killing Yisrael Aloni and a second Israeli, and at least 20 people were wounded, the Times of Israel reported.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Aloni was in the basement of his home, but not in the safe room at the time of the strike. His son, Eran, told KAN that he was alone at home when he was struck. According to the report, he described his father as someone who was always willing to help others.
“In the early morning hours, we received multiple reports indicating a direct hit on one of the city streets,” police officer Aviv Saranga told Israel Hayom. “When we arrived, we saw massive destruction, homes, vehicles, and were informed by neighbors and passersby that there were people trapped inside.” Working alongside police units, paramedics and firefighters, the rescue teams began extricating the trapped residents, Israel Hayom. Among them was an infant just a few months old, Israel Hayom added.
“I held the baby for quite some time,” Saranga recounted. “We also rescued her family, her parents. I brought the baby to them immediately. The parents were also trapped and required medical treatment. The baby stayed in my arms until the medical care for the parents was completed.”
Fire and Rescue Services commander Idan Chen, a father of four, was visibly emotional, Israel Hayom added: “I’m a father to four children. Children are everything to me. You think about that, and your eyes well up with tears. It’s like being in a delivery room and touching the baby for the first time.”
Saranga concluded: “I feel a deep sense of purpose, without a doubt, it’s a calling. The satisfaction of rescuing a baby, knowing she made it out alive, there’s nothing more fulfilling. I’m proud to have been part of this.”
Arutz Sheva reported that another woman was killed in the first barrage of Iranian rocket fire on Friday evening. In one location, firefighters operated at a scene of structural destruction between several buildings, Arutz Sheva noted. In a second incident in Gush Dan, firefighters responded to a heavily damaged high-rise building, Arutz Sheva added. According to the report, extensive destruction was reported at the site. In northern Israel, a projectile fragment struck a residential building and a brush fire was caused by falling debris from missile fire, Arutz Sheva added.
The Jerusalem Post reported that extensive damage was caused in Tel Aviv, and there were concerns about people trapped. They added that in Ramat Gan, there is structural damage as well as people trapped. Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport remains closed to departures and arrivals “until further notice,” the Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, Israel’s three major airlines moved their fleets out of the country to prevent them from being targeted in an Iranian attack, the Times of Israel added.
Photo from Hindustan Times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSG_mXzVyso
