On June 18, 2025, an incident occurred in Tel Aviv that caused panic among residents: an anti-aircraft missile, presumably Israeli, fell in a residential area, causing a fire, eyewitnesses reported, quoted by The Times of Israel. At the same time, Iranian media, including Press TV, reported that Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Israeli Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv and the Maor air base, located near the city of Rehovot. Israeli authorities banned video recording of the incidents and the publication of materials on social networks in order to prevent the spread of panic. Information about casualties and destruction has not yet been officially confirmed, but the incident was another episode in the escalation of the Iranian-Israeli conflict, which began on June 13 with Israel's Operation Rising Lion.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran has stepped up missile attacks as part of Operation True Promise 3, carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The strikes on Tel Aviv and the Maor Air Base, where F-16 fighters are based, are aimed at undermining Israel's military infrastructure. Iranian sources claim that Qiam-1 medium-range missiles, capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 750 kg, were used. Israeli air defense systems, including Iron Dome, intercepted some of the missiles, but a failure in the launch of one of the anti-missiles led to it falling within the city, as confirmed by footage circulated on Telegram channels. The fire in Tel Aviv, according to Yedioth Ahronoth, has been localized, but forced the evacuation of residents of nearby houses.

The conflict continues to escalate. According to Middle East Eye, Israeli strikes have destroyed key Iranian facilities, including the Parchin missile development center, weakening Tehran’s production capacity. Iran, for its part, has focused on attacks on strategic targets, including military headquarters and airfields. Israel’s defense minister said the IDF would continue operations until the “Iranian threat is completely neutralized,” despite the strain on its air defenses, Israel Hayom reported. In Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for “maximum mobilization,” although he remains in a fortified bunker in Tehran, Iran International reported.

The US, coordinating with Israel, has sent additional forces to the region, including the destroyers USS Truxtun and USS Stout, Navy Times reports. Iran has threatened to attack US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain if the US starts bombing, Al-Monitor reports. Russia has called on Israel to stop attacks on IAEA-supervised facilities, backing Iran in the UN Security Council, TASS reports.