Iran claims it has downed two Israeli jets – as it fires missiles in response to Friday’s attacks

Iran claims it has shot down two Israeli jets and that its response to Friday night’s attacks on nuclear and military infrastructure has begun.

The reports emerged as smoke was seen rising from Tel Aviv as Iran launched missiles at the city.

Air raid sirens had been heard across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as the missiles neared Israel.

The Iranian Army has said in a statement that its “defence forces successfully hit and destroyed two F-35 fighter jets belonging to the zionist entity, in addition to a large number of small drones”.

“The fate of the two fighter pilots remains unknown and is being investigated,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the IRNA state news agency in Iran reported that the country’s response to Israel’s attacks on Friday had begun.

It comes as a reporter with the Iranian Tasnim news agency said missiles had been fired from Shiraz and Isfahan in Iran towards Israel.

Medics have said five people were injured in the Tel Aviv area due to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service, says it treated one person in a moderate condition and four others who were lightly hurt by shrapnel.

The escalation comes after Israel launched a huge attack on Iran on Friday, which it says was aimed at degrading the country’s nuclear ambitions and weakening its military.

Israel was able to target key facilities and kill top generals and scientists.

It said the attack was necessary before its adversary got any closer to building an atomic weapon.

As the barrage of missiles was fired at Israel in response, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on X: “The Zionist regime (Israel) will not remain unscathed from the consequences of its crime.

“The Iranian nation must be guaranteed that our response will not be half-measured,” he said, adding Iran will “inflict heavy blows” on Israel.

Mr Khamenei also said that Israel has initiated a war and that Tehran will not allow it to conduct “hit and run” attacks without grave consequences.

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