Israel carried out a series of precision airstrikes on military targets in western and central Iran early Wednesday, marking the first direct attacks on Iranian soil in decades. The operation came in response to Iran’s missile barrage on northern Israel, which included ballistic and cruise missiles launched from multiple locations. Iranian state media reported at least 12 casualties, including civilians, while Israel confirmed no fatalities but described damage to an airbase near Isfahan.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed "severe retaliation," warning that the attacks would not go unanswered. Tehran’s response is expected within 48 hours, according to a senior Iranian official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the suspension of "Project Freedom," a Pentagon-led initiative to escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing "unacceptable risks to American personnel."

The strikes shattered a two-week conditional ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, brokered under heavy international pressure. The agreement had temporarily halted hostilities, but its collapse was foreshadowed by rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and its proxy support for militant groups across the region. Analysts warn the latest escalation could plunge the Middle East into a wider conflict, with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen already mobilizing in solidarity with Iran.

In northern Israel, residents near the Lebanese border reported sirens and explosions as Iranian missiles targeted military installations near Haifa and the Golan Heights. The Israeli military said its Iron Dome defense system intercepted 87% of the incoming projectiles, but emergency services confirmed multiple injuries. In Iran, state television broadcast footage of smoldering wreckage at the Isfahan airbase, where Israel targeted drones and missile systems reportedly supplied by Russia.

Lebanese officials reported heavy Israeli airstrikes on bridges over the Litani River, cutting off Hezbollah supply routes from Syria. The Lebanese government condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty, while Hezbollah vowed to respond "with all available means." In the Syrian city of Hasakah, a fuel tanker explosion left a 1.5-mile trail of fire, killing at least five civilians and forcing the evacuation of nearby neighborhoods. The incident, captured on video, underscored the growing humanitarian toll of the regional conflict.

International reactions have been swift. The European Union called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, while Russia accused the U.S. of "fueling instability" by suspending its escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz. China, meanwhile, urged restraint and offered to mediate, but both Israel and Iran dismissed third-party involvement. The crisis has also reignited debates over the stalled nuclear deal, with France and Germany pushing for renewed negotiations to prevent further escalation.

The Palestinian Marathon resumed in Bethlehem on Wednesday, drawing thousands of runners despite the regional turmoil. Organizers described the event as a symbol of resilience, but security forces maintained a heavy presence amid fears of spillover violence. In Beirut, the funerals of three journalists killed in an Israeli strike drew hundreds of mourners, their coffins draped in the Lebanese flag. One of the deceased, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, had covered the conflict for over a decade. "This war has no end," said a grieving colleague. "Every day brings more death, more destruction."