After a lull of more than seven hours, the Israeli army announced on Thursday morning that it had placed the center of the country on alert and activated air defenses to intercept missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. Alerts were triggered in several regions, including Tel Aviv, with no casualties reported initially. Iranian state television reported a new wave of missiles sent toward Israel. No casualties were reported from these missile launches, and the alert was lifted, with the army allowing Israelis to leave shelters. The Israeli military's defensive measures were implemented in response to the Iranian missile launches, which targeted Israeli territory.
Turkey warned Tehran on Wednesday against a new escalation of the conflict. A missile fired from Iran was intercepted by NATO defense systems in the eastern Mediterranean while heading toward Turkish airspace. According to a Turkish official, the missile was estimated to be targeting a military base in Cyprus, but it deviated from its course. The Iranian armed forces respect Turkey's sovereignty and deny having fired a missile toward its territory. The exact nature of Turkey's mediation efforts between Iran and Israel remains unclear, and it is unknown how Turkey plans to address the missile incident.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Home Front Command announced that it would ease some war-related restrictions starting Thursday noon, citing a decrease in the number of missiles fired by Iran. The specific restrictions that were eased have not been detailed, but the decision reflects a perceived reduction in immediate threats from Iranian attacks.
Sirens were heard over Israel early on Friday, including in Tel Aviv and Ashdod, after rocket launches from Lebanon. There are no initial reports of injuries. Israeli media report that at least one rocket heading toward the country has been stopped. Fighting between Lebanon and Israel has continued even after Iran and the US agreed on a ceasefire. The exact terms of that ceasefire agreement are not specified, and it is unknown who is responsible for the rocket launches from Lebanon into Israel. The ongoing hostilities highlight the persistent tensions in the region despite diplomatic efforts.