The military confrontation between Iran and Israel intensified sharply on Wednesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of hostilities, as Iran fired a Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Tel Aviv in what is being viewed as a dramatic escalation. The missile attack came shortly after United States President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, demanding the Islamic Republic’s “unconditional surrender”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had fired the Fattah-1 missile early in the morning, prompting explosions over Tel Aviv. The Fattah-1, first unveiled in 2023, has been described by Iranian officials as the “Israel-striker”, and was reportedly used during a previous Iranian barrage in October 2024. A banner displayed during its unveiling had declared “400 seconds to Tel Aviv”, referring to the missile’s alleged speed.
While Iran’s missile barrage rocked the Israeli city, retaliatory airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force struck near Tehran, targeting suspected military sites. Iranian media reported explosions in both the capital and the nearby city of Karaj. Residents of Tehran’s District 18 were reportedly ordered to evacuate ahead of the Israeli strikes.
In the United States, President Trump’s response was immediate and forceful. He posted a series of provocative statements on his social media platform, Truth Social, warning Iran’s top leadership. “We know where he is (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)... We are not going to take him out (kill!) – at least not for now,” Trump wrote. He further added, “Our patience is wearing thin,” before demanding Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” minutes later. The posts followed a high-level 90-minute meeting with the National Security Council, where Trump reviewed potential American responses to the situation.
According to Axios, President Trump also spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. Meanwhile, US officials confirmed the deployment of additional American fighter jets to the Middle East, with several ongoing air missions extended to support the region’s stability. Although the US military remains in a defensive posture, the movement of aircraft has intensified speculation about a possible joint operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Also read: Khamenei shifts powers to military as Israel-Iran conflict rages
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had remained silent through the initial days of the conflict, responded publicly following Trump’s threats. In a post translated by Iran International, he wrote, “The battle begins. Ali returns to Khaybar.” He continued, “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.”
The mood within Iran remains volatile, as opposition voices abroad amplified the tensions. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last monarch and an exiled dissident figure, alleged that Khamenei had “gone into hiding underground” and that the regime was collapsing under the weight of international pressure. “Like a frightened rat, he has lost control of the situation,” Pahlavi said in a sharply worded statement.
Amid continuing hostilities, Iran also launched two additional waves of missiles at Israel earlier on Wednesday, further escalating the crisis. While Israeli defence systems intercepted several of the projectiles, others triggered alarms and explosions across Tel Aviv. The cycle of missile and airstrikes has led to mounting fears across the Middle East, with civilians in both countries on edge and the international community watching warily.
As diplomatic efforts remain largely absent and both sides dig in their heels, the possibility of a wider regional war looms ever larger. With President Trump’s latest demand and Iran’s defiance, the world is left wondering whether a full-scale confrontation is now inevitable.
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