The missile attack launched by Tehran in response to the Israeli air raids has targeted civilian population centers, Israel Katz has said

Tehran's response to the Israeli air raids on the Islamic Republic has "crossed red lines," the Jewish State's defense minister, Israel Katz, has stated, vowing make Iran pay "a very heavy price" for its actions.

Iran launched a massive missile barrage late on Friday in response to a series of Israeli air strikes targeting military and nuclear sites inside the Islamic Republic earlier the same day. The nation's military launched "hundreds" of projectiles at Israel in multiple waves, according to the Iranian media.

Israel Defense Forces, however, claimed that fewer than 100 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel in the two barrages.

At least 35 people were injured in the Iranian attack, according to the Israeli medical authorities. One woman is in critical condition, medics said. The city of Tel Aviv appeared to be one of the prime targets for the Iranian strikes. The Israeli authorities confirmed at least seven impact sites within the city area.

"Iran crossed red lines when it dared to fire missiles toward civilian population centers in Israel. We will continue to defend Israel's citizens and ensure that the ayatollahs' regime pays a very heavy price for its criminal actions," Katz said, commenting to the developments, according to Ynet News. The minister did not announce any specific steps West Jerusalem could take in response.

The Israeli strikes early on Friday killed Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, according to the Iranian authorities.

Several media outlets have claimed that several other high-ranking Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists were killed as well. Tehran blasted the attacks as "blatant aggression" and vowed a "crushing" response.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused West Jerusalem of starting a "war" and said that Tehran would not "allow them to escape unscathed from this great crime."

(RT.com)