The specter of a full-blown regional war intensified early Monday morning after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israeli territory. The attack marks the first major military action under the leadership of Ayatollah Mukhta Khamenei, recently appointed as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Emergency sirens sounded in central and northern Israel, forcing thousands of civilians to seek shelter. According to reports from the state broadcaster Kan TV, although several missiles landed in open areas, air defense systems intercepted most of the offensive. So far, emergency services have not reported any injuries. The Iranian state television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, confirmed the attack and described it as the first missile offensive since Khamenei's appointment as supreme leader. In a message broadcast on the Telegram platform, the outlet asserted that "Iranian defensive missiles are in response to the third guide of the Islamic Republic." Images broadcast by the station showed the fuselage of one of the projectiles with the inscription "At your command, Seyyed Mojtaba," in apparent reference to the new religious leader. Military escalation in the region: The exchange of attacks comes amid a growing military escalation in the region, marked by simultaneous clashes in Lebanon between Israeli forces and the armed movement Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran. The Lebanese group claimed that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops who arrived in helicopters to mountainous areas in the east of the country, near Baalbek. According to the movement, at least fifteen aircraft participated in the operation. A Hezbollah official, quoted by international news agencies on condition of anonymity, claimed that one of the Israeli helicopters was shot down during the clash, although this version has not been confirmed by Israel.The new offensive comes at a time of heightened tension following recent Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, raising the risk of a larger regional conflict. Meanwhile, Washington ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from its embassy in Saudi Arabia, citing security concerns about potential Iranian retaliation. The situation has the international community on high alert, fearing that the confrontation between Iran and its adversaries will continue to escalate in the coming days.