Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed a missile strike targeting key military and security sites in Israel in response to the assassination of key figures, including Esmail Haniyeh, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Major General Abbas Nilforoushan.

The announcement came through an official IRGC statement late on October 1, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel as dozens of ballistic missiles hit Israel, according to videos uploaded to social media. 

The IRGC stated that its Aerospace Force launched "dozens of ballistic missiles" at targets in Israel. The retaliatory strike followed a period of restraint by Iran in the face of escalating provocations.

The Iranian missiles were launched toward the Dimona nuclear reactor in southern Israel, says journalist Ehud Ya'ari on  Israel's Channel 12. 

The operation was approved by Iran's Supreme National Security Council and carried out with the support of the Iranian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

The IRGC warned that any military retaliation from Israel would be met with further, more devastating strikes, underscoring the legality of its actions under international law and the UN Charter.

The IRGC wrote: "If the Zionist regime responds to Iran's operations, it will face crushing attacks."

Iran's mission to the United Nations also issued a statement, reinforcing the country's right to self-defence and cautioning regional nations and Israel’s allies to distance themselves from Israel’s actions.

The statement added that further "destructive responses" would follow any renewed Israeli aggression.