Mashhad: Iranian air defense intercepted 'hostile' targets in the southern city of Mashhad on Thursday, local media said. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that an Israeli Hermes drone was also shot down in Lorestan province in western Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, hostilities began between Israel and Iran on Friday, when Tel Aviv launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities. This prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes, escalating the conflict between the two nations.

Israeli authorities have reported that at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since the onset of Iranian missile attacks. Meanwhile, Iranian media reports indicate that in Iran, 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault.