Sirens sound in Tel Aviv as Iran retaliates
Pak Gazette chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reports an “incredibly powerful explosion” as Iran continues its ballistic fire on Israel, and says an Israeli official confirmed that 40 senior Iranian leaders were also killed.
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Former NCAA and Team USA women’s basketball player Destiny Littleton shared images Saturday of her experience fleeing Iranian counterattacks in Israel.
Her documentation concluded with a panicked scene in which she and other civilians screamed in fear as the drones flew overhead. Littleton, who won a national championship in South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley in 2022, and a gold medal for the United States at the 2017 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, currently plays for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel’s top division.
On Saturday he posted images on his Instagram updating his followers as he fled to a local bomb shelter as Iranian counterattacks began attacking Israel.
After the United States and Israel carried out a round of military strikes against Iran, the country responded with ballistic missiles and drones targeting cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.
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Former South Carolina guard Destiny Littleton was in Israel when Iran launched a counterattack against the country, causing her to seek refuge. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Littleton was almost caught in the crossfire.
Sirens could be heard in his video as he fled the shelter, and at one point he even pointed his camera at what appeared to be missiles flying through the air.
In one video, she struggled to find shelter as sirens blared in the background.
“I’m trying to find the safe room, but I can’t find it,” he said in a frightened voice as he walked down an empty alley. “Jesus Christ, I don’t think this is the right way… I don’t think this is the right way.”
As he walked down an outside stone staircase, bombs could be heard exploding in the distance in the background, as he screamed, “Oh, s—!”
Shortly after, she posted a video announcing that she had left the shelter and was heading to a teammate’s house after feeling “uncomfortable” in the shelter she had just found.
“That BOMB shelter I was in recently couldn’t fit five people, and that was it, I was like, ‘no, no, no, no,'” he said.
Littleton eventually arrived at his teammate’s apartment building, where he revealed that he had heard several recent explosions.
“I heard booms everywhere,” he said as he showed an overview of the Jerusalem skyline.
An explosion caused by a projectile impact after Iran launched missiles at Israel after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. (Reuters/Gideon Markowicz)
Then, in her last video of the night, Littleton looked frantic and sweaty, as she revealed nearby explosions.
“There’s no siren on right now, and yet there are things in the sky exploding! I’m pretty sure they’re missiles or drones! Either way, we’ve seen them explode in the sky, several of them, very, very close to us actually!” she exclaimed.
“I’m not really sure what it is…Jesus Christ.”
Littleton and those around her became more frantic when another apparent drone appeared nearby.
“Over there! Over there! Over there! Over there! Over there!” he shouted, before turning his camera to show what appeared to be a drone flying near the building he was in. “I’m pretty sure he’s not a star.”
At that moment, five other drones entered the scene and an explosion was seen in the distance.
“I think those are some damn drones, bro!”
The entire room then erupted into a loud panic as a drone flew over the building they were in, as she turned the camera up to reveal the weapons.
“Oh shit!” Littleton shouted.
Another nearby civilian yelled, “Guys! Guys! What the fuck!”
ISRAEL LAUNCHES PREVENTIVE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN, DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS
Israeli firefighters work to put out a car fire at the site of a shell impact after Iran launched missiles at Israel, following Israeli and US attacks on Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. (Reuters/Tomer Appelbaum)
The drone landed and exploded at a great distance from its location, as seen in the images.
Littleton and the group were later seen leaving the apartment and heading to a bunker, while she appeared visibly nervous, sweaty and overwhelmed, massaging her head and sighing.
Littleton has not published a follow-up post at the time of publication.
Staley said Saturday that the university is working to bring Littleton and two other players home amid the chaos, along with WNBA veteran Tiffany Mitchell and former Phoenix Mercury forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan.
“Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel,” his post read. “We are working on a plan to return home. Please pray that our loved ones return home safely as soon as possible! Thank you in advance.”
The United States joined Israel in launching strikes against Iran on Saturday morning. In video comments posted on Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people take over his government once the United States and Israel ended “major combat operations” in Iran.
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Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks against US sites across the Middle East. Pak Gazette reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel.
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