Israeli military statements said air defences were responding to at least four waves of "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel" within about five hours.

Alerts were activated across much of northern, southern and central Israel including in major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms.

The alerts were later lifted, with the military saying, "it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country."

Israeli media reported that several missiles were launched and most had been intercepted.

Missile attacks in the war -- which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 -- have killed 10 people in Israel.

There were also repeated air raid alerts early Sunday in northern Israel, in areas near the border with Lebanon. Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched drones, rockets and missiles at Israel during the war.