Iran launched a major missile assault on Israel early Monday (16 June, local time), striking Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa. The attacks destroyed residential buildings, ignited fires at a power plant near Haifa, and caused widespread panic. Israel’s national emergency service confirmed three fatalities and dozens of injuries in central Israel, with search operations ongoing. The strikes were part of Tehran’s retaliation for Israeli pre-emptive attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile sites that began on Friday.
Haifa witnessed significant damage, with around 30 people wounded and emergency responders racing to the affected zones. In Tel Aviv, missiles destroyed several buildings near a densely populated area, blowing out windows of nearby homes and hotels. Explosions were also heard over Jerusalem, while videos showed incoming missile trails lighting up the night sky. Notably, the impact zone was just a few hundred meters from the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the attack employed a new technique that caused Israel’s multi-layered defense systems to malfunction and engage each other. They hailed the operation as a success, stating that it overcame the support and advanced technology provided to Israel by the United States and other Western nations. Israeli officials have not yet commented but have warned the public of more difficult days ahead, acknowledging their defenses are not foolproof.
In earlier Iranian reports, 224 people were confirmed killed in Israel’s initial strikes, with 90 percent of those casualties being civilians. Meanwhile, at least 10 people have been killed in Israel in total since the start of this recent escalation, including children. The intensifying conflict has alarmed global leaders gathered for the G7 summit, who fear that the clash between Israel and Iran may ignite a broader regional war in the Middle East.
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Iran lauds ‘new method’ as missiles hit Israel’s Tel Aviv, Haifa
