Netanyahu vows further strikes on Iran and Lebanon as missile hits Tel Aviv
Netanyahu vows further strikes on Iran and Lebanon as missile hits Tel Aviv
A missile from Iran struck central Tel Aviv on Tuesday, sending a thick plume of smoke into the city’s skyline and reigniting tensions in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attack, pledging continued military action against both Tehran and Beirut. His remarks underscored the growing uncertainty over a potential ceasefire, as US President Donald Trump had previously suggested the possibility of a deal to end the ongoing conflict.
“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu stated, aligning with three Israeli officials who told Reuters the likelihood of Iran accepting US demands in new talks was low.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement shortly after, warning of “unrestricted” missile and drone assaults on Israeli forces in northern Israel and near the Gaza Strip. The group claimed these attacks would follow if Israel did not halt its operations in Lebanon and Palestine.
Preliminary reports indicated that the Iranian projectile, loaded with a significant explosive payload, caused extensive damage to structures and vehicles in Tel Aviv. At least six individuals were lightly injured, with emergency services documenting casualties at one of the impacted locations. A nearby building and its adjacent road suffered severe damage, including vehicles engulfed in flames. Fragments of intercepted missiles also fell in Rosh Ha’ayin, causing minor harm but no reported injuries.
Since the conflict began, Israel’s health ministry has recorded 4,829 injured people in hospitals, with 111 still under care and 12 in critical condition. The strikes followed Israeli operations announced on Monday, escalating a pattern of retaliation. Around 40 minutes after Trump announced a pause on attacking Iran’s power infrastructure, Israel’s military shared on X that it had initiated a new wave of strikes targeting the Iranian regime’s facilities in Tehran.
The Israel Defense Forces emphasized that energy infrastructure would be spared, hinting at alignment with Washington’s approach of holding back from assaults on Iran’s power plants. The US-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency reported at least 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours, resulting in four casualties, including both civilian and military victims. In Tabriz, at least six people were killed during strikes on residential areas, according to Fars news agency.
Since the US-Israeli bombardment began, total deaths in Iran have surpassed 1,500, with some rights groups citing figures as high as 3,230 by 21 March. The Israeli military, in a Telegram statement, claimed it had destroyed multiple missile launchers and key Iranian military sites, asserting near-total control over the country’s airspace. Despite these gains, Tehran has persisted in launching attacks into Israel, challenging the effectiveness of Israeli defenses.
The conflict’s reach extended beyond Israel’s borders on Monday, as Iranian strikes targeted Gulf nations. Bahrain’s interior ministry reported extinguishing a fire at a commercial site after an Iranian attack, with no immediate casualties. In Kuwait, power lines were damaged by air defense shrapnel, causing brief electricity disruptions. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed intercepting and destroying 19 Iranian drones aimed at its oil-rich eastern region, while missile alerts were heard in Bahrain.
