Tehran, Iran — Iran has entered a new phase of its ongoing military campaign, Operation True Promise III, by launching a powerful barrage of ballistic missiles, including newly unveiled systems, toward Israeli-occupied territories late Wednesday evening. The attack marks a significant escalation in the Islamic Republic’s response to what it calls unprovoked aggression by the Israeli regime.
According to the Iranian news agency Press TV, the Iranian Armed Forces confirmed that this latest wave of missile strikes used advanced two-stage Sejjil ballistic missiles, previously untested in active conflict. According to a statement from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the deployment of these new-generation missile systems is part of a broader effort to neutralize Israeli defense infrastructure and shift the military balance in the region.
The strikes targeted key Israeli military and intelligence facilities, with several missiles reportedly hitting their objectives with high precision. Social media footage—despite a media blackout in the region—showed erratic missile trajectories, suggesting advanced evasive technology capable of bypassing Israeli and U.S.-assisted air defense systems.
The Iranian response was launched hours after a national address by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who vowed that the Iranian nation “will never surrender to any form of imposition” and is prepared to stand firm in the face of conflict.
Israel has acknowledged missile impacts in several cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya, and Hashfela, triggering widespread air raid sirens and sending residents into underground shelters. The country’s missile interception capabilities have been severely tested, and local media, including Yedioth Ahronoth, described the recent Iranian offensives as “unusual” and “unexpected.”
According to the IRGC, the sustained missile barrages have depleted key elements of Israeli missile defense systems. It also stated that recent Iranian operations—such as the targeting of Mossad-related intelligence centers and airbases—have established near-complete aerial dominance over occupied Palestinian territory.
The IRGC warned settlers in these areas that they face a grim choice between prolonged shelter life or leaving what Iran calls “the occupied land.” It reiterated the message of Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, who stated earlier this week that the current operations are just a warning and that the “real punishment” is yet to come.
“These operations serve as a deterrent message. If the aggression continues, more punitive measures will follow,” he said in a televised statement.
The ongoing military response from Iran follows a deadly Israeli strike that resulted in the assassination of several high-ranking Iranian military officers, nuclear scientists, and civilian casualties, including women and children. Iranian officials have labeled the Israeli attack as an act of terrorism, sparking this large-scale retaliation.
As Iran continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of its missile technology—including its new missile systems—the strategic dynamics in the region are shifting rapidly. Analysts warn that continued escalation could draw in broader regional powers and heighten risks of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
