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
An Iranian missile struck central Tel Aviv on Tuesday, reigniting tensions in the Middle East as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared plans for additional attacks on Tehran and Lebanon. The incident comes amid ongoing conflict, with hopes of easing hostilities seemingly fading after President Donald Trump highlighted the possibility of a peace deal.
“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu stated, aligning with remarks from three Israeli officials who informed Reuters that a new agreement with Iran was unlikely. Their comments suggest continued military action, despite earlier negotiations.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement warning that heavy missile and drone strikes would target Israeli troops in northern regions and near Gaza without hesitation, provided Israel did not halt its operations in Lebanon and Palestine.
Smoke billowed over Tel Aviv’s skyline in the early hours of Tuesday, signaling the persistence of hostilities. Police confirmed that an Iranian missile, equipped with a significant explosive load, impacted the city, damaging multiple buildings and vehicles. At least six individuals sustained minor injuries, with one structure and its neighboring road suffering severe damage, including ignited vehicles.
Casualties and Damage
Israel’s health ministry reported 4,829 injured since the war began, with 111 still hospitalized and 12 in critical condition. Fragments from intercepted missiles also struck Rosh Ha’ayin, causing negligible damage but no injuries. Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars news agency noted that six people were killed in attacks on homes in Tabriz, while the US-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency documented at least 206 strikes across 15 Iranian provinces in the prior day, resulting in four casualties.
Escalation Beyond Israel
The conflict expanded into the Gulf region on Monday, as Iranian strikes reached neighboring states. Bahrain’s interior ministry stated that civil defense teams quelled a fire at a company after an Iranian attack, with no immediate casualties. In Kuwait, power lines were damaged by air defense shrapnel, leading to temporary outages. Sirens echoed in Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry announced it had intercepted and destroyed 19 Iranian drones targeting its oil-rich eastern province.
Israel’s military claimed to have dismantled over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, nearing full control of Iranian airspace. However, Tehran continues to breach Israeli defenses, indicating that the conflict remains volatile. The recent strikes follow a cycle of retaliation, with Israel launching attacks after US-Israeli bombing campaigns on Iran’s territory.
