Iran launches offensive with missiles and drones against the entire territory controlled by Israel

The Guardians’ body of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) announced on Monday, 17, the launch of a new military offensive against Israel’s controlled territory as part of the intensification of the so-called Truth III Operation.

According to the Iranian state agency Tasna Newsthe attack, which marks the ninth phase of the operation, uses missiles and unmanned air vehicles (drones) and targets the whole territory that Iran calls “Palestine occupied by Israel”.

According to official information, the attacks began shortly after dusk. Emergency sirens were fired in the north, downtown and southern Israeli territory. The operation began after an Israeli bombardment against the building of the IRIB public broadcaster, located in northern Iran. The Iranian government classified this attack as a war crime.

The new phase of the offensive was described by IRGC spokesmen as “hybrid”, combining drones and missiles launched simultaneously. The IRGC has stated that the attacks will continue until dawn. According to the statement, the aerospace division of force would have already reached 545 Israeli military targets in the last three days.

On social networks, videos attributed to residents of Israeli settlements show civilians running towards shelters while explosions are heard in the background.

Reports report that the Israeli government ordered the dismissal of traffic cameras and prohibited live broadcasts of the offensive, as well as the dissemination of images of the attacks, to avoid psychological impact on the population.

An image viralized on social networks caught the eye: an alleged Israeli intercepting missile would have failed and fallen before reaching the Iranian targets that went to Tel Aviv.

On the eve of the attacks, the Iran’s Armed Forces released a statement to the Israeli population.

Colonel Reza Sayyad, representative of the Iranian Armed Forces Communications Center, said: “Leave the territories busy. Leaving this land busy is the only way to preserve their lives.” The officer also qualified Israeli military actions as “criminal aggressions” and warned that Tehran’s response will be “devastating.”

The operation launched on Monday is a direct response to the Israeli attack of the previous Friday (13), which resulted in the death of several military leaders and Iranian nuclear experts. Among the confirmed dead are:

• Major-General Mohammad Baqeri, Head of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran
• IRGC Commander Hossein Salami
• Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Head of the IRGC Aerospace Division
• General Gholam Ali Rashid
• Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, IRGC Intelligence Head
• Nuclear scientists Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Dr. (incomplete name in the report)

Prior to the beginning of the new offensive, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Aiatolla Seyed Ali Khamenei, made a statement on state television in which he condemned the Israeli attack and promised retaliation. “The Zionist regime made a big mistake,” said Aiatola. He also stated, “The Iranian nation will not ignore the blood of its martyrs or aggression against its sky.”

The escalation of the conflict has generated concern in several international capitals. The Iranian offensive occurs in a scenario already marked by prolonged instability in the Middle East, and security experts point to the risk of regional expansion of the conflict, with possible involvement of neighboring countries and chain reactions in military alliances.

To date, there is no confirmation of the number of victims resulting from the Iranian attacks started on Monday. The Israeli government has not yet officially commented on the offensive in progress. International organizations accompany the developments and warn of the need to contain civil damage.

Political analysts assess that the latest attacks indicate a significant change in Iran’s stance, which began to carry out direct military actions against Israel, raising the level of confrontation between the two countries. Continuity of attacks may lead to new international powers positions and increase pressure on regional leaders.

The UN Security Council has not yet summoned emergency meeting, but representatives of some unofficially consulted Member States have indicated concern with the possibility of climbing for a multilateral conflict.