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, sending a dense plume of smoke into the city’s skyline. The attack marked another escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm his commitment to continuing strikes against Tehran and Lebanon. His remarks suggest that the prospect of a ceasefire remains uncertain, especially after Donald Trump highlighted the possibility of a peace deal with Iran.
“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu said, aligning with statements from Israeli officials who told Reuters the likelihood of Iran accepting U.S. demands in negotiations was low.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement the same day, vowing to launch “without restraint” a series of missile and drone attacks on Israeli forces in northern Israel and near Gaza. The group’s message came as Israel intensified its operations, with the military targeting Iranian military installations and infrastructure in Tehran.
Police confirmed the missile hit Tel Aviv, causing significant damage to buildings and vehicles. At least six individuals were lightly injured, while emergency services reported casualties at one site. A single structure and adjacent roads suffered severe impact, with cars ignited in the blast. Fragments from intercepted missiles also fell in Rosh Ha’ayin, resulting in minor damage but no injuries.
Israel’s health ministry noted that 4,829 people had been hospitalized since the war began, with 111 still in care and 12 in critical condition. The strikes followed a wave of Israeli attacks announced earlier in the week, which targeted Iranian military assets. The Israeli Defense Forces indicated energy facilities would be spared, hinting at a potential alignment with Washington’s strategy to halt strikes on Iranian power plants.
Meanwhile, U.S.-based rights groups reported at least 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours, including four casualties. Fars news agency cited six deaths in Tabriz from home strikes. Total deaths in Iran, including military and civilian, have surpassed 1,500 since the conflict began, with some groups estimating as high as 3,230 by March 21.
Iran’s aggression has extended beyond Israel. On Monday, Gulf states faced Iranian strikes, with Bahrain’s interior ministry reporting a fire at a company site caused by an attack. No immediate casualties were noted. In Kuwait, power lines were damaged by air defense shrapnel, leading to brief electricity outages. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed 19 Iranian drones were intercepted and destroyed in its eastern oil-rich province, while missile alerts were sounded in Bahrain.
