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, intensifying the Middle East crisis. The attack came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared plans to escalate military operations against Tehran and Lebanon, signaling that peace talks may not be imminent. His remarks echoed statements from three Israeli officials who had warned that Iran was unlikely to accept U.S. proposals in ongoing negotiations.
“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu stated, underscoring the continuation of strikes targeting Iran’s infrastructure.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement vowing to launch “heavy missile and drone attacks” on Israeli forces in northern Israel and near Gaza, unless assaults on Lebanon and Palestine were halted. A dense smoke plume over Tel Aviv’s skyline that morning highlighted the persistence of hostilities.
According to police, the missile carried a significant explosive load, damaging multiple buildings and vehicles in the city. At least six individuals were lightly injured. One structure and its neighboring road sustained severe damage, with cars catching fire. Fragments from intercepted missiles also landed in Rosh Ha’ayin, causing minor harm but no reported injuries.
Israel’s health ministry reported 4,829 injured since the war began, with 111 still hospitalized and 12 in critical condition. The strikes followed a wave of Israeli operations announced on Monday, escalating tensions in the region. About 40 minutes after Donald Trump announced a delay in targeting Iran’s power infrastructure, Israel claimed to have initiated new strikes on Tehran’s facilities.
The Israel Defense Forces noted that energy sites would be spared, implying alignment with Washington’s strategy to avoid attacking Iranian power plants. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency documented at least 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours, resulting in four casualties—both civilian and military.
Iran’s Fars news agency confirmed six deaths in Tabriz due to strikes on residential areas. Since U.S.-Israeli strikes began on Iran, death tolls 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, reported targeting Iranian military bases and weapons sites, including ballistic missile storage facilities and key regime headquarters.
Recent Israeli claims suggest they have eliminated over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers and nearly secured control of Iranian airspace. Yet, Tehran continues to breach Israeli defenses. The conflict has expanded to the Gulf, with Iranian strikes reaching Bahrain and Kuwait. Bahrain’s civil defense teams extinguished a fire at a company after an attack, while Kuwait faced power outages from shrapnel. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed 19 Iranian drones targeting its eastern oil-rich region.
