Iran launched another intense round of missile attacks against Israel on June 16, marking an intensification in their ongoing military confrontation caused by Israel’s Operation Rising Lion. While 80-90% of missiles were intercepted, several made impactful hits into residential or strategic areas causing civilian casualties as well as infrastructural damage (Sources: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com +4
, Wikipedia).
Iran Launches Missile Strike
Early Wednesday morning, Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles – including advanced Qassem Bassir medium-range ballistic missiles – targeting central and northern Israel, specifically Tel Aviv, Haifa, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak and Bat Yam. Missile fragments hit several buildings such as schools in Tel Aviv as well as the U.S. Embassy. Various buildings across these locations came under attack with several falling within range, damaging buildings such as schools as well as damaging buildings including school in Tel Aviv which included U.S. Embassy offices among others in Tel Aviv as targets en.wikipedia.org +10.
At least five civilians were killed and over 90 others, including children, were injured as a result of this bombing in central Israel and Bat Yam. A 10-year-old boy in central Israel was among those wounded while an elderly person found deceased under debris was also among those found wounded and found dead by emergency crews in Bat Yam. (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wikipedia/Wiki/Bat_Yam (Wikipedia: BYAM ). en.wikipedia.org +4Wiki:Bat_Yam).
Israeli hospitals reported treating around 287 people overnight for various ailments. For more information about this topic please visit: en.wikipedia.org and Wikipedia respectively
IDF Response and Air Defense The Israel Defense Force confirmed intercepting most of the missiles with its Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, firing warning sirens nationwide as well as issuing shelter alerts (Reuters.com/+15; JPost/+15 and TimesofIndia/Indiatimes/+15 respectively).
IDF spokespersons described Iran’s latest barrage as an attempt to penetrate Israel’s missile defense shield and warned of imminent retaliation, according to Aljazeera and Reuters accounts.
Iran’s Motives and Military Strategy
Tehran called their attack “Operation True Promise III,” in response to Israel’s April and June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities such as Natanz, military sites such as Quds Force bases, as well as targets belonging to IRGC units like Ahvaz. For further reading see Wikipedia for more details en.wikipedia.org plus 3 for an account of these attacks
Iran insists its offensive will continue until it successfully counters Israel’s military campaign.
Iran recently unveiled new Qassem Bassir missiles capable of bypassing defense systems, signalling that Tehran intends to use these to coerce Israel into postponing further strikes against them (En.wikipedia.org/wikipedia/2005072217_QassemBassirMissiles).
Since June 13, 24 Israelis have been killed and hundreds wounded as a result of ongoing missile barrages launched from Iran. Iran reports over 224 fatalities due to Israeli strikes on their soil (primarily civilian deaths) caused by Israeli strikes; moreover, all are confirmed as civilian deaths by washingtonpost.com ( +7), reuters.com (+7), and Wikipedia.org +7 for such fatalities from Israeli strikes on Iranian territory (WashingtonPost + 7), Reuters +7, Wikipedia etc (All = 7),
These tensions have led to regional alert levels rising sharply and disrupted civilian life across Israel.
Wider Implications
The renewed strikes have caused widespread disruption, including the temporary closure of Ben Gurion International Airport, alerts for shelters and cancelled flights and widespread alerts about shelter availability on timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Oil prices have skyrocketed and markets remain on edge amid worries of wider regional involvement.
Diplomatic Pressure Increases
Global leaders gathered for the G7 summit are pressing for urgent de-escalation and renewed diplomatic engagement between Israel and the Palestinians, including direct U.S. support of Israel while some also raise fears over wider regional war, according to The Times (thetimes.co.uk).
What Are My Next Steps
Israel has pledged further strikes against Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, while Tehran warns of intensified barrages against civilian and military sites alike. With both nations deepening military exchange, external diplomatic efforts become ever more crucial in order to avoid full-scale regional conflict.