Iran Launches Major Missile and Drone Assault on Israeli Military Sites in “Operation True Promise III”
June 21, Middle East— In a significant escalation under its ongoing “Operation True Promise III,” Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Friday, targeting key Israeli military and intelligence sites across the occupied territories.
According to an official statement from the operation’s spokesperson, the 17th phase of the campaign involved coordinated strikes using long-range missiles, suicide drones, and heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) against Israeli command and control centers, military industries, and intelligence hubs.
“The world must await our surprises,” the spokesperson declared, vowing that Iran’s “sacred defense,” supported by its people, would culminate in ultimate victory.
Despite widespread censorship in Israeli media, videos circulating online showed plumes of smoke rising over Haifa Port following what appeared to be a direct missile strike. The strategic northern city has reportedly fallen eerily quiet, as continued missile barrages force residents and officials into shelters.
Military analysts have noted that several of Iran’s long-range missiles used in this latest phase appear to be newly deployed, successfully breaching Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems and raising serious concerns about the systems’ effectiveness.
One of the unmanned aircraft spotted over northern occupied Palestine was identified as a Shahid-136 drone, reportedly flying unchallenged through Israeli airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also claimed responsibility for a precision strike on the headquarters of Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, following an earlier evacuation warning.
The latest attacks mark a continuation of Iran’s aggressive retaliation campaign, led by the IRGC, which has targeted what it describes as “sensitive and strategic” military and intelligence facilities across Israeli-held territories since the onset of hostilities.
Defense experts suggest that these persistent strikes are forcing Israeli settlers and government personnel to flee key areas, highlighting vulnerabilities in the country’s air defense grid.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is scheduled to meet European leaders in Geneva to address the ongoing conflict. However, he has firmly ruled out any diplomatic negotiations while what he calls “US-backed aggression” against Iran persists.
As regional tensions rise, the latest phase of Operation True Promise underscores a dramatic escalation in military engagement and the growing regional fallout from the Iran-Israel confrontation.