Tehran/Tel Aviv, June 19, 2025 —
The Iranian armed forces launched the fourteenth and most intense phase of Operation True Promise III on Thursday, striking deep into Israeli-held territories with a formidable combination of ballistic missiles and suicide drones.
The operation, described by Iranian military officials as a “strategic escalation,” involved a new generation of precision-guided missiles and drones, designed to pierce through Israel’s much-vaunted multi-layered air defense systems. The latest offensive successfully hit targets in Tel Aviv, causing panic among residents and prompting air raid sirens across major cities in the occupied territories.
Despite an official media blackout imposed by the Israeli government, videos circulated widely on social media showed scenes of chaos — civilians rushing toward shelters and smoke rising from several impact sites. Eyewitness accounts suggested that dozens of missiles, including never-before-seen variants, lit up the sky over central Israel during the early morning hours.
Unofficial reports put the number of ballistic missiles launched at over 50, with many believed to be equipped with high-explosive and bunker-busting capabilities. Several targets of military and strategic importance were reportedly hit, including an Israeli military command center and an intelligence operations hub located near a hospital in central Tel Aviv.
In a statement released hours after the strikes, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) declared the offensive a “resounding success,” asserting that Iranian forces had demonstrated a new level of intelligence coordination and technological advancement.
“The precision and power of Iran’s strategic missile forces are now evident to the world,” the IRGC stated. “The regime’s failure to intercept our systems is proof that even American-supplied defenses cannot guarantee Israeli security.”
The IRGC further claimed that Israeli forces have begun relocating their command posts into urban areas, using civilian zones as cover amid fears of further Iranian retaliation. According to the statement, Israel’s current air defense posture has left “the entire territory vulnerable” and its military “in retreat.”
While Israeli authorities have not released official casualty figures due to a media gag order, some international and regional sources have reported over 50 fatalities, with dozens more wounded in what may be the deadliest single-day attack of the ongoing conflict. Civilian infrastructure, government buildings, and military installations have all reportedly suffered heavy damage.
Meanwhile, Iranian media hailed the operation as a turning point. Military analysts in Tehran emphasized that the use of coordinated drone and missile tactics overwhelmed Israeli radars, successfully evading U.S.-supplied Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, known for its defense reporting, acknowledged in a Tuesday article that the latest Iranian tactics were “unusual and effective,” catching Israeli defense planners off-guard and exposing vulnerabilities in their layered missile defense strategy.
Tensions in the region continue to escalate, with both sides refusing to back down. Iran has issued fresh warnings to settlers and military personnel in the occupied territories, declaring that “the skies remain open and undefended” and hinting at further waves if provocations persist.
The broader geopolitical ramifications of this latest escalation remain to be seen, but analysts warn that the conflict risks spiraling into a wider regional war if diplomatic off-ramps are not urgently pursued.
