Tehran: The Armed Forces have initiated a new series of punitive strikes against targets in Israel as part of a retaliatory campaign. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) announced the commencement of ‘Operation True Promise 3,’ involving missile and drone deployments against Israeli sites.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the strikes began late Saturday local time in Iran. Sirens echoed across Israel, urging residents to seek shelter as missiles targeted key locations, including Haifa and Tel Aviv. Dramatic footage, captured by Israelis, circulated on social media, showcasing the missiles streaking through the night sky and producing significant explosions upon impact. Notably, Haifa’s oil refinery was reported to have been successfully targeted, following earlier Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.

Approximately two hours following the initial attacks, the I.R.G.C. issued another press release stating that facilities producing fuel for Israeli fighter jets and other energy infrastructures had been hit. Previous operations had already inflicted considerable destruction in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

In response to the Iranian offensive, the Israeli military struck an oil depot in a western neighborhood in Tehran, igniting a fire. Additionally, the Iranian Oil Ministry confirmed that a fuel tank was targeted in southern Iran, though further details were not disclosed.

The I.R.G.C.’s second statement highlighted the effectiveness of Iranian air defenses, which intercepted three Israeli cruise missiles, ten drones, and numerous quadcopters in the areas impacted by Israeli actions.