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, intensifying the regional conflict as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged continued attacks on Tehran and Lebanon. This escalation followed Donald Trump’s earlier optimism about a potential diplomatic agreement to end the war, which now seems less likely. Netanyahu’s remarks, shared on social media, seemed to echo statements from three Israeli officials who indicated that Iran’s willingness to accept U.S. proposals in new talks was uncertain.
“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu stated, aligning with three Israeli officials who told Reuters the prospects of Iran agreeing to U.S. demands in future negotiations were low.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of large-scale missile and drone strikes against Israeli forces in northern Israel and Gaza’s border regions, vowing to act “without restraint” if Israel did not stop its operations in Lebanon and Palestine. A thick smoke plume over Tel Aviv’s skyline that morning highlighted the ongoing tension, signaling that the war’s end remained elusive.
Authorities confirmed that an Iranian missile, equipped with a significant explosive payload, hit the city center, damaging buildings and vehicles. At least six people sustained light injuries, while several structures across Tel Aviv were affected. One building and the nearby road suffered major damage, with cars ignited by the blast. Debris from intercepted missiles also reached Rosh Ha’ayin, inflicting minor harm but no injuries.
The Israeli health ministry reported that 4,829 individuals had been hospitalized since the war began, with 111 still under treatment and 12 in critical condition. Meanwhile, a U.S.-based human rights organization noted at least 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours, resulting in four casualties—civilian and military alike. Fars news agency cited six deaths in Tabriz from strikes on residential areas.
Since U.S.-led strikes on Iran commenced, casualty estimates have surpassed 1,500, with some advocacy groups reporting as high as 3,230 deaths by March 21. The Israeli military confirmed targeting Iranian military bases and weapon sites, destroying additional missile launchers, including storage facilities and regime headquarters. Despite claims of eliminating over 70% of Iran’s ballistic missile systems, Tehran has persisted in penetrating Israel’s defenses.
The conflict has expanded beyond Israel’s borders. On Monday, Iranian strikes reached Gulf states, with Bahrain’s interior ministry noting that its civil defense teams extinguished a fire at a company site after an attack, reporting no immediate casualties. In Kuwait, power lines were damaged by air defense shrapnel, causing temporary outages. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry stated it had intercepted and destroyed 19 Iranian drones targeting its eastern oil-rich region.