Iranian Military Warns of “Full Retaliation”
On the 17th (local time), a new wave of rocket attacks from Iran caused flames to rise from a building in Herzliya near Tel Aviv, Israel. As Israel announced that it had carried out at least two airstrikes targeting missile and drone bases in western Iran, there were multiple loud explosions heard throughout Tehran throughout the day. Iranian media reported explosions in Isfahan, where nuclear facilities are located.
Israel issued seven missile alerts nationwide after midnight, with air raid alarms sounding in Tel Aviv and northern areas. The Israeli military stated that they intercepted “most” of the missiles fired from Iran. An air raid alert also sounded in Dimona, in southern Israel where nuclear facilities are located, but no actual attacks were reported.
Iran declared that it targeted “sensitive” security facilities within Israel, claiming it attacked Mossad headquarters and an airbase.
Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, the new chief of staff of the Iranian military, warned that the operations so far have been merely warnings for deterrence and that full-scale retaliation would soon begin.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, as of the 15th, at least 224 people had died and more than 1,200 were injured in Iran due to Israeli attacks. According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, at least 24 people had died and 592 were injured in Israel due to Iranian attacks.
Meanwhile, on the 17th, Iranian media reported widespread internet disruptions, although the cause is yet to be identified. Iran has restricted internet access since Israel began its airstrikes. Fars News Agency reported that Sepah Bank, one of Iran’s major state-owned banks, was paralyzed due to a cyberattack.