Missiles Rain Down As Iran Escalates Operation True Promise III; Chaos Grips Israel Amid Cyber Sabotage, Missile Barrage
Launched under the codename 'Ya Ali ibn Abi Talib', the latest phase of the Iranian operation was reportedly the ninth and most extensive so far. Sirens wailed across northern, central and southern regions of Israel as dozens of incoming projectiles lit up the skies.
The attack came just hours after Israeli airstrikes targeted the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in northern Iran. Widely condemned in Tehran, the strike was blamed for more deaths of civilians and triggered the broadened response from Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
According to reports, this phase of Iran's operation is expected to last longer and inflict deeper damage than earlier stages, which began Friday in response to what Iran describes as a coordinated and unprovoked Israeli military assault.
In scenes captured by cellphone footage inside Israeli territories, large numbers of Iranian missiles are seen bypassing Israeli air defenses and hitting ground targets. One clip shows an Israeli interceptor missile veering off course and falling back down before any Iranian projectile had reached Tel Aviv.
Additional reports say that the highly sophisticated Iron Dome defense system experienced a major malfunction, possibly due to a cyber breach. According to Israeli media, the system misfired and launched interceptors at the wrong locations or into empty air, with some Israeli projectiles landing on Israeli-controlled zones.
Compounding the panic, Israel's National Cyber Directorate confirmed that a military unit responsible for issuing civil defense alerts was hacked. Citizens reportedly received spoofed text messages instructing them not to enter public shelters, causing confusion during one of the most intense nights of missile fire in recent history.
A spokesperson for the IRGC confirmed that this new wave is a hybrid offensive, combining drone swarms and long-range ballistic missiles. The operation continued without pause until dawn. Over the last 72 hours, according to the IRGC, its aerospace division has targeted 545 Israeli military and strategic locations across Israel.
Citizens have reportedly been barred from posting videos or images of the attacks online. Israeli authorities have disabled traffic surveillance cameras, while unverified images on social media show widespread fear, with residents sheltering underground for the fourth day in a row.
On Sunday, Iranian officials issued a direct warning to civilians in Tel Aviv. Colonel Reza Sayyad, representing Iran's Armed Forces Communications Center, urged them to evacuate immediately, stating that staying behind would place their lives in grave danger as Iran proceeds with its retaliation.
The Iranian government has publicly named its fallen high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists who were killed during the initial Israeli strikes on June 13. They include Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC aerospace head, General Gholam Ali Rashid, senior IRGC commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, head of IRGC intelligence, noted nuclear scientists Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Dr. Abdolhamid Minoucher.
Supreme Leader's Warnings
Prior to the launch of the first retaliatory wave, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned of dire consequences for Israel. He accused the Israeli regime of committing a 'grave error' by targeting civilian infrastructure and military personnel on Iranian soil.
He also announced the appointment of new military commanders on June 13, hours after the assassination of key figures and declared that Iran would deliver a harsh response that would 'ruin the aggressor'.
Following his statement, Iran launched missiles and drones deep into Israeli territory, striking Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. The resulting fear and chaos have led to near-total shutdowns in public life, with millions sheltering underground.
Iranian authorities have confirmed that their forces will continue the operation 'as long as necessary'. Military sources in Tehran describe the ongoing wave of missile and drone attacks as part of an extended campaign aimed at dismantling Israeli military capabilities and delivering a 'crushing' response to earlier aggression.
No ceasefire has been proposed publicly, and with both missile fire and cyber warfare escalating in tandem, the conflict now risks engulfing the region further.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Syria's top diplomat, Israeli delegation meet in Paris as U.S. pushes for normalising ties
Syria's foreign minister held a rare direct meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday (August 19, 2025), talks that were brokered by the United States as part of a diplomatic push for Syria and Israel to normalise relations despite a recent surge in tensions between them. Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Israeli officials to discuss de-escalating tensions and restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement — a deal that established a demilitarised separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm. The statement gave no details on the outcome of the Paris meeting. But a senior Trump administration official, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed the talks. 'The United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours," the official told The Associated Press, adding that the backing follows President Donald Trump's outlined "vision of a prosperous Middle East' that includes a 'stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours — including Israel.' "We want to do everything we can to help achieve that,' the official added. The long road to normalisation In the past, Syrian officials have acknowledged holding indirect talks with Israel to defuse tensions, but this was the first time they acknowledged taking part in direct negotiations. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from Israel. Tensions have soared between the two neighbours following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents. Shortly after Assad's overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarised zone south of Damascus. Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad's rule. It distrusts Syria's new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander who severed ties with the militant group years ago, has pledged to build a new country that respects the rights of minorities, but sectarian violence has erupted on a number of occasions, raising concerns about Syria's fragile transition. Sectarian clashes and Druze grievances Israel stepped up its intervention when violence erupted in Syria's Sweida province last month between Bedouin clans and government forces on one side and armed groups from the Druze religious minority on the other. During the fighting, some government forces allegedly killed Druze civilians, including a medical worker in a hospital in Sweida — an incident that was caught on video — and a U.S. citizen. Other videos circulating online have shown fighters forcibly shaving the mustaches off Druze sheikhs, or religious leaders, and stepping on Druze flags and photographs of religious clerics. The Syrian government has said it is investigating the allegations. The conflict then prompted airstrikes against Syrian forces by Israel before a truce — mediated by the U.S., Turkey and Arab countries — halted most of the fighting. Israel said it was acting to protect the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority in Israel and often serve in the military. Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of Syrian forces around Sweida and struck the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, Syria's capital. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the strategic plateau in a move that has only been recognised by the United States. The rest of the international community views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. A U.S. envoy holds talks Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that he had held a 'warm and informative meeting' with Moafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Druze in Israel, and that the two discussed "how to bring together the interests of all parties, de-escalate tensions, and build understanding'. Mr. Tarif described the meeting as 'excellent' and said the Druze want American assistance with an end to the blockade of Sweida and humanitarian aid for the people there, the return of the Druze who were kidnapped during the fighting, as well as American assurances of Druze security. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, Syrian government forces have surrounded the southern city of Sweida, named after the province, and the Druze have said that little aid is getting in, describing the situation as a siege. While the Druze in Syria have historically been wary of Israel, an increasing number are now open to seeking Israeli assistance. Hundreds demonstrated in Sweida on Saturday to demand the right to self determination for the Druze minority, with some protesters waving Israeli flags. Videos and photos of the spectacle circulating on social media sparked outrage from many other Syrians, who accused the protesters of being traitors.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Germany signals policy shift on Israel as ‘unjustified' war on Gaza rages on
'What the Israeli Army is doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand the goal…To harm the civilian population in such a way can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 26. It was the first time since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, that led to the killing of around 1,200 people, that a top German politician had criticised Israeli operations in Gaza. Given Germany's Second World War history and its historical relations with Israel, this was a noticeable shift in its tone. The death toll in Gaza has now passed 62,000. Since the end of May, a large number of people have been killed or injured while trying to obtain food and medical aid from any of the four Israel-controlled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites. Between May 27 and July 31 this year, over 800 Palestinians have been killed mostly by the Israeli military, while attempting to obtain food as per the United Nations. Human Rights Watch has called this a serious violation of international law and a war crime. On July 28, Germany announced airlifting humanitarian aid into Gaza with Jordan. As of August 14, Bundeswehr planes had airdropped 192 tonnes of aid via a total of 18 flights. Other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Belgium, Canada, have also been involved with airdrops. According to the UN Relief Works and Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), airdrops are ineffective and cost 100 times more than the trucks while carrying much less aid. It is estimated that one pallet of airdrop can carry 11-14 tons, while a single truck can carry similar or more tonnage multiple times a day. 'It is not very effective, even the German government has acknowledged it. But for the time being, when Israel has blocked all land routes, it is still saving some lives. The larger message being sent is that Germany is ready to invest money to ensure the well-being of Palestinians,' said Dr. Markus Loewe, co-ordinator for research on the Middle East and North Africa at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). Dr. Muriel Asseburg, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), calls the airdrops more of a symbolic measure than one to alleviate the situation on the ground in Gaza. Critical voices in Germany Since October 7, 2023, most Western countries have refrained from criticising the actions of the Israeli government, but the tide seems to have changed over the last few months. Most of the G-7 countries have criticised the Israeli government's policies, with France, the U.K. and Canada even agreeing to recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. While Germany has made no such proclamation, it has reiterated its stand on a two-state solution. On August 8, Mr. Merz announced that Germany would not sell weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza Strip till further notice. This decision came soon after the Israeli Security Cabinet's decision to take over Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed it was 'the best way to end the war speedily'. This decision was promptly condemned by the United Nations and many countries around the world. 'German policy toward Israel remains unchanged. But we cannot supply weapons to a conflict that is being attempted to be resolved exclusively by military means, that can claim hundreds of thousands of lives,' Mr. Merz said in a TV interview on August 10. According to Ms. Asseburg, Germany's critical stance against Israel has been prompted by multiple factors, with the current Israeli government being the most important one. 'The Chancellor and the Foreign Minister have been in close contact with their Israeli counterparts. However, there is a growing sense that these interactions and pleas to address the humanitarian situation and find a way to end the war are not making progress. Using the bilateral relations to change the situation has not worked. Secondly, public opinion in Germany has been demanding a different stance on Israel and Gaza,' Ms. Asseburg said. As per a recent nationwide Deutschlandtrend survey, 66% of Germans want their government to put more pressure on Israel to change its conduct, 63% believe Israel's military response has gone too far, and 73% feel Israel's actions impacting Palestinian civilians are unjustified. On the question of limiting weapons delivery to Israel, 43% are in favour of limiting arms exports, while 30% want a complete halt. This trend also reflects the growing number of protests happening in Germany calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, including a 60,000-strong protest march in Berlin in June. However, Mr. Merz has maintained that his decisions were not influenced by public pressure but prompted more by what he was hearing from experts, including former Israeli intelligence experts who were critical of Israeli government's decision to conduct military operations in Gaza City. According to Mr. Loewe, all Western governments have taken a critical position vis-à-vis Israel in the last six months, with Germany coming in later. 'Given the history, the German government is cautious about criticising Israel too openly. But it has reached a point where the current actions of the Israeli government have forced Germany to express more clearly that it cannot accept everything that the Israeli government does,' Mr. Loewe said. A recent case in point is Israel's controversial plan to build 3,400 new settlements in West Bank on August 14 that was criticised by the Federal Foreign Office. 'The construction of settlements is in violation of international law and of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, making it more difficult to achieve a negotiated two-state solution and to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, as called for by the ICJ,' noted a release from the Federal Foreign Office. The Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, had told earlier this year that Germany's friendship and responsibility towards Israel 'do not mean that we must stand by and watch the actions of the Israeli government without criticism'. Opposition politicians such as the co-chair of the Greens party, Franziska Brantner, told a local daily, 'It is important to differentiate between Israel and the Israeli government. Mr. Netanyahu is not Israel. Mr. Netanyahu has never been in favour of a peaceful solution with the Palestinians. And he has far-right Ministers in his Cabinet.' Political backlash Mr. Merz's announcement of Germany limiting its weapons sales to Israel got a lot of criticism from his own ranks. The sister party of the Christian Democrats (CDU) from the Bavarian region, the Christian Social Union (CSU), claimed they were not consulted in the decision-making. Speaking to a local tabloid, CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann said, 'The CSU was not involved in this decision and we consider it worrying. This would be a departure from decades of foreign policy continuity towards Israel and as such, at least in need of explanation.' However, this pushback will not change Mr. Merz's decision, noted Ms. Asseburg. 'There has been resistance from his party and its sister party, the CSU. But it is not enough for this decision to be reversed. Mr. Merz has been somewhat successful in mending fences with the CSU, and even though they differ on this matter, he will not reverse his decision,' Ms. Asseburg said. Mr. Loewe also agreed that Mr. Merz will not reverse his decision. 'But at the same time, he will think twice before taking any further steps. One has to consider that Mr. Merz leads a government with a conservative party in lead, where some factions are very conservative – especially the Bavarian sister party CSU. They are reluctant to criticise Israel,' he noted. However, the ruling government's coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD) has supported this call by Mr. Merz. In addition to senior politicians, even the youth wing of CDU put up a question on its Instagram channel, 'Reason of state abolished? A break with the principles of policy,' referring to Germany's 'Staatsraison' or 'reason of state'. In 2008, the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel had declared that Israel's security was Germany's 'reason of state,' underlining Germany's special historical responsibility after the Holocaust that led to the killing of over 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime in the Second World War. Weak leverage in Europe Despite all the critical statements from Germany and many Western nations, the Israeli government has not changed its tactics. On July 29, the European Commission proposed partially suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement to prevent Israel from participating in EU research programs such as Horizon Europe due to concerns about Israel's human rights violations in Gaza. According to IDOS's Mr. Loewe, this move will not have any impact. 'There is very little Europe can do to make the Israeli government change its mind. They are just considering this ban because they have nothing else that is powerful enough to push the needle,' Mr. Loewe said. Ms. Asseburg believes that international pressure can only work if Europe presents a united front and is not being pulled apart. 'Of course, the U.S. is crucial in that regard. The Israeli Prime Minister has the backing of the U.S. in expanding its operations in Gaza and pursuing a military approach. Also, the Trump administration is not clear on a two-state solution, which allows Mr. Netanyahu to pursue his current stance,' Ms. Asseburg said. Mr. Loewe believes only the U.S. can put pressure on the Israeli government to change the situation in Gaza. But he does not see the current Trump government taking any action in that regard. 'Only in 1991, when George Bush Sr was the U.S. President, did the U.S. put pressure on Israel to join negotiations with not just other Arab partners but also with the Palestinians. This was the groundwork for the Oslo Accords,' Mr. Loewe said. The Oslo Accords (1993 and 1995) were a set of agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) to establish a peace process for the Israel-Palestine conflict through a mutually negotiated two-state solution. While the deadline to achieve this was set to May 1999, the 1996 election of Benjamin Netanyahu, an ardent critic of the Oslo Accords, effectively ended the two-state solution negotiation. Mr. Netanyahu continues to categorically reject the two-state solution to date. Germany-Israel relations While Germany has been taking an increasingly critical stand against the Israeli government, experts noted that this disagreement will not alter Germany-Israel diplomatic relations. In the TV interview in which Mr. Merz announced the decision to limit weapons delivery to Israel, he also reiterated that the foundational principles of the Israel-Germany relationship have not changed and will remain unchanged. 'When it comes to diplomatic efforts, Germany will back Israel if it comes to the question of its existence in the world – Staatsraison. Germany will be more critical of singular decisions taken by the Israeli government and continue to search for a solution to the war in Gaza. It will continue to hint that many Israeli people, Israeli NGOs and former military heads are also criticising the war in Gaza,' Mr. Loewe said, stressing that Germany can stand by the State of Israel, but can still be critical about its government's policies. For Ms. Asseburg, the far-right wing of the Israeli government is the problem. 'The extreme right-wing government in Israel makes it very difficult for Germany to maintain close relations and convincingly balance what is called the historical responsibility towards Israel on the one hand and Germany's commitment to international law, multi-lateralism and human rights. The contradictions are increasing, making it difficult to maintain the same level of relations that Germany has had with Israel in the past.'
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Syrian, Israeli diplomats discuss de-escalation of violence in Paris meeting
Syria's foreign minister met with an Israeli diplomatic delegation in Paris on Tuesday to discuss "de-escalation and non-interference in Syria's internal affairs", state news agency SANA latest in a series of US-mediated talks resulted in "understandings that support stability in the region", the agency has been at work in recent weeks to try to resolve security issues in Syria and Lebanon, which its ally Israel says have prompted it to take military Despite a truce reached last November, Israel has continued to hit targets of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, and it has occupied territory and hit targets across Syria since last year's fall of dictator Bashar meeting in Paris follows one between Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in Baku in late July, and another meeting in Paris before and Syria have technically been at war since 1948, and the talks also discussed reviving a disengagement accord from 1974 that created a buffer zone between the two countries."These talks are taking place under US mediation, as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in Syria and preserving the unity and integrity of its territory," the agency recent meetings between the two countries come after deadly sectarian clashes in July in southern Syria's Druze-majority Sweida province which left over 1,400 people clashes initially pitted local Druze fighters against Sunni Bedouin tribes but soon saw the involvement of Syrian government forces and Israel, with the latter saying it wanted to protect the month, Israel struck the Syrian presidential palace and the army headquarters in United States, an ally of Israel but who has expressed support for Syria's new leaders, announced a ceasefire between the two sides overnight on July 18.- Ends
