File image.
Iran launched another barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel early on June 17, targeting a highly-secured area close to the central city of Tel Aviv.
Some 20 missiles were launched, according to initial Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assessments. The attack set off air raid sirens across large swaths of Israel. Later, multiple impacts were reported, including four in the area Herzliya where key intelligence facilities are located.
Videos posted to social networks confirmed that the Dayan Camp, home to the Military Intelligence School, was hit. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its side said that data centers belonging to the IDF and the Mossad spy agency were also targeted during the attack, a part of Operation True Promise 3.
Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service said that five people were lightly injured. From its side, the IDF didn’t acknowledge any casualties, although it is important to note that it usually does so after around 24 hours.
Overnight, Iran launched at least ten ballistic missiles in three separate waves. While impacts were reported, there were no losses.
In the hours leading to the last missile attack, the IDF announced the interception of several suicide drones launched from Iran.
Amid the missile and drone attacks, the IDF continued to launch strikes against targets in Iran as a part of Operation Rising Lion.
Early on June 17, Israel announced that it had killed Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani, the new head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, also known as Iran’s military emergency command.
The commander assumed the post just four days earlier, replacing Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed on Friday in Israel’s opening strikes against Iran.
The IDF said that Shadmani was the de facto most senior military commander in the Islamic Republic, the “war chief of staff,” and was considered the closest remaining military figure to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Shadmani “commanded both the [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] and the Iranian Armed Forces” amid the conflict, according to the military, which said in a statement that, under Shadmani’s command, the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters “was responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s attack plans.”
“In his various roles, he had a direct influence on Iran’s offensive plans targeting the State of Israel,” the military added.
Overnight, Iranian media reported intense strikes on the capital, Tehran, as well as on the outskirts of the central city of Natanz, where a key uranium enrichment plant is located. Video footage released by the IDF over the last 24 hours showed the destruction of more ballistic missile launchers, Shahed drone launchers, a MIM-23 Hawk medium-range air defense battery and decommissioned F-14 fighter jets.
In total, more than 260 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the Israeli attack, with more than 1,400 others wounded. From its side, Israel has so far reported 24 deaths and more than 500 wounded.
The confrontation appears to be still far from being over. In fact, the events of the last four days may be just the first phase of a wider war. The U.S. appears to be reading its forces to join the attack on Iran, possibly to overthrow the current Islamic government.
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