Repeated launches from Iran: Israel responds with deep strikes

21st March 2026

1 minute read

Repeated launches from Iran: Israel responds with deep strikes

Large areas in central Israel were placed on high alert on Saturday morning following missile launches from Iran, triggering sirens in dozens of towns and sending millions of residents into shelters.

Preliminary reports indicated that a missile landed in the city of Rishon LeZion, with no casualties reported so far. Early assessments suggest that one of the missiles was equipped with a fragmentation warhead.

Three waves in a single night

The escalation was not limited to a single strike but unfolded in three successive waves of launches during the night.

The first wave targeted southern Israel, followed by a second wave that expanded to wider areas, including the Shfela region, the south, and the surroundings of Jerusalem.

Shortly before dawn, a new launch toward the Dimona area was detected, signaling an expansion in the scope of targets, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

Despite interception efforts carried out during the various phases, the intensity of the launches reflects a clear escalation in the pace of attacks.

Israeli strikes deep inside Iran

In parallel with the missile attacks, Iranian media reported hearing explosions in Tehran as part of a series of Israeli strikes targeting several cities, including Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and Karaj.

The strikes were described as extensive, while the Israeli military stated that it had targeted “infrastructure linked to the Iranian regime.”

These developments come amid growing indications of a possible widening of the conflict, with reports suggesting U.S. preparations for broader military options, including the possibility of a ground intervention inside Iran.