March 17, (THEWILL) — Iran has launched a barrage of missiles carrying cluster warheads at Tel Aviv, escalating its conflict with Israel in what it described as retaliation for the assassination of its security chief, Ali Larijani.
Iranian state media reported Wednesday that the overnight strikes targeted areas near Israel’s commercial hub, killing at least two people and pushing the overall death toll in Israel since the outbreak of hostilities to no fewer than 14.
In a statement broadcast on state television, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the attack involved Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr ballistic missiles fitted with multi-warhead systems capable of dispersing smaller explosives mid-air across wide areas.
Israeli authorities have accused Tehran of repeatedly deploying cluster munitions in the conflict, noting that such weapons are difficult to intercept and pose significant risks to civilians due to their wide-area impact.
The strikes followed confirmation by Iranian officials of the killing of Larijani in an airstrike, in what analysts describe as one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership since the conflict began. His son and close aides were also reportedly killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high across the region. Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that a projectile struck near its Bushehr nuclear facility on Tuesday but caused no damage or casualties, even as fears grow over the risk of a nuclear incident.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has called for maximum restraint from all sides, warning that continued hostilities could trigger catastrophic consequences.
Despite mounting international pressure, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has rejected calls for a ceasefire, insisting that it is “not the right time for peace” until Israel and the United States are defeated.
The conflict has also widened geographically, with Israeli forces intensifying airstrikes in Lebanon, including a fresh attack on Beirut’s Bachoura district on Wednesday following evacuation warnings to residents.
In a related development, Iran announced the execution of a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, underscoring the deepening hostilities between the two adversaries.
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