Jakarta – The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with Iran signaling its readiness for a prolonged war with the United States and Israel. A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, stated on Friday that Iran is fully prepared for a “protracted war” and is poised to unveil a recent generation of strategic weaponry not yet seen on the battlefield. This declaration comes amid heightened tensions following a series of exchanges between Iran, Israel and the U.S.
Naeini emphasized that the recent wave of attacks under Operation “True Promise 4” represents only a fraction of Iran’s actual capabilities. “Initiatives and new weapons of Iran are just around the corner,” he said, according to Iranian state media Press TV. “This technology has not been deployed on a large scale. The enemy must prepare for painful attacks in every wave of upcoming operations.”
Escalation Follows Strikes in Tel Aviv
The announcement coincided with the launch of the Khayber missile attack on Tel Aviv, Israel. The attack triggered explosions across the region, with firefighters working to extinguish fires in residential buildings near the commercial center of the occupied territory. According to reports from the French news agency AFP, the explosions occurred after Israel expanded its campaign against Hezbollah, vowing retaliation against the Iran-backed militant group for joining the conflict following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian state television reported that Tehran had fired missiles “at targets in the heart of Tel Aviv,” after the Israeli military said it was attempting to intercept incoming Iranian fire on Thursday night local time. The timing of these events underscores the rapidly escalating nature of the conflict and the potential for further retaliatory strikes.
Limited Casualties Reported in Israel
Journalists with AFP in Tel Aviv reported hearing two near-simultaneous waves of explosions echoing throughout the city. Traces of rockets were also seen illuminating the sky over Netanya, a city north of Tel Aviv on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. Following the rocket attacks, Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), stated that its teams had visited several locations reportedly impacted, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli police said they were “currently handling incident sites involving fallen rockets in central Israel,” adding that there was “damage” but no injuries. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but the attacks demonstrate Iran’s willingness to directly target Israeli population centers.
Broader Regional Implications
The current conflict builds upon a series of escalating tensions that began on Saturday, February 28th, when the U.S. And Israel launched airstrikes against Iran. According to web search results, the IRGC launched approximately 40 missiles towards the U.S. And Israel on Wednesday, March 4th, as part of its retaliatory measures. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported that Iran has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones in its response across the Middle East.
The potential for a prolonged conflict raises concerns about regional stability and the safety of U.S. Forces stationed in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump and senior officials have warned that the conflict could result in increased U.S. Military casualties as Tehran responds to U.S. And Israeli strikes. The situation is further complicated by Israel’s vow to retaliate against Hezbollah, potentially drawing the Lebanese militant group more directly into the conflict.
The IRGC’s declaration of readiness for a “protracted war” signals a significant shift in Iran’s approach to the conflict. While the full extent of Iran’s new weaponry remains unknown, the announcement suggests that Tehran is prepared to escalate the conflict further if necessary. The coming days and weeks will be critical in determining whether the situation can be de-escalated or if the region is headed towards a wider and more prolonged war.
The situation remains fluid and highly volatile. Further developments are expected as Israel continues its operations against Hezbollah and Iran prepares to unveil its new weaponry. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, urging all parties to exercise restraint and seek a diplomatic solution to the escalating crisis.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
