True Promise III: A barrage of Iranian missiles pounds occupied territories

The operation began immediately after the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, delivered a televised message, saying that the "despicable" Israeli regime would be “rendered helpless” following reprisal by the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces.

In a statement on Friday night, less than 24 hours after the Israeli aggression, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed the launch of the retaliatory operation, dubbing it “True Promise III.”

“Following the aggressive and hostile action by the brutal, terrorist, child-killing Zionist regime early this morning against certain areas of Islamic Iran, which resulted in the martyrdom of a number of high-ranking commanders of the armed forces, prominent scientists, and innocent citizens—especially oppressed children—the Islamic Revolution GuardS Corps, as the defensive and offensive arm of the Iranian nation, relying on divine power, the wise guidance of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (may his shadow be prolonged), and the unified demand and support of the honorable Iranian nation, launched its decisive and precise response operation, “Promised True Operation 3,” targeting dozens of sites, military centers, and airbases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories," the statement noted.

The operation was carried out under the code name “Ya Ali ibn Abi Talib,” coinciding with the blessed occasion of Eid al-Ghadir, the statement noted. It also added that further details of the operation will be communicated to the public in a subsequent statement.

Videos circulating on social media, reportedly from Israeli media sources, show Iranian missiles penetrating multiple layers of Israeli defense systems to strike their intended targets within the occupied territories.

Israeli media reported sirens in multiple places, including Western Galilee and Central Galilee, Safed and its surroundings, Upper Galilee, west of occupied Al-Quds, Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Israeli media reports indicate that dozens of military installations have been struck by Iranian ballistic missiles, with significant casualties.

This retaliatory operation followed a series of assassinations of high-ranking Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists by the Zionist enemy in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Among those martyred were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces; IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami; Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC Aerospace Division; and senior IRGC commander General Gholam Ali Rashid.

Nuclear scientists Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Dr. Abdolhamid Minoucher were also martyred in separate attacks.

Minutes before the operation was launched, Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the Zionist regime made a "big mistake, a grave error" and said the consequences will ruin them. The Iranian nation will not overlook the blood of its precious martyrs and will not ignore the aggression against its sky.

Our armed forces are ready, and the country’s officials and all segments of the people stand behind the armed forces. Today, messages with similar sentiments were issued from all the different political factions and various groups of the country. Everyone feels the need to act decisively against the malicious, despicable, terrorist Zionist identity.

Earlier, in a statement, the Iranian Army’s Public Relations announced that its air defense force had successfully struck and destroyed two F-35 fighter jets of the Zionist regime along with many drones.

According to the report, the fate of the fighter pilots is unknown and is currently under investigation. Further information will be released in due course.