Iran fires cluster missiles at Israel as conflict intensifies

Iran has launched a new wave of attacks on central Israel, using cluster-style missiles in what it described as retaliation for the killing of senior official Ali Larijani. The strike, carried out overnight on Tuesday, marks a further escalation as the war involving the United States and Israel enters its third week.

According to Israeli reports, the missiles struck areas near Tel Aviv, including Ramat Gan, killing two people and injuring several others. Falling shrapnel caused additional damage, including at a train station, highlighting the broader impact of the attack beyond the initial blast zones.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) framed the operation as a direct response to recent Israeli assassinations.

In a statement, it said the strikes exacted “revenge for the blood of martyr Dr. Ali Larijani and his companions”.

The use of multiple-warhead missiles, which can release several submunitions and are harder to intercept, appeared to overwhelm some elements of Israel’s defence systems, increasing both the reach and unpredictability of the attack.

The exchange did not end there. Iran followed up with additional missile launches on Wednesday, even as it continued to face sustained US and Israeli air strikes across its own territory.

Among the reported targets in Iran was a judiciary facility in Larestan, where strikes killed and injured civilians and staff, according to Iranian media. Energy infrastructure linked to the South Pars gas field was also hit, alongside multiple locations in western Iran.

In Dorud, an attack on a densely populated area killed seven people and injured dozens, while another strike in the Chegeni region left four dead, according to reports.

At the same time, Israel signalled it was continuing to pursue high-level targets. Defence Minister Israel Katz said an overnight operation had killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, though Tehran has not confirmed the claim.

Inside Iran, the conflict is also feeding into a broader internal crackdown. Authorities announced the execution of a man accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad, part of a wider campaign against alleged collaborators.