Israel launches 'wide-scale' airstrikes across Iran, hitting Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz

2026-03-16 - 10:32

The Israeli army said Monday that it has begun a "wide-scale" wave of airstrikes across Iran, significantly escalating the ongoing conflict. A military statement claimed that the attacks targeted regime infrastructure in the capital Tehran and the cities of Shiraz and Tabriz in western Iran. No details were provided about the bombed targets or possible casualties. Conflict context Regional escalation has raged since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolgirls. The campaign has now entered its 17th day with no signs of abating, as both sides continue to exchange fire. Iranian retaliation Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, where it says it is targeting "US military assets." Iranian officials report that their air defenses have destroyed over 100 drones since the conflict began, while the country's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of public view following injuries sustained in the initial strike. Regional impact The expanding campaign has disrupted global oil markets, closed the Strait of Hormuz to normal shipping, and drawn in multiple fronts including Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue exchanges. Gulf states remain on high alert, with Bahrain reporting over 300 interceptions since the conflict began.