Iran launches new round of missiles, Israel bombs cities

Tehran, June 21 – The aggression against Iran entered its ninth day today, amid fears of regional destabilization following threats from Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir about a prolonged campaign.

Early this morning, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the eighteenth wave of missile strikes against "military targets, military industries, and command centers of the Zionist regime."

For its part, the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) acknowledged five launches but stated that all were intercepted, although the press reported a fire in the city of Holon, apparently caused by rocket debris.

The IDF also announced airstrikes on the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom.

Morteza Heydari, spokesman for the Qom Provincial Administration headquarters, reported that Israeli drone fire at a building in the city killed a 16-year-old boy and injured two others.

Meanwhile, the deputy director of security and law enforcement in Isfahan province, Akbar Salehi, stated that several points in the territory were bombed, although he assured that the refinery was not hit.

Early this morning, "the Zionist regime carried out attacks in some areas of the cities of Isfahan, Lanjan, Mobarakeh, and Shahreza," he specified.

Meanwhile, the Iranian news agency Mehr denied reports from Israel yesterday about the death of Hojjatoleslam Taeb, former head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

Following a meeting the day before with the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union High Representative in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi affirmed that his country is ready for talks if the aggression ceases.

Meanwhile, Maersk, one of the most important shipping companies, decided to temporarily suspend operations in the port of Haifa, northern Israel, to ensure the safety of the employees, cargo, and fleet of the company.

Haifa suffered several hits of Iranian missiles in recent days, which caused significant economic and building damage. (Text and photo: PL)