Iran escalates missile strikes on Israeli military bases, with explosions rocking Haifa and Tel Aviv. The ongoing conflict raises global concerns over transparency, media restrictions, and energy security as the region faces unprecedented military escalation.

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On the fifth consecutive day of military escalation, Iranian armed forces launched a coordinated ballistic missile attack on Israeli military installations, resulting in powerful explosions in Haifa and other cities within the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to Iranian media sources, the operation was a direct response to Israeli aggression and aimed specifically at military infrastructure, with Tehran warning residents near strategic facilities in Tel Aviv to evacuate immediately.

The Israeli government has imposed severe restrictions on international media, particularly in Haifa, following a documented rocket strike on the city’s industrial zone. Israeli police have barred foreign journalists from covering the aftermath, raising alarms among press freedom advocates and fueling suspicions about the true scale of destruction and civilian impact. Iranian officials condemned these actions, calling them an attempt to silence the truth and conceal evidence of Israeli military vulnerability.

Iranian Leadership: “We Didn’t Want War, and We Didn’t Start It”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his government’s position, stating, “We didn’t want war, and we didn’t start it.” He emphasized that Iran’s actions are a defensive response to repeated Israeli attacks on Iranian territory and civilian infrastructure.

Iranian air defense systems were activated across multiple regions, including Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan, Bushehr, and Tehran, as the nation braced for possible Israeli retaliation.

#MiddleEast | Verified videos show an Iranian missile impact on Israel’s HaKirya district, home to key military and defense installations, marking a significant escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict.https://t.co/o4PnAz4Kh1

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 16, 2025

Israeli authorities responded to the Iranian missile barrage by ordering precautionary evacuations in several settlements and urging civilians to seek shelter. The Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems were deployed to intercept incoming projectiles, but reports from Iranian and allied media suggest that several strategic targets were successfully hit, including military installations and energy infrastructure in Haifa.

The conflict’s escalation has triggered international alarm, particularly regarding its impact on global energy supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, partially controlled by Iran, is a critical chokepoint through which more than 20 million barrels of oil pass daily. Analysts warn that a prolonged conflict could severely disrupt this vital flow, destabilizing oil prices and threatening the global economy.

President Pezeshkian has issued a stark warning to the United States: unless Washington intervenes diplomatically to halt Israeli military actions against Iran, Tehran will implement “harsher responses”.

Progressive voices across Latin America and the Middle East have echoed calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israeli occupation and aggression, highlighting the urgent need for international mediation to prevent further bloodshed.

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