Israeli military warns of 'prolonged campaign' as conflict with Iran escalates

Israel's military warned of a "prolonged" war with Iran yesterday as the conflict entered its second week with no sign of stopping.

- William Christou

Israeli forces were targeting Tehran and other areas while an Iranian missile attack wounded many in the port city of Haifa yesterday.

Israel's military said its aircraft had destroyed Iranian surface-to-air missiles in southern Iran and killed a group of Iranian military commanders responsible for missile launches.

The strikes, according to the Israeli military, had prevented the launch of missiles scheduled for last night.

Iran launched a rare mid-afternoon salvo of ballistic missiles, triggering air raid sirens across Israel. At least one of the missiles evaded air defences. It hit an area by the docks of Haifa and wounded at least 45 people, 19 of whom were taken to hospital. An Iranian missile also hit the southern city of Beersheba, where there were no injuries.

The Israeli military chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said Israelis must prepare for a "difficult days" ahead. "To remove a threat of such magnitude, against such an enemy, we must be ready for a prolonged campaign. Day by day, our freedom to operate is expanding, and the enemy's is narrowing," Zamir said.

European and Iranian diplomats met in Geneva in an attempt to restart nuclear talks with Iran and facilitate diplomacy between it and the US to achieve a ceasefire, as Donald Trump mulls military intervention in Iran.

Speaking in front of the UN, the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran was determined to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty "with all force."