Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks
Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks
Following remarks by Donald Trump indicating a temporary halt in U.S. military actions against Iran’s energy facilities, the Israeli military announced fresh strikes on Tehran. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) emphasized their commitment to carrying out operations as instructed by the government, stating they would not alter their course without explicit direction. Approximately 40 minutes after Trump declared a five-day extension of his deadline to target Iran’s power plants, the IDF shared on X that “another wave of strikes has begun, targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran.”
The IDF hinted at potential alignment with Washington’s decision to spare energy infrastructure, suggesting Israel might also suspend strikes on power plants and related sites. A military official, when asked about Trump’s statement, referred to it as “political echelon matter,” and reiterated that operations followed directives from Israel’s leadership. Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent in Tehran noted the scale of explosions in the capital as “unprecedented,” highlighting the intensity of the strikes.
“We have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations,” Trump wrote on social media, adding that he had “instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned earlier that attacks on Iran and its critical infrastructure would intensify. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by launching new strikes on Israeli targets. The Guardian reported that the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented at least 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours, resulting in four casualties—both civilian and military. The death of a child in Monday’s strikes raised concerns, with estimates suggesting 15% of total casualties in Iran were under 18.
Fars news agency reported six fatalities in Tabriz city due to strikes on residential areas. Since the escalation of hostilities, the total number of deaths in Iran—combining military and civilian losses—has surpassed 1,500, with some rights groups citing figures as high as 3,230 by 21 March. The IDF stated it had destroyed or neutralized around 330 of Iran’s estimated 470 ballistic missile launchers, with over half disabled in airstrikes and others targeted through underground facilities. Air force operations have since reduced missile fire on Israel to about 10 daily attacks, down from 90 at the conflict’s onset.
Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon continues, with recent strikes in Beirut aimed at a Quds Force-linked militant group. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed one fatality in the attack. The IDF also revealed they had established positions in the southern village of Aita al-Chaab, deploying a large crane for surveillance purposes.
