ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday its aerospace force has launched a new military operation, claiming strikes on Israeli airbases in response to recent attacks inside Iran.
In a statement, the IRGC announced the start of “Operation Nasr” - meaning victory - saying that “moments ago, the brave warriors of the IRGC aerospace force launched ‘Operation Nasr’... Dedicated to the martyrs of the 12-day war, this operation targeted the strategic airbases of Nevatim Airbase and Tel Nof Airbase.”
The statement said the operation was carried out in retaliation for what it described as Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, referring to “the missile aggression of the child-killing Zionist regime against several radar sites in three locations across the country.”
It also warned of further escalation, stating that “all combat and operational units of the IRGC are in full readiness to carry out a massive and punitive operation across all fronts and have prepared action plans tailored to various enemy scenarios.”
The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, with both Iran and Israel exchanging missile fire.
This marks the first direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel since a ceasefire was announced on April 8 following weeks of regional conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces reported Monday multiple incoming missile launches from Iran, while Iranian state media has confirmed explosions in several cities following Israeli strikes, including Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz.
Iranian media also reported that the Karun Petrochemical Company in the southwestern city of Mahshahr in Khuzestan province was hit in an Israeli attack.
Ali Hossein Hayati, Khuzestan's deputy governor for security and law enforcement affairs, told Iranian media that "a few minutes ago, the Karun Petrochemical Company in Mahshahr was targeted in an air attack and struck by projectiles from the Zionist enemy; a portion of the facility has been damaged."
Tehran had launched around a dozen ballistic missiles after Israeli attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, an area known as Dahieh and considered a Hezbollah stronghold.
Late on Sunday, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the United States “only understands the language of force,” warning that American and allied military assets in the region could become legitimate targets following Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf accused Washington of failing to uphold diplomacy and ceasefire commitments, saying: “They are neither committed to a ceasefire nor do they believe in dialogue," referring to the US officials.
Tehran has repeatedly maintained that Lebanon is included in its fragile ceasefire with the United States - a claim rejected by Israel.
