Iranian missiles strike near Haifa after Trump’s address

Iran carried out three waves of rocket attacks against northern Israel early Thursday, Israeli media reported. The assault came just minutes after US President Donald Trump told Americans from the White House that Tehran’s missile capabilities had been “dramatically curtailed.” Air defense systems were activated as warning sirens echoed over wide areas.

Escalation after Trump’s remarks

Israeli Channel 12 said interception operations were ongoing, while Iranian state television boasted that its projectiles reached the port city of Haifa immediately following Trump’s address. The US president had claimed Iran possessed “very few” operational launchers left and predicted the ongoing war would last another two to three weeks, though he expressed hope that the conflict was nearing an end.

Regional fallout and Türkiye’s concern

The latest exchange follows a joint US-Israeli air campaign launched on February 28, which has reportedly killed more than 1,340 people, including Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has since responded with drones and missiles not only against Israel but also targeting Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting American military assets. These strikes have caused casualties, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted global markets and aviation—developments that Türkiye views with growing alarm due to their impact on regional stability.

Wider implications

Ankara continues to call for restraint, as the widening conflict risks drawing in neighboring countries. With northern Israel under repeated bombardment and Iran demonstrating long-range strike capabilities, the crisis shows no immediate sign of de-escalation.