The conflict in the Middle East has taken a volatile turn as Iran launched a retaliatory missile strike on Israel, directly contradicting US President Donald Trump’s claims that Tehran’s military is “decimated.” Just hours after Trump asserted that Iran’s missiles, drones, and naval forces were in ruins following “Operation Epic Fury,” multiple missile barrages targeted northern and central Israel, specifically the strategic port city of Haifa and areas near Tel Aviv.

Despite Israel’s advanced air defense systems, reports indicate that several projectiles bypassed the Iron Dome, causing structural damage and injuring at least four civilians. While Trump threatened to bomb Iran back to the “Stone Ages” within the next few weeks if a deal isn’t reached, this sudden escalation suggests that Iran retains significant offensive capabilities. The IDF has issued an emergency alert, urging citizens to remain in shelters as sirens blared across northern Israeli towns. This counter-strike has not only complicated the “final phase” of the war as described by the White House but also raised urgent questions about the true extent of Iran’s remaining military industrial power. The region now braces for an even more intense confrontation in the coming days.