Iran strikes Israeli intelligence sites as Israel attacks Iran's missile launchers

TEHRAN/JERUSALEM, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday carried out strikes on "key Israeli intelligence sites" in Tel Aviv, including military intelligence and Mossad facilities, while the Israeli Air Force said it launched a new wave of airstrikes in western Iran.

The IRGC said its Aerospace Force conducted an "effective operation" in the early hours, penetrating Israel's "highly advanced air defense systems," according to Iranian state media.

The elite force claimed the strikes specifically targeted the Israeli army's Aman headquarters and a facility used for planning "assassination operations attributed to the Mossad."

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran killed "a significant number" of officers and commanders in its strikes on Mossad and military intelligence centers.

The reported attacks followed an Israeli military announcement that it had eliminated Iran's top military commander, Ali Shadmani, in an overnight airstrike on a command center in central Tehran. Shadmani had taken the role just four days earlier, succeeding Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in a previous Israeli strike.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said in a statement that its Air Force carried out a new wave of airstrikes in western Iran.

"As part of the strikes, a number of sites and dozens of surface-to-surface missile launchers were struck," said the statement.

The military added that its Air Force continues to "operate in Iranian airspace in order to locate and neutralize launchers aimed at the Israeli home front."

Earlier in the day, Israel said Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel, some of which slammed into central areas of the country, including the city of Herzliya, causing a few light injuries.

Some 20 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel in Iran's attack, according to initial Israel Defense Forces assessments.

The deadly aerial conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel has entered its fifth day, with at least 244 people killed in Iran and 24 in Israel. The escalation was triggered by Israel's surprise airstrikes across Iran on Friday. ■