Tehran, Iran – Iran's armed forces on Sunday (June 8) launched an airstrike against Israel, retaliating for earlier Israeli strikes on the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Officials described the action as a shift in "strategic doctrine," reflecting a new military approach prioritizing "initiative and offensive power."
According to Iranian media, ballistic missiles were fired from multiple cities, including Kermanshah in the west, targeting areas in Tiberias and Nahariya—sites said to support Israeli logistics in southern Lebanon—along with the Ramat David, Tel Nof, and Nevatim air bases. The operation was named "Nasr" (Victory).
Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said: "As we promised, we acted." He reported the attacks had ended but warned of a stronger response if Israel continued targeting Lebanon.
Israeli warplanes meanwhile struck Tehran and several other cities. One early target was the Karun petrochemical plant in Mahshahr, which produces industrial chemicals. Israel said the strikes hit "infrastructure for producing raw materials for the Iranian terrorist regime's missile program" and "strategic defense systems."
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later attacked the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa, but damage levels remain unconfirmed. Fars news agency quoted anonymous sources warning that other regional countries could see their energy infrastructure targeted if Iranian facilities continue to be attacked.
Expediency Council head Sadegh Amoli Larijani described the move as "an official announcement of a strategic doctrine." He wrote: "Tehran has opened a new chapter in its defense policy; one where protecting regional power hinges not on waiting for threats, but on initiative and offensive strength."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei classified the Iranian strikes as "defensive measures" consistent with self-defense rights under the UN Charter. He said Washington had fully coordinated with Israel for both defensive and offensive operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that both Israel and Iran wanted an immediate ceasefire and said he would maintain a blockade of Iran's ports.