Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched multiple ballistic missiles toward Israel on March 8, 2026, as part of the ongoing escalation in the regional conflict, now in its second week. The strikes, designated as the 28th wave of "Operation True Promise 4," involved advanced systems including the Kheibar Shekan (also referred to as Kheibar), Emad, and Ghadr missiles. Iranian state media and the IRGC released footage showing the launches, claiming high-precision hits on Israeli military targets, including areas around Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as U.S. bases in the Gulf region.

The Kheibar Shekan, a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile with a range of approximately 1,450 km and maneuverable re-entry capabilities, was highlighted in Iranian announcements for striking fortified sites such as military installations in northern Israel. The Emad and Ghadr, both liquid-propellant derivatives of the Shahab-3 family with ranges up to 2,000 km, were reportedly used for broader barrages, some incorporating multi-warhead configurations to overwhelm defenses. Iranian officials asserted that these missiles, combined with drones, targeted strategic locations, including claims of penetrating Israeli air defenses and damaging U.S.-linked radar systems like AN/TPY-2 units associated with THAAD networks across the Gulf and Levant.

This latest salvo follows a pattern of retaliatory exchanges amid intensified U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile infrastructure, energy facilities, and military sites since late February 2026. Reports indicate a decline in Iranian missile volume due to degraded launch capabilities—Israeli and U.S. forces claim to have destroyed hundreds of launchers—but Iran continues waves of attacks, with barrages hitting open areas, urban peripheries, and occasionally causing injuries or limited damage in Israel. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Haifa, triggering air-raid sirens and interceptor activations, though Israeli defenses intercepted many projectiles.

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The operation underscores Iran's reliance on its domestic ballistic missile arsenal to project power despite sanctions and ongoing degradation efforts. Officials in Tehran framed the strikes as responses to prior attacks on Iranian assets, vowing sustained operations. Regional tensions remain high, with potential for further escalation involving proxies or direct U.S. involvement, as both sides accuse the other of broadening the conflict.

Casualties and precise impacts remain contested, with Iranian claims of significant successes contrasted by Israeli statements emphasizing effective interceptions and minimal strategic damage. The use of these specific missiles—Kheibar Shekan for precision, Emad and Ghadr for volume—highlights Iran's evolving capabilities in asymmetric warfare. International observers warn that continued barrages risk drawing in more actors, complicating efforts to de-escalate the volatile Middle East theater.

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