Tehran [Iran], April 2 : Moments after US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's missile programme had been destroyed following the US-Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic for the past month, Iranian forces launched missiles targeting Israel's strategic northern port city of Haifa, according to Iranian state media, Press TV.
Following the reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the missile launches in a statement on Telegram, noting that defensive systems were actively operating to intercept the threat.
"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the IDF said.
The IDF further stated that the Home Front Command had issued precautionary directives directly to mobile phones in affected areas, urging residents to act responsibly and follow safety instructions.
"Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice. Leaving a protected space is permitted only after receiving explicit instructions. The public is requested to continue acting in accordance with the Home Front Command's guidelines," the statement added.
This development comes after Trump, during his address to the nation since the commencement of hostilities against Iran in late February, praised the American military for a "decisive" blow against the Islamic Republic, claiming that the core objective of the campaign was nearing completion.
The US President maintained that Iran's maritime and aerial capabilities have been systematically dismantled during the time and added that the country's broader military infrastructure has been severely diminished.
"Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins, and its leaders, most of them terrorists, are now dead," Trump declared.
Detailing the impact of the strikes, the President stated that the opposition's "ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed."
He noted that "weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces - very few of them left" and claimed that the United States is "winning bigger than ever before."
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