YAZD, Iran — Regional tensions reached a dangerous new peak on Sunday, March 29, 2026, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched two medium-range ballistic missiles from Yazd Province targeting Israel. The launch follows a series of heavy Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure and marks a defiant response to the ongoing "Operation Roaring Lion."
Military sensors and open-source intelligence (OSINT) trackers confirmed the dual launch at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time. The missiles originated from the Yazd Missile Base, a facility that has been a primary target of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent days.
Initial assessments identify the projectiles as part of Iran’s advanced liquid-fuel array, potentially from the Khorramshahr or Shahab series, which are designed to carry heavy payloads over distances of up to 2,000 kilometers—placing all of Israel within their reach. As the missiles approached, air raid sirens echoed across the Negev desert and parts of central Israel, but the IDF later confirmed that its Arrow 3 exo-atmospheric interceptors successfully neutralized both threats before they could re-enter the atmosphere. While no direct hits were reported on the ground, falling debris did cause several minor fires in the vicinity of the Ramon Airbase.
The strike from Yazd is widely viewed as a direct retaliation for a massive Israeli-U.S. operation conducted just 48 hours prior. On Friday, March 27, the IDF utilized guided munitions to strike what it described as Iran’s "central production site for naval missiles and sea mines" located in Yazd.
"The regime in Tehran continues to choose escalation over stability," an IDF spokesperson stated following the Sunday intercept. "Our strikes have degraded their production capabilities, but as today’s launch shows, they remain committed to a campaign of regional terror."
Iranian state media has characterized the launch as part of Operation True Promise 4, a sustained missile and drone campaign against Israeli and American assets. Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February, the new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed a "resolute and more powerful" defense of the Islamic Republic.
Despite ongoing diplomatic back-channeling and recent claims by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a "productive" dialogue with Iranian officials, the military reality on the ground remains volatile.
As of Sunday afternoon, the IRGC has reportedly moved additional mobile launchers into the rugged terrain of Western Iran, signaling that the barrage may not be over.