Iran Unleashes 16th Wave of Missile and Drone Strikes on Israel, Sadiq 4

TEHRAN / TEL AVIV — On Tuesday night, March 3, and the early hours of Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially launched the 16th wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel under the codename Operation True Promise 4 (Sadiq 4).

The barrage, consisting of a “large number” of ballistic missiles and suicide drones, targeted strategic locations in central and northern Israel, including the heart of the “occupied territories.”

Missiles and Drones over Tel Aviv

The IRGC Aerospace Force confirmed that this latest salvo was designed to penetrate the layered defense systems that have been active since the war began on February 28.

• Targets: Ballistic missiles were detected heading toward Tel Aviv and Haifa. Explosions were reported in both cities shortly after sirens sounded.
• The “Swarm”: Iranian officials claim they are using a mix of Kheybar Shekan and Fatah-1 missiles alongside hundreds of drones to overwhelm the “Iron Dome” and “Arrow” batteries.
• Claims of Success: Iranian state media claims to have hit a U.S. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) radar site in the region, though this has not been independently verified by the Pentagon.

Israel’s Response: “A Broad Wave of Strikes”

Following the detection of the 16th wave, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced an immediate and “large-scale” counter-operation.

• Retaliatory Bombing: Israeli jets targeted missile launch sites, air defense batteries, and “additional infrastructure” across nine Iranian provinces.
• Decapitation Strike in Tehran: The IDF claimed to have killed a senior IRGC commander responsible for Lebanese affairs during a targeted strike in the Iranian capital on Tuesday night.
• Casualties in Israel: Israel’s emergency services (Magen David Adom) reported treating at least seven people for injuries following the latest missile impacts, though most projectiles were reportedly intercepted.

The Regional Retaliation: U.S. Base at Al-Udeid Hit

The 16th wave was part of a broader regional escalation that saw Iran strike U.S. assets outside of Israel.

• Qatar Hit: The Qatari Defense Ministry confirmed that an Iranian ballistic missile struck the Al-Udeid Air Base—the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East. While one missile was intercepted, the second struck the base; no casualties were reported.
• Dubai Alert: Simultaneously, a drone attack caused a fire at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, leading to the temporary closure of diplomatic roads in the Al Seef area.

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“Jihadi Advantage” vs. Trump’s “It’s Too Late”

As the missiles flew, the rhetoric from both sides reached a fever pitch:

• The Iranian View: Sardar Talai of the Iranian Defense Ministry claimed Iran maintains a “decisive jihadi advantage” and predicted the U.S. and Israel would “flee in a few days” due to the sustainability of the Iranian offensive.
• The American View: President Donald Trump countered on social media, stating that Iran’s leadership and air defenses are “gone” and that it is now “too late” for Tehran to negotiate their way out of the conflict.

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