Operation True Promise

 

Operation True Promise (Persian: وعده صادק) refers to a series of direct military strikes conducted by Iran against Israel and its allies. Initially launched in April 2024, the campaign has evolved through multiple phases, most recently escalating into a major regional conflict in early 2026. 

Summary of Operations

• Operation True Promise I (April 13–14, 2024): Iran's first direct attack on Israel, launched in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus. It involved approximately 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles.
• Operation True Promise II (October 1, 2024): An escalation involving nearly 200 ballistic missiles launched following the assassinations of high-ranking Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
• Operation True Promise III (June 2025): Conducted during the "Twelve-Day War" in response to Israel's "Operation Rising Lion". This phase utilized advanced hypersonic missiles like the Fattah-1 and electronic warfare to challenge Israeli air defenses.
• Operation True Promise IV (February–March 2026): The current and most expansive phase, launched following joint US-Israel strikes on Iranian territory that reportedly resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

Current Status: Operation True Promise IV (March 2026) 

As of March 11, 2026, the operation is in its 39th wave of attacks. Under the new leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei, the IRGC has expanded its targets to include US military assets across the region. 

Key Feature	Details
New Strategy	Direct regional expansion, targeting US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait in addition to Israel.
Weaponry Used	Heavy ballistic missiles (Khorramshahr, Qadr, Emad) and 1-ton warheads designed to penetrate reinforced infrastructure.
Recent Targets	Tel Aviv government complex, Haifa fuel facilities, US Navy Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, and the Al-Minhad Air Base in the UAE.
Casualties/Damage	Extensive damage to regional infrastructure; hundreds of civilian casualties reported in Iran from initial US-Israel strikes.

Strategic Impact

The "True Promise" series marks a definitive shift from proxy warfare to direct state-on-state conflict. Iran has utilized "saturation tactics" to overwhelm the Iron Dome and other multi-layered defense systems, with some reports claiming interception rates dropped significantly during the most intense waves.