The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has reportedly deployed an advanced, indigenously developed missile system for the first time in its recent attacks against Israel. On Tuesday, Brig Gen Reza Talaee Nik, spokesperson for Iran’s Defense Ministry, announced on state television that this new missile successfully bypassed advanced air defense systems, including those supported by the United States, to strike a significant Israeli security and intelligence center.
General Talaee Nik asserted that this operation demonstrated the “intelligence superiority of the armed forces” and highlighted Iran’s “upper hand” with its “advanced, indigenously made weapons.” He claimed the missile was “unable to be intercepted” and that its continued use would “reduce the resilience of the Zionist enemy over time.” He also hinted at more “surprises” to come, stating that the Israeli regime “cannot withstand a long-term strategic war.” Earlier on Tuesday, Iran also reportedly used cruise missiles for the first time in this conflict, targeting the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, central Israel, with local reports indicating considerable damage.
Cyberattack Disrupts Bank Sepah Operations
Simultaneously, Iranian banking systems faced a severe disruption as the hacker group ‘Predatory Sparrow’ claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack targeting Bank Sepah. This institution is one of Iran’s oldest banks and a crucial financial arm of the IRGC. The group alleged that it had “destroyed all data” at Bank Sepah, leading to widespread service outages. On Tuesday, numerous branches were closed, and customers across Iran reported being unable to access their accounts.
Bank Sepah operates over 1,800 branches in Iran and maintains an international presence in the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. According to Predatory Sparrow’s statement, Bank Sepah was targeted for allegedly circumventing international sanctions and financing “the regime’s terrorist proxies, its ballistic missile program, and its military nuclear program.”
While Iranian state media, Fars News, confirmed that Bank Sepah’s online systems were affected, including those connected to Iran’s gas station network, it refrained from attributing responsibility for the attack. Additionally, users reported that payment cards from Kosar and Ansar banks—both also linked to Iran’s armed forces—were non-functional, fueling speculation of a broader, coordinated cyber offensive.
