Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, triggering alarms across the nation, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Witnesses in Tel Aviv and Tyre, Lebanon, reported seeing orange flames lighting up the sky as missiles were fired. Israel’s air defense system appeared to be active, producing smaller streaks of light as the country attempted to intercept the incoming threat. Video footage captured various booms, the source of which remains uncertain—whether they were explosions from missile clashes in the air or from the missiles landing in Israel.
The IDF confirmed that about 180 missiles were launched toward Israel, concluding the attack roughly an hour after it began. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities, but two individuals received treatment for minor injuries due to shrapnel.
Prior warnings from U.S. officials indicated that Iran was preparing to strike Israel, as confirmed by both a senior White House official and a Defense Department representative. President Joe Biden authorized military support for Israel’s defense against the Iranian missile threats, explicit in orders to intercept missiles aimed at the country.
Jordan granted permission for U.S. forces to operate within its airspace to execute defensive actions against the Iranian missile barrage, as affirmed by officials from both the U.S. and Jordan.
This missile assault follows a series of Israeli operations in Lebanon, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. The United States indicated that a military strike from Iran would entail serious repercussions.
While officials expect Iranian strikes to focus on military and governmental locations rather than civilian targets, they believe the scale of firepower could exceed previous attacks. The current situation could involve Iran launching multiple missiles simultaneously to overcome Israel’s air defense systems.
A representative from Iran’s mission at the United Nations refrained from commenting on the situation or the reports regarding an impending attack. However, U.S. officials have anticipated such retaliatory measures from Iran following Israel’s recent assaults on Hezbollah leadership.
President Biden has remained informed about the potential threat from Iran and the broader state of affairs in the Middle East. The White House stated that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris convened with the national security team to discuss the situation and the status of U.S. preparations to assist Israel.
Despite the tensions, Iran has conveyed to the U.S. that it does not seek to escalate the conflict further. Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed a desire for peaceful relations while attributing the escalation to Israeli actions.
The last major assault against Israel from Iran occurred in April, involving drones and missiles in retaliation for Israeli strikes on an Iranian consular facility and the death of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the ongoing conflict has intensified since it began firing at Israel in support of Hamas, which has been engaged in hostilities against Israel since an attack on October 7. Israeli operations in Lebanon have tallied numerous Hezbollah leadership casualties and have provoked substantial disruption in an area long viewed as a stronghold of Iranian influence.
With a recent Israeli announcement of a ground invasion in southern Lebanon, the military has reported conducting targeted operations in border villages. However, skepticism remains about the limited nature of these operations, drawing parallels to previous conflicts where similar claims preceded extensive military engagements. The Israeli military spokesperson affirmed that operations in Beirut are not planned, stating the focus is on precise, localized raids near the border.