Iran launched a significant missile assault against Israel on Tuesday night, targeting various locations across the country. Israeli authorities reported that although 180 missiles were fired, most were intercepted by the nation’s air defense systems.
This attack represents a notable escalation in hostilities that have now extended into multiple nations in the region, raising concerns about potential further conflicts. On that day, Israel was engaged on three fronts: facing Hamas in Gaza to the south, Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north, and now the Iranian missile attack from the east.
Air raid sirens were activated, and explosions illuminated the night sky as Israeli forces fired upon the incoming missiles. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, confirmed that while the majority of the missiles were intercepted, a few did strike central and southern areas of Israel.
No Israeli casualties were reported from this missile strike, although some damage occurred. In the West Bank, a Palestinian man was reportedly killed by falling debris. This attack follows an April incident where Iran launched a similar barrage of missiles and drones, which were largely intercepted without Israeli casualties.
Following the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his Security Cabinet, stating, “Iran made a big mistake this evening, and it will pay for it,” and emphasized that any attack against Israel will be met with retaliation.
In Washington, President Biden commented that the attack seemed to have been thwarted and ineffective, reaffirming the United States’ unwavering support for Israel.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted that two U.S. destroyers engaged by launching 12 interceptors at the incoming Iranian missiles, with assessments ongoing regarding the effectiveness of these interceptors.
Additionally, in a separate incident, two gunmen killed six people and injured twelve on a light-rail train in Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv. Israeli police reported that the gunmen were shot dead during the attack and identified them as Palestinians from Hebron in the West Bank.
The Iranian missile strikes occurred amidst heightened Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, particularly following the initiation of a ground campaign. Israel aims to significantly reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah, a group receiving Iranian support for the past four decades.
Iran defended its missile strike as a response to recent events, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike last Friday and the earlier assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this past July. Iran’s mission to the United Nations characterized the attack as a “legal, rational, and legitimate response” to what they termed terrorist acts by Israel, warning of severe repercussions if Israel retaliates.
Ahead of the missile strike, Israeli authorities had alerted the public to the potential attack, leading many civilians to seek refuge in bomb shelters. After the attack, the public was notified it was safe to emerge, although restrictions on gatherings remained in effect in urban areas.
Tensions in the region have been escalating, particularly since Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel following Hamas’s assault on southern Israel last October. Daily exchanges of fire persisted across the Israel-Lebanon border, although the intensity increased dramatically following Israel’s recent military campaign, which has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities in Lebanon and extensive civilian displacement.