Iran fired a series of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening, escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising the likelihood of an all-out war between the two nations.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it launched the missiles in response to Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the assassinations of top IRGC, Hamas, and Hezbollah leaders.
The IRGC specifically cited the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in July and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday, along with attacks on Palestinians and Lebanese citizens, as reasons for the missile attack.
The IRGC said its air force had targeted “important bases” in Israel and would provide further details later.
Iran fired around 180 missiles during the assault, according to the Israeli military, forcing millions of Israelis to take cover in bomb shelters for more than an hour. Israel’s air defense systems intercepted many of the missiles, while some landed in central and southern Israel.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in Israel; however, a Palestinian man was killed by falling shrapnel in the occupied West Bank.
U.S. Support for Israel
United States President Joe Biden said that the missile attack “appears to have been defeated and ineffective,” confirming that the U.S. military “actively supported” Israel’s defense efforts. “Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” he said.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan elaborated that American naval destroyers assisted in intercepting incoming missiles, highlighting “meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack.”
Israel Vows to Retaliate
In response to the missile strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it.” Netanyahu added, “Whoever attacks us, we attack them.”
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military, said that the country’s air defenses intercepted many of the missiles, though some landed in central and southern Israel. He warned that “this strike will have consequences” and urged the public to adhere to public safety guidelines from the army.
Iran Threatens “Crushing Attacks”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to carry out “crushing attacks” against Israel if it retaliated for the missile strike. “If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency.
Iranian officials also claimed that their missile attack was “in accordance with the United Nations Charter” and followed a period of restraint after an “attack on the sovereignty” of Iran — referring to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The IRGC said the missile strikes targeted “three military bases” around Tel Aviv, as well as air and radar installations, claiming that “90 percent” of the missiles hit their targets. However, these claims have not been independently verified.