Iran launched an attack late today with nearly 200 missiles against Israel, in what Tehran described as a response to the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and other Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. The Israeli military has already warned that this attack ‘will have consequences’, while the Iranian government says there will be further attacks ‘if there is retaliation’ by Israel. This is the second direct attack on Israel by Iran in its history since the 1979 Islamic revolution; the first was executed last April, when Iran launched some 300 missiles and drones in retaliation for the bombing of its embassy in Syria.
The Iranian attack was carried out using mostly Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, according to experts, and was mainly aimed at three bases outside Tel Aviv. Israeli military sources quoted by international media said that Iran launched a total of some 180 ‘projectiles’ at Israeli territory, an unspecified number of which were intercepted by Israeli defences. While the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported no injuries, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that at least two people were lightly wounded, while more people were injured as they ran for cover in bomb shelters.
Shortly before the attack, there was also a shooting in the Jaffa district, south of Tel Aviv, in which at least four people were killed, although Israeli media raised the death toll to eight. Police sources said two terrorists involved in the attack were ‘neutralised’. Several images posted on social media showed the sound of gunfire and screams in the streets of the city.
US alerted Israel of the incoming attack
The US had warned Israel hours earlier that Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic attack, prompting Israeli authorities to declare a high alert and order the population to take shelter. US President Joe Biden also ordered his military forces deployed in the region to shoot down Iranian missiles. ‘A direct military strike from Iran against Israel will have severe consequences for Iran,’ a senior Washington official said in a statement.
Meanwhile, former US president and Republican candidate Donald Trump lashed out at Biden and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, saying that under his administration an attack by Iran would have been impossible, claiming that the Iranian regime was ‘under control’ and ‘desperate for a deal.’
Jordan and Iraq announced the temporary closure of their airspace to all aircraft, and the government in Amman put its air forces on high alert. Following the conclusion of the Iranian attack, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised appearance that Israel would respond ‘in properly time’ to the missile launch, assuring that it is ‘fully prepared to defend itself and retaliate’ against the Iranian regime, which at the same time warned of further attacks if there is a response by Israel. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antoni Guterres condemned what he called ‘an expansion of conflict in the Middle East with escalation after escalation’ and called for an immediate ceasefire: ‘This must stop,’ he said.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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