By Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation after Iran launched approximately 180 missiles at Israel in response to the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Netanyahu stated that Iran had “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it.”
The majority of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems, with sirens blaring across the nation. The Israeli military later announced that the attack had ended, confirming that a “large number” of the missiles had been intercepted. Two people in Israel were lightly injured by shrapnel, and a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank was killed by falling rocket debris.
This marked Iran’s second direct missile strike on Israel, following an April attack in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack targeted “three military bases” around Tel Aviv in retaliation for the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, allegedly killed in Israeli attacks.
The United States condemned the missile attack, describing it as “defeated and ineffective,” and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Iran of “severe consequences.” US President Joe Biden directed the US military to assist in Israel’s defense and intercept Iranian missiles.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the escalating conflict, urging for an immediate ceasefire. Airspace across Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon was closed temporarily in response to the missile barrage, and air defenses in Jordan responded to some of the projectiles.
The situation adds to an already volatile environment in the region, with both Hamas and Hezbollah praising Iran’s actions, and concerns growing over a potential direct conflict between Iran and Israel. French and German leaders voiced alarm over the escalation, with French Prime Minister Michel Barnier warning of the possibility of a direct conflict.
