Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles into Israel on Tuesday night, in what the regime said was a direct response for the deaths of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard figure.
Israelis across the country were ordered to seek shelter, though IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has since said civilians are now permitted to leave. The Israeli Defense Forces released a map showing the entire country under threat. Separately, in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, eight Israelis were killed by two gunmen in a suspected terrorist attack at a train station. The gunmen were killed by local authorities.
The situation in the Middle East has reached boiling point and threatens to spill over into all-out conflict. Iran’s direct attack follows Israel’s continued actions against Hamas in Gaza, and more recently, Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Monday, Israel announced a limited ground invasion of Lebanon, less than a week after Nasrallah was assassinated, as well as Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard for operations. The ground invasion comes after Israel systematically wiped out swathes of Hezbollah’s leadership and terrorist organizations, beginning with a stunning detonating pager plot.
President Joe Biden said on Twitter that he and Vice President Kamala Harris “convened our national security team to discuss Iranian plans to launch an imminent missile attack against Israel.”
“We discussed how the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against these attacks, and protect American personnel in the region,” the president added.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said during the White House press briefing that Iran’s attack consisted of “nearly 200” ballistic missiles.
U.S. forces joined Israel’s air defenses units in intercepting the incoming missiles.
Only one person is reported to have been killed in the attack, a Palestinian civilian in the West Bank, Sullivan said, adding that they were also unaware of any damage to any strategic military assets.
Former President Donald Trump, who is running against Harris this November in the presidential election, posted on Truth Social: “Look at the World today — Look at the missiles flying right now in the Middle East, look at what’s happening with Russia/Ukraine, look at Inflation destroying the World. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PRESIDENT!”
Iran attacked Israel in a massive aerial attack last April in a rare direct attack on Israel. That attack consisted of about 300 rockets, drones, and missiles and Israel was able to intercept almost all of them with the help of several allies and multiple days of advanced warning.
The Israelis did not have the same amount of advanced warning for Tuesday’s attack.
It’s unclear how the Israelis could respond to Iran’s attack and whether this is the start of a larger regional war between Israel and Tehran.
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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
