Iran launched more than 200 missiles at Israel as confirmed by Israeli Military Radio. This follows ththe targeted killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials.
The missile strike forced Israelis to rush into bomb shelters as alarms blared across major cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on Tuesday night.
The Israeli military confirmed no immediate casualties from the attack, with spokesperson Daniel Hagari reassuring citizens that the situation was under control, and there were no further immediate threats in Israeli airspace.
Many of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli defense systems, at least two individuals sustained minor injuries from shrapnel in Tel Aviv.
However, in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, a Palestinian man named Sameh al-Assali, originally from Gaza, was killed by falling rocket debris.
There are celebrations in the streets of Gaza, Iran and Lebanon as a result of these attacks.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the missile barrage, targeting what they described as “three military bases” near Tel Aviv.
The IRGC issued a stern warning to Israel, stating that any retaliation would trigger an even more destructive response from Tehran.
According to Iranian state media, 80 percent of the missiles successfully hit their intended targets, although Israeli defense forces managed to intercept a significant portion.
In response, the United States pledged additional defensive support to Israel. Biden says the attack is ineffective and that the US will actively support Israel in defending itself from Iranian missile attacks.
Pentagon Spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder confirmed that two U.S. Navy destroyers launched interceptors against the missiles targeting Israel. He stated that this is twice the scope of the Iranian attack on Israel on April 14th. “There must be consequences for Iran missile attack on Isreal”, he says.
The U.S. Defense Department reiterated its readiness to protect its regional forces and assist Israel against further attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Iran has made the biggest mistake.
Amid this unfolding crisis, Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups have also warned that U.S. bases in Iraq and the surrounding region could become targets if the U.S. becomes involved in retaliating against Iran. This adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.
Israel has vowed to retaliate because they have the right to defend themselves.
As tensions continue to rise, the world watches anxiously, fearing that this latest confrontation could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
