Iran launched an attack with dozens of missiles against Israel on Tuesday, while alarm sirens sounded throughout the country and authorities urged citizens to take shelter in shelters to stay safe.
After the attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they were not aware of any serious injuries and that the population was “allowed to leave protected spaces in all areas throughout the country.”
During the Iranian offensive they heard explosions in the cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Projectiles were seen flying over the area, although a large portion were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems, with the help of American warships.
The IDF said that Iran had launched about 180 missiles, while the US Army put the number of projectiles at 200.
Following the attack, which began around 7:45 p.m. local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran “He made a big mistake tonight and he will pay for it.”.
In a speech at the beginning of a meeting of his cabinet, Netanyahu assured that Iran “does not understand” his country’s “determination” to retaliate against its enemies.
“They will understand,” said the president. “We will respect the rule we have established: whoever attacks us, we will attack.”
The Iranian attack occurred hours after Israel began a invasion in southern Lebanon with the aim of ending the capabilities of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran.
Iranian state television issued a statement on Tuesday from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirming that “dozens” of missiles had been launched towards Israel and threatening another attack if the Israelis respond.
The IRGC said the missile attack was carried out in retaliation for the July assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, as well as that of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last Friday, and for the deaths of Lebanese and Palestinians.
Later, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post on Tuesday that Tehran carried out “a strong response to the aggression of the Zionist regime“.
“Iran does not seek war but will face any threat firmly,” he added.
“The attack will have consequences”
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the Iranian attack would have consequences.
“We are on maximum alert, both defensively and offensively. We will defend the citizens of the State of Israel. This attack will have consequences. We have plans and we will act when and where we decide.“Hagari stated.
“We have no evidence of any victims, this is thanks to your responsible conduct,” he added, referring to citizen collaboration.
Afterwards, Hagari said the Israeli Air Force “will strike powerfully in the Middle East.”
“Iran has committed a serious act tonight and is pushing the Middle East toward escalation,” he said.
Before the missile launch, the United States had claimed to have indications that Iran was preparing an imminent attack against Israel, while Israeli forces advanced with their invasion of southern Lebanon.
“A direct military attack by Iran against Israel will bring severe consequences for Iran,” a senior White House official told CBS, adding that his country was supporting “defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack.” .
US warships intercepted some of the missiles that arrived from Iran, a Pentagon spokesman said.
US President Joe Biden assured that his country is prepared to defend Israel against attacks from Iran.
How will Israel respond?
Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
Israel will now be tempted to retaliate against Iran much more forcefully than it did in April.
At the time, following a barrage of around 300 Iranian missiles and drones, launched in response to an Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, there was a concerted international diplomatic effort to prevent Israel from reacting too strongly.
In the end, Israel carried out a minor but symbolic missile attack against a target near Iran’s nuclear facilities. It caused little damage but showed Iran that it had reach.
This time it may well be different. Israel views its recent actions in the region as both a deterrent to its enemies and a way to eliminate threats it has been facing.
Just as Iran felt it had to respond to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya in Tehran in July and Hezbollah leader in Beirut last week, Israel is unlikely to accept this direct attack from Tehran without doing so. nothing.
Their targets could range from Iran’s nuclear facilities to IRGC bases and the launch sites and storage depots from which Tuesday’s missile attack was launched.
Invasion of southern Lebanon
The Iranian attack came hours after Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon. The Israeli military claimed it was targeting “the launch pads and infrastructure of Hezbollah“.
The IDF also reported that it also has objectives in Beirutthe capital of Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed in a Telegram post that it launched missiles toward the Israeli Sde Dov air base, outside Tel Aviv.
The Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of at least 25 towns in southern Lebanonwhile the government of this country said that there were more than a million displaced people.
In recent months, both sides have launched dozens of missiles at each other, making the situation increasingly volatile, but until now Israel had not invaded Lebanese territory.
The Israeli government has insisted that its attacks against Hezbollah are aimed at allowing the 40,000 Israelis who have had to abandon their homes in the north of the country due to attacks by the Lebanese militia to return home.
Before the IDF announcement about the start of the ground invasion came, Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said the group was prepared for an Israeli ground offensive and warned that the battle “may be long.”
The United States and the United Kingdom reiterated their calls for a ceasefire amid the escalation.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, said this Tuesday in a statement that he is “extremely worried due to the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon.”
Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire and said an “all-out war” in the country must be avoided at all costs.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected,” he added in a statement.
A quick operation or an endless occupation?
Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
It is difficult to predict, at this early stage, whether the entry of Israeli ground troops into southern Lebanon will be the fast and efficient operation what they would like it to be, or whether, as many predict, the Israelis will end up bogged down in Lebanonas happened to them for 18 years, from 1982 to 2000.
Clear southern Lebanon of all the hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, caves and labyrinths that Hezbollah has spent so many years digging underground to store its massive arsenal It is not going to be a quick or easy process..
Hezbollah, which has been severely weakened by Israel’s recent attacks, still retains thousands of fighters.
They are well trained, in many cases battle-hardened by their recent combat experiences in Syria, and burning with desire to avenge deaths within their ranks.
They are a much more formidable enemy for the IDF from what Hamas has been in Gaza.
Among their weapons are powerful Russian anti-tank guided missiles that they can attack Israeli armor, just as they did in the 2006 war, in which the two sides fought to a stalemate and which ended without any result after 34 days.
This time, the Israeli army seems to be more aware of the challenge it is taking on, but there remains a risk that you are engaging in indefinite occupation of southern Lebanon with no clear end in sight.
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