Iran has launched a major missile strike targeting sites in Israel, an escalation that risks a wider war in West Asia. Israelis headed for bomb shelters, air raid sirens went off and explosions rang out over Tel Aviv.
The missile attack comes after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and sent troops into Lebanon, saying it was seeking to drive the Islamist Shiite group back from the border.
Biden tells US troops to shoot down missiles aimed at Israel
US President Biden has ordered his country’s military to shoot down missiles aimed at Israel, the White House told reporters.
“There are currently no reports of injuries from the fire into Israel, except for two minor injuries from shrapnel in the Tel Aviv area and some minor injuries throughout the country as they moved to safe locations,” Israel’s emergency services said in a statement. help.
Air traffic at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was grounded and the country closed its airspace and diverted flights, an airport authority spokesman said. Aviation authorities in Jordan and Iraq also announced air traffic suspensions.
Iran threatens a “crushing response” if Israel strikes back
Iran promised a “crushing response” if Israel retaliates “or commits new malicious acts.” Analysts said Iran was likely seeking to appear tough but not to provoke widespread retaliation.
Observers say Iran may ask the Houthis and other groups to step up their attacks on both Israeli and US bases in the region. But whatever response he chooses, he will likely calibrate it to avoid triggering a regional war that involves the US and that it cannot win.
Israelis were told it was safe to leave the shelters. Paramedics searched areas where there were reports of rocket strikes.
At least six Israelis were killed in a shooting near the Jaffa tram shortly before the rocket attack began. Two gunmen were “neutralized”, police said.
White House warns of Iran’s return to killing Nasrallah
Earlier, White House and Defense Department officials said Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel following its invasion of southern Lebanon.
Israel earlier began its invasion of southern Lebanon, launching what it called a “limited, localized and targeted” ground operation aimed at pushing Hezbollah forces further from the border.
It follows weeks of escalating conflict with the Iran-backed militant group, which is reeling from the assassination of its powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Intense Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced nearly 1 million in recent weeks, Lebanese officials say.
PM Modi urged Netanyahu to prevent regional escalation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated India’s resistance to terrorism while urging his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent regional escalation, saying New Delhi would support a swift restoration of peace in West Asia.
Modi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Netanyahu, which focused on recent developments in West Asia.
Who says what
Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a warning shortly after the attack on Israel began on Tuesday.
“If the Zionist regime dares to respond or carry out new malicious acts, there will be a subsequent and crushing response,” the mission said in a post on social media site X.
Following Iran’s attack, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “expanding conflict in the Middle East”.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that Washington had “increased the readiness of forces” in the region in anticipation of an Iranian attack.
The call appears to have taken place before Iran fired hundreds of missiles at Israel.
“Secretary and Secretary Gallant discussed the dire consequences for Iran should Iran decide to launch a direct military attack on Israel,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari held a televised address. In it, he said the Israeli military was “fully prepared to defend and retaliate” against the Iranian attack, stressing that it would be “timely”.
Israel’s actions against Hezbollah
Israel has inflicted massive damage on Hezbollah in recent weeks, killing more than a dozen senior commanders and apparently destroying thousands of weapons in airstrikes. She was also blamed for the exploding pager and walkie-talkie attacks that left thousands of Hezbollah members maimed, blinded or killed. Analysts say the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday was the biggest blow of all.
Despite earlier US attempts to rein in the Israeli leader and coax Hezbollah into a truce, Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled strongly that he will do as he sees fit, regardless of pressure from Washington.
(With information from agencies)
