In a dramatic escalation, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, retaliating for Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Israel responded by activating air defenses across the country, including in Jerusalem and the Jordan River Valley, as alarms rang out and residents sought refuge in bomb shelters.
More than 180 missiles were fired from Iran, and Israel’s air defense systems were deployed to intercept them. U.S. Navy warships also assisted in intercepting some of the projectiles, according to a U.S. defense official. The Israeli military later sounded the all-clear, allowing residents to leave shelters.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the attack, targeting three Israeli military bases, and warned of a more “crushing and ruinous” response if Israel retaliated further. Meanwhile, Israeli officials vowed a powerful counterattack. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon warned, “Any enemy that attacks Israel should expect a painful response.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security meeting in a bunker near Jerusalem, and Israeli forces continued to strike Hezbollah-linked targets across the region. The Israeli military confirmed the killing of the commander of the Hezbollah-affiliated Imam Hussein division in Syria.
While no Israeli casualties were immediately reported, the Palestinian civil defense authority confirmed one death near Jericho in the West Bank, with rocket debris causing fires and damage in the area. Israel’s military pledged to continue its retaliatory strikes through the night.
