In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, marking the second such attack this year. Sirens blared across the country as missiles streaked over Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, prompting Israelis to seek shelter in protected areas. The Israeli military reported that around 180 missiles were fired from Iran, with the majority intercepted. This attack comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, fueled by Israel’s “limited” ground operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, launched in the wee hours of Tuesday, days after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the pager and walkie-talkie attacks. Israel has also targeted Houthi forces in Yemen, while its ongoing war with Hamas continues.
Iran’s attack on Israel unfolded shortly after 7:30 pm local time on Tuesday. According to reports, Iran launched 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles, making this the second time Iran has targeted Israel this year. The first attack, in April, involved hundreds of missiles and drones fired at Israel in retaliation for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people. While Israel identified 180 missiles launched from Iran, US and British officials placed the number at 200. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its forces used hypersonic missiles for the first time in this attack, stating that 90% of the projectiles hit their targets, including three military bases.
While the Israeli Air Force, in cooperation with the United States, successfully intercepted many of the incoming missiles, some managed to hit their targets, causing damage to buildings and igniting fires. Notably, several missiles landed near the headquarters of Mossad in Tel Aviv, Nevatim Air Base, and Tel Nof Air Base, as reported by CNN. An Iranian missile struck close to a school in central Israel, and another hit a restaurant in Tel Aviv. While reports indicate that the missile strikes did not cause any serious injuries, a Palestinian man was killed in the occupied West Bank during the barrage.
Iran stated that the missile attacks were in direct response to the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard’s General Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous week. Tehran also cited the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas leader, in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July. Tehran warned that this attack represented only a “first wave,” leaving the possibility for future actions. In a statement issued after the strikes, IRCG said that the attack was in line with the country’s right to legitimate self-defence as per the United Nations Charter, and in response to the [Israeli] regime’s escalating crimes—backed by the United States—against the people of Lebanon and Gaza. It warned that if the “Zionist regime” reacts to Iran’s operations, it will face “crushing attacks”.
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote in a post on X, “Based on legitimate rights and with the aim of peace and security for Iran and the region, a decisive response was given to the aggression of the Zionist regime. This action was in defence of the interests and the citizens of Iran. Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not a belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. This is only a corner of our power. Do not enter into a conflict with Iran.” A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had personally given the order to attack.
Tuesday’s attacks are an escalation of an ongoing shadow war between the two countries. Iran does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and has for years supported militant organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas to fight the Jewish nation as part of its Axis of Resistance. Israel believes Iran is one of its biggest enemies and has run covert operations in Tehran to thwart any threat from it.
To counter the Iranian missile barrage, Israel deployed its sophisticated multi-layered missile defense system. The Iron Dome, a key component of this system, is designed to intercept rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah, but is less effective against ballistic missiles traveling at higher altitudes. For these higher-altitude threats, Israel utilizes the David Sling system, which targets short and medium-range threats.
Furthermore, Israel deploys the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, developed jointly with the United States, to intercept ballistic missiles. Arrow 2 uses fragmentation warheads to destroy incoming ballistic missiles in their terminal phase in the upper atmosphere, while Arrow 3 uses hit-and-kill technology to intercept them in space before they re-enter the atmosphere.
Given the higher altitude of the Iranian missiles, Israel also used the David Sling and Arrow 2 and 3 systems. The US and the UK also played a role in the defense efforts. The Pentagon confirmed that the US fired around a dozen interceptors at the Iranian missile barrage, while UK forces provided support to Israel.
In response to the Iranian attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran, accusing it of a “big mistake” and vowing retaliation. “Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it, whoever attacks us, we will attack them,” he declared. Netanyahu added that Iran “does not understand” Israel’s “determination to retaliate” against its enemies, vowing that they “will understand. We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us – we will attack them.”
The US and Israel’s allies condemned Iran’s attack. US President Joe Biden stated that the US “actively” supported Israel’s defense at his direction, noting that he had spent the morning in the Situation Room, the White House hub for handling serious national security issues. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US “intercepted multiple missiles” launched by Iran towards Israel, adding, “We condemn this outrageous act of aggression by Iran, and we call on Iran to halt any further attacks, including from its proxy terrorist groups.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that Britain stands with Israel and supports the “reasonable demand for the security of its people”. In a statement from Downing Street, he said that Tehran has “menaced the Middle East for far too long” and called on the country to “stop these attacks”. French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned Iran’s new attacks on Israel, reiterating France’s demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population. Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described Iran’s missile attacks as “unacceptable”, warning against an escalation into “full-on war”. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized Iran’s missile attack as a “dangerous escalation” and warned that any “further hostilities” would “put civilians at risk”.
In the wake of the Iranian attack, Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they have targeted “terrorist targets” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, warning residents in the area to evacuate. Explosions were reported, and smoke was seen rising from the scene.
Iran’s armed forces joint chief Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri responded with threats to target Israel’s infrastructure if it retaliates. “If [Israel]… wants to continue these crimes or wants to do anything against our sovereignty and territorial integrity, tonight’s operation will be repeated several times stronger and all their infrastructure will be targeted,” he warned.
However, Israel is not expected to maintain restraint in the face of the missile attack. Former Israeli intelligence officer Avi Melamed told BBC that Iran’s attack “is poised to provoke a significant Israeli counterstrike… We will likely see a significant and immediate response from Israel against Iranian targets.”
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches with concern as tensions in the Middle East escalate. The potential for further conflict remains high, raising fears of a wider regional war.
