Iran has fired a barrage of missiles at Israel, sending Israelis diving into shelters but prompting celebrations across Iran. There was no immediate report of casualties in the attack late Tuesday.
Israel said it intercepted many of the missiles, and officials in Washington said U.S. destroyers assisted in Israel’s defense. Iran said most of its missiles hit their targets.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning Monday to Iran, which backs Hezbollah and Hamas. “There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu said, just days after an airstrike south of Beirut killed the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group, which is backed by Tehran.
Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, promised the group will fight on following the death of its long-time chief Hassan Nasrallah and several of the group’s top commanders who have been killed in recent days. Kassem said the group’s fighters are ready and the slain commanders have already been replaced.
Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across the Lebanon border almost daily since Oct. 8, the day after Hamas sent terrorists into Israel and sparked the war in Gaza. It’s been almost a year since some 250 people were abducted from Israel, and friends and family are worried about their loved ones as attention turns away from hostages and north toward Lebanon.
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UN Says Main Yemeni Ports Operational After Israeli Airstrikes
Yemen’s two main ports remain operational following Israeli airstrikes, but the strikes damaged power stations, the United Nations says.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen went to assess the situation at Yemen’s main port of Hodeida and nearby port of Ras Isa following Sunday’s Israeli strikes targeting sites used by Houthi terrorists in the ports in western Yemen.
Israel said it was retaliating for a Houthi missile fired at central Israel on Saturday which was shot down. The Houthis said it was aimed at Ben Gurion Airport, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane had just arrived from New York where he addressed the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations.
Dujarric said the U.N.’s humanitarian partners reported Tuesday that “after conducting an initial assessment, both ports remain operational and able to receive commercial and humanitarian supplies.”
“Power stations throughout Hodeida city are, however, running at a very limited capacity,” the U.N. spokesman said.
Top Iranian Commander Warns Israel Not to Retaliate
A top Iranian military commander has warned that his country will hit Israel’s entire infrastructure if it takes any action against its territory.
Iran’s armed forces joint chief of staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said Wednesday that the Revolutionary Guard was prepared both defensively and offensively to repeat its missile attack with “multiplied intensity.”
Bagheri said Iran avoided targeting Israeli civilians although it was “completely feasible.”
Israeli Ambassador Says His Country’s Response to Iranian Missile Attack Will Be ‘Painful’
Israel’s U.N. ambassador says his government will decide when and how to respond to Iran’s barrage of close to 200 ballistic missiles that forced Israel’s 10 million population into bomb shelters. “But I can tell you one thing, it will be noticed,” he said. “It will be painful.”
Danny Danon reacted to a statement from Iran’s U.N. Mission that any new Israeli action would be met with a “crushing response,” saying: “I would not advise Iran to challenge our determination, our capabilities. In the past, we have proved it. We will prove it again.”
“We have no desire for war or escalation, but we cannot sit idly by when our civilians are being attacked in such manner,” the Israeli ambassador said. “Iran used to send boxes but now, when they send almost 200 ballistic missiles, that’s something that I don’t think any other nation in the world will ignore.”
Israel Reopens Its Airspace
Israel has reopened its airspace after the Iranian missile attack.
The country’s airport authority briefly closed Israel’s airspace to incoming flights during Tuesday’s attack and diverted them to other airports outside the country.
But after the army said the threat had passed, the authority said flights were operating as normal again.
Flights to Israel have repeatedly been disrupted by the yearlong war, with many major carriers suspending service because of the ongoing fighting.
UN Security Council Schedules Emergency Meeting
The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on the escalating situation in the Middle East for Wednesday at 10 a.m., at the request of France and Israel.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a letter to the council late Tuesday that the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel “demonstrates that the charm offensive conducted by Iran and its new president is a mirage and the decision-making in Iran lies with the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards.”
He accused Iran of trying to destroy Israel “with a ring of fire from seven fronts” and urged the Security Council to condemn the country and designate its Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Several Airlines Land in Azerbaijan After Iran Closes Its Airspace
Several international airlines requested permission to make emergency landings in Azerbaijan following the closure of Iranian air space.
Iran, which launched a massive barrage of missiles on Israel on Tuesday, closed its airspace in case Israel retaliated, Iranian news agencies reported.
Iran is south of Azerbaijan and the two countries share a border.
A LOT Polish airlines flight from Warsaw to Mumbai and a Qatar Airways flight from Moscow to Doha both landed at the Heydar Aliyev airport in Baku, the airport’s press service said.
Both flights were Boeing 787s and landed within minutes of each other just before 10 p.m. local time, the airport said.
US Discusses ‘Next Steps’ With Israel
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in discussions with his counterpart in Israel after Iran fired a barrage of almost 200 missiles at the nation.
Austin received a short update from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and “is consulting closely with them on next steps,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday.
Iran launched about twice as many ballistic missiles Tuesday as it did during an attack against Israel earlier this year, but it did not appear to launch drones, Ryder said.
A full assessment of Tuesday’s attack is underway, he said. The Israeli military said Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles in the April attack.
Ryder said two U.S. Navy destroyers—the USS Cole and the USS Bulkeley—fired about a dozen interceptors to defend Israel in the latest attack.
He decried reports indicating Iran wants to de-escalate tensions in the region.
“You don’t launch that many missiles at a target without the intent on hitting something,” Ryder said.
Harris Condemns Iran as ‘Destabilizing, Dangerous Force’
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has condemned the missile attack on Israel by Iran, calling Tehran “a destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East.”
The vice president said Tuesday that she supports President Joe Biden’s decision to shoot down the missiles targeting Israel.
“We are still assessing the impact but initial indications are that Israel, with our assistance, was able to defeat this attack,” she says.
She says her commitment to Israel is “unwavering,” and warns that Iran is more than a threat to Israel.
“Iran is also a threat to American personnel in the region, American interests and innocent civilians across the region who suffer at the hands of Iran-based and -backed terrorist proxies,” she says.
Biden Reasserts Washington’s Support of Israel
President Joe Biden says his administration is “fully supportive” of Israel after it thwarted an Iranian missile attack and that he’s in “active discussion” with aides about an appropriate response.
Biden also praised the U.S. and Israel militaries for defeating the Iranian missile barrage.
“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully supportive of Israel,” Biden said Tuesday at the start of a meeting with White House officials focused on the administration’s response to Hurricane Helene.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said soon after the attack that it amounted to a “significant escalation by Iran.”
Biden said it remains to be seen what consequences Iran will face.
Netanyahu warns Iran: ‘Whoever attacks us, we attack them’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran will pay a price for its missile barrage on Israel.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said as he gathered his Security Cabinet for a meeting late Tuesday.
Netanyahu said the missile attack was a failure and that Iran would soon learn a painful lesson just as enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and other places have learned.
“Whoever attacks us, we attack them,” he said.
Israeli Military Says No Reports of Casualties in Iranian Attack
The Israeli military says it has received no reports of injuries from the Iranian missile attack.
The military’s spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the country’s air defenses intercepted many of the incoming missiles, though some landed in central and southern Israel.
“This strike will have consequences,” he said.
He urged the public to continue to listen to public-safety guidelines from the army.
Iran Says Most Missiles Fired at Israel Hit Targets
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said 90 percent of missiles it launched against Israel hit their targets successfully.
The statement broadcast on state TV late Tuesday said the attack targeted air and radar bases as well as security apparatus that planned the killing of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures.
It said Iran has a right to defend itself under international regulations.
The TV station showed footage of missiles being launched in the darkness from unidentified locations in Iran.
British Prime Minister Condemns Iranian Attack on Israel
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Iran’s attack on Israel during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Starmer was on the phone with Netanyahu when the barrage of missiles began Tuesday, further escalating the situation in the Middle East.
He reiterated the UK’s commitment to Israel’s security and the protection of civilians, but emphasized the importance of seeking cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza, the prime minister’s office said in a readout of the call.
Starmer also spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and they both called for de-escalation of fighting in the region.
Blinken Says Iran Fired Some 200 Missiles at Israel
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Iran fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.
“This is totally unacceptable, and the entire world should condemn it,” he said during a meeting Tuesday with the Indian foreign minister at the State Department.
Blinken says initial reports suggest Israel, along with allies including the U.S., “effectively defeated this attack,” underscoring Washington’s “commitment to Israel’s defense.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that U.S. destroyers fired missile interceptors at some of the inbound missiles.
Sullivan called the attack “a significant escalation by Iran,” and reiterated there would be “severe consequences” on Iran for the attack.
6 People Killed in Shooting in Tel Aviv: Police
Israel police say six people have been killed in a shooting in Tel Aviv.
Police say two suspects opened fire Tuesday evening on a boulevard in Jaffa, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv. Twelve people also were wounded in the shooting.
Police said the two suspects were killed.
The attack came moments before a massive barrage of rockets from Iran sent people into bomb shelters across Israel, including in Tel Aviv.
Israel Closes Airspace After Iranian Missile Attack
Israel’s airport authority says the country’s airspace has been closed and incoming flights are being diverted to airports outside the country.
The airspace closure Tuesday followed an Israeli military announcement that Iran had launched missiles at the country. It warned Israelis to take shelter as air raid sirens sounded, and explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem.
Iran said it launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
Israeli Military Says It Killed Another Senior Hezbollah Operative
Israel’s military says it killed a senior Hezbollah operative in an airstrike on an apartment building on the edge of Beirut.
The Israeli military says Mohammed Jaafar Qassir was killed in a strike Tuesday afternoon. It says Qassir was in charge of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 that ships weapons from Iran to Lebanon and he supervised Hezbollah’s development of precision-guided missiles.
The Israeli military said Qassir also sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah in recent years.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli claim.
Qassir’s brother Ahmad carried out a suicide attack in southern Israeli port city of Tyre in 1982 that killed dozens of Israeli soldiers.
Iran Launches Missiles at Israel: IDF
Israeli civilians entered bomb shelters on Oct. 1 as the Israeli military reported incoming missile fire from Iran.
“A short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said in a Tuesday statement. “You are asked to remain vigilant and follow the Home Front Command’s instructions precisely.”
Hagari said Israeli air defense capabilities were actively engaging the incoming Iranian munitions, but warned the defense network is not airtight and urged civilians to follow safety advisories from the Israeli military’s Home Front Command.
“You may hear explosions, which could be the result of interceptions or impacts,” he said. “Due to the variety of threats, alarms may be triggered in widespread areas.”
The Israeli military issued the alert just hours after a senior White House official warned Iran was preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel.
“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” the official said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”
Israeli forces had reported launching cross-border ground raids into Lebanon in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the Biden administration is watching the situation between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon “very closely.”
Blinken did not directly address the reported Iranian missile threat during the brief remarks ahead of talks with the visiting foreign minister of Morocco.
“The United States is committed to Israel’s defense,” he said. “We’re watching developments, as I said, very carefully at this moment.”
The Israeli military’s Home Front Command issued new safety advisories on Tuesday, ordering schools near the northern border to remain closed and telling residents to limit their public gatherings. The command said northern Israeli residents could go to their places of work so long as they could quickly reach a bomb shelter.
Israel’s Home Front Command said residents in and around Haifa, and further south into central Israel, could hold slightly larger public gatherings. Educational activities could also proceed in areas close to bomb shelters.
Addressing Israeli citizens on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the intensified military actions around the Israel–Lebanon border as a moment of “great achievements and great challenges.”
Netanyahu urged Israelis to closely follow the Home Front Command’s instructions.
“Together we will stand steadfast in the trying days ahead of us,” he said. “Together we will stand. Together we will fight and together we will win.”
Israeli citizens sheltered from a wave of Iranian missiles and drones earlier this year. The Islamic regime ordered the April 13 barrage in response to what it concluded was an Israeli airstrike that struck an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.
Epoch Times reporter Ryan Morgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.