TEHRAN\/TEL AVIV: Iran fired a salvo of hypersonic ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran\u2019s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon and the killing of their leaders, along with Hamas\u2019s chief.<\/p>\n
Alarms sounded across Israel, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley, as Israelis sought shelter. Reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts.<\/p>\n
Witnesses reported missiles being intercepted over neighboring Jordan. Israeli media claimed up to 100 missiles had been launched.<\/p>\n
After about an hour, the military announced there was no longer a threat and declared that it was now safe to leave protected spaces nationwide, adding that a “large number” of Iranian missiles had been intercepted.<\/p>\n
Reports indicated that between 150 and 200 missiles were fired in the attack.<\/p>\n
This marked Iran\u2019s second attack on Israel, following a missile and drone strike in April in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.<\/p>\n
Israel vowed to retaliate, with an army spokesman stating that the response would occur at a time and place of its choosing.<\/p>\n
“This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will act at the place and time we decide,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.<\/p>\n
Emergency services reported that at least two people sustained minor injuries during the missile attack.<\/p>\n
“Currently, there are no reports of serious injuries from the attack, except for two light injuries caused by shrapnel in the Tel Aviv area, and a few minor injuries nationwide from the rush to safe spaces,” said a statement from the Magen David Adom emergency service.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the missile attack, citing it as retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.<\/p>\n
“In response to the martyrdom of [Hamas leader] Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and [Guards commander] Nilforoshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories (Israel),” the Guards stated, as reported by Fars News Agency.<\/p>\n
The Guards further warned of \u201ccrushing attacks\u201d on Israel if it retaliated following the missile strike.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks,\u201d the Guards warned.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the missile strike on Israel, according to a senior Iranian official, who also stated that Tehran is “fully prepared for any retaliation.”<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s mission to the United Nations in New York posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the attack on Israel was a “legal, rational, and legitimate response to terrorist acts.”<\/p>\n
\u201cShould the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of aggression, a subsequent and crushing response will follow. Regional states and the Zionists’ supporters are advised to distance themselves from the regime,\u201d the mission wrote.<\/p>\n
Air traffic was halted at Israel\u2019s Ben Gurion airport, a spokesman confirmed. “There are currently no takeoffs or landings,” said the airport’s spokesman.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the military had warned that any ballistic missile strike from Iran was expected to be extensive, advising the public to shelter in safe rooms in the event of an attack.<\/p>\n
Iran had vowed to retaliate after the deaths of Hezbollah\u2019s top leaders in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
The missile strikes came after Israel announced that its troops had launched ground raids into Lebanon, describing these forays as limited. The Israeli campaign in Lebanon represents the largest escalation of regional conflict since fighting erupted in Gaza a year ago.<\/p>\n