Jerusalem: Israel's military on Tuesday said the Iranian missile attack was over and citizens can "leave protected spaces in all areas across the country," following a situational assessment. Israeli army radio said nearly 200 missiles had been launched into Israel from Iran in retaliation for recent Israeli strikes that killed key members of Iran-backed forces Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. Israeli army radio said nearly 200 missiles had been launched into Israel from Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Iran had launched tens of missiles at Israel, and that if Israel retaliated Tehran's response would be "more crushing and ruinous".
"At the end of the situation assessment, it was decided that it is now possible to leave the protected area in all areas of the country.
You must continue to obey the directives of the Home Front Command," said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on X.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the military was not aware of any injuries resulting from the Iranian missile attacks. He described the attack as serious and said it would have consequences. A senior Iranian official told Reuters the order to launch missiles at Israel had been made by the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei remains in a secure location, the senior official added.
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.
Biden ordered US military to aid Israel against Iran's offensive
US President Joe Biden has directed the American military to aid Israel's defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down down missiles targeting Israelis on Tuesday, according to the White House National Security Council. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris "are monitoring the Iranian attack against Israel from the White House Situation Room & receiving regular updates from their national security team", said NSC spokesperson Sean Savett.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that the missile launches were in retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Lebanon chief Hassan Nasrallah and other key members of the Iran-backed proxies in the Middle East. They further warned that if Israel retaliated Tehran's response would be "more crushing and ruinous", according to Iranian media.
Earlier, US officials warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. US ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran, which a second official said could happen tonight. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.
The firing of missiles came after Israeli troops launched ground raids into Lebanon, in the biggest escalation of regional warfare since fighting erupted in Gaza a year ago. Israel's apparent ground raids in Lebanon follow its deadly detonation of booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers, two weeks of airstrikes, and then its killing on Friday of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, one of the heaviest blows in decades to the group.
UN calls for de-escalation in Middle East
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned “the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan's King Abdullah, as per local reports. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday said she condemned the Iranian missile attack on Israel in the "strongest possible terms", saying Iran must stop the attack immediately. "We have urgently warned Iran about this dangerous escalation. Iran must stop the attack immediately. It is driving the region further to the brink of the abyss," Baerbock said in a post on X.
The firing of missiles came after Israeli troops launched ground raids into Lebanon, in the biggest escalation of regional warfare since fighting erupted in Gaza a year ago. Israel's apparent ground raids in Lebanon follow its deadly detonation of booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers, two weeks of airstrikes, and then its killing on Friday of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, one of the heaviest blows in decades to the group.
(with inputs from agencies)
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