Iran has reportedly launched a massive missile strike on Israel, escalating fears of an all-out regional war in the Middle East. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), as many as 200 missiles were fired at Israel, with the country’s air defense system intercepting dozens of them in the eastern part of the country. The attack comes after the U.S. warned earlier in the day that it had intelligence suggesting Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic missile assault on Israel imminently.
Iran is warning Israel against responding to the missile attack it launched today. In a post on X, the Iranian Mission to the U.N. said if Israel responds, a “crushing response” will follow. Iran reportedly launched as many as 200 missiles at Israel.
President Biden said he and Vice President Harris convened their national security team to discuss Iranian plans to launch an attack against Israel.
The White House says Iran’s attack on Israel appears to have been defeated. Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel today. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. continues to work with Israel to assess the impact of Iran’s attack. He added the U.S. will continue to monitor for further threats from Iran. Following the attack, Iran warned Israel that a “crushing response” would follow any retaliation.
President Biden has reaffirmed the U.S.’s full support for Israel following Iran’s missile strike earlier today. The Pentagon reported that the scale of this attack, with around 200 missiles launched, was double the size of Iran’s previous assault on Israel in April. The missile strike comes in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of the leader of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, last week. Iran has warned that any retaliation from Israel will be met with an even more severe response. Biden emphasized that the U.S. remains in constant communication with Israel regarding potential responses to Iran’s actions.
Initial reports indicate that the missile barrage has caused widespread damage, though no deaths have yet been confirmed. The missile strikes come just hours after a suspected terror shooting at a light rail station south of Tel Aviv left several Israelis dead. The attack further heightens tensions in the region, which has seen escalating hostilities between Israel and various militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In response to the missile strikes, Israeli cities were placed on high alert, with air raid sirens ringing across the country as citizens sought shelter. Israel’s advanced Iron Dome defense system was reportedly activated, successfully intercepting many of the missiles before they could reach populated areas. However, there are concerns about the potential scale of destruction, as the strike marks one of the largest missile attacks Israel has faced in recent years.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris immediately convened their national security team to assess the situation, expressing strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself. The U.S. has been “actively supporting defensive preparations” to assist Israel in countering the attack, according to officials in Washington.
Shortly after the missile barrage, Iran issued a stark warning to Israel, cautioning against any retaliatory measures. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Iranian Mission to the U.N. stated that any Israeli response would be met with a “crushing” counterattack. This warning raises the stakes of further escalation, with both nations locked in a cycle of retaliation that threatens to draw in other regional powers.
The missile attack comes at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East, with Israel already engaged in several days of exchanges of fire with Hezbollah along the Lebanese border. The region has been on edge, with experts warning that the latest developments could trigger a larger conflict involving Iran, Israel, and possibly other regional actors.
In the wake of the attack, Israeli security forces have also been investigating a suspected terror shooting at a light rail station in Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv. At least ten Israelis were reportedly wounded by two gunmen in what is believed to be a coordinated attack.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the chaotic scene, with victims lying on the ground as first responders rushed to the scene. Authorities are still determining whether the shooting is directly linked to the missile attack or part of a broader escalation of violence.
As tensions between Israel and Iran reach new heights, international observers are urging restraint, though the situation remains volatile. Both sides are under pressure, with Israel grappling with domestic security threats and Iran increasingly flexing its military capabilities.
The coming days will be critical as Israel assesses the damage from the missile strikes and decides on its next steps. With regional instability mounting, the potential for a wider conflict in the Middle East looms larger than ever.
