ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, as all Israeli civilians were ordered to shelter in place. Tehran on multiple occasions has vowed retaliation for Israeli aggression.
Air sirens were sounded, AFP reported, as dozens of explosions rocked Jerusalem, adding it was not clear if the loud booms were due to projectiles being intercepted or landing.
The Israeli defense forces said on X that approximately 10 million civilians are within the areas targeted by Iranian missiles.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a televised press conference the country’s air defense system was fully operational - detecting and intercepting threats.
“However, the defense is not hermetic,” he said, adding that he was unaware of any casualties.
Israeli defence forces said in a post on X: "All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel.”
Tasnim News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), posted footage purportedly showing Iranian missiles being launched over the skies of Tehran and Isfahan.
Iran launches barrage of missiles against Zionist entity pic.twitter.com/YMEM2a4yP4
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) October 1, 2024
US President Joe Biden said in a post on X that he had convened the country's national security team "to discuss Iranian plans to launch an imminent missile attack against Israel."
Biden ordered the Pentagon to "aid Israel's defence" and the US military to “shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel,” a White House official told reporters.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a post on X that he spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on the phone to "discuss the threat of an imminent Iranian attack against Israel," adding that he shared that "over recent days the United States has increased force readiness and continues to maintain significant military capability in the region."
They also discussed "the severe consequences" for Tehran if Iran attacks Israel.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that the attack was a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and an IRGC commander.
"If the Zionist regime reacts to Iran's operation, it will face heavy attacks," the IRGC warned.
On Friday, an Israeli airstrike assassinated Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top leaders of the Iran-backed group in Beirut.
Since Nasrallah was killed, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in multiple posts on X has called on "Resistance forces" to determine the fate of the region and confront "the usurping, cruel, malicious Zionist regime."
Haniyeh, political bureau chief for Hamas, was killed while in Tehran on July 31. Iran blames Israel for the assassination.
Iraq temporarily closed its airspace due to the attacks, state media reported citing the transportation ministry, but reopened it later in the night.
The conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, and Israel has intensified since October 7, when Palestinian Hamas militants launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures.
Israel responded with a massive ongoing offensive on Gaza, killing over 41,600 people and injuring more than 96,400, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
On Monday, Israel launched border operations against Lebanese Hezbollah targets. US and other officials have cautioned against a possible Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon.
Updated at 12:16 am on Wednesday
