Iran responded to Israel occupying Lebanon after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. After thousands of precautions, Tehran deployed some of its arsenal to send a message to Tel Aviv. Shortly after sunset, the Islamic Republic launched 180 ballistic and cruise missiles at the Jewish state, resulting in only one human casualty so far. This is a 38-year-old Palestinian who was hit by a splinter from an intercepted missile in Jericho on the West Bank.
Missiles were stopped thanks to Iron Dome and its allies
The death toll and damage toll are still provisional. What is certain is that the Iron Dome, the anti-missile apparatus funded by the United States and built by IAI together with Rafael, was decisive in intercepting almost all shots fired from the Islamic Republic and also from Lebanon. According to Reuters, some missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were seized in Jordanian airspace, as was the case last April. The United States also contributed to the protection of its historic ally’s territory. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said some Iranian missiles were shot down by US Navy ships.
Iran’s action was far-reaching; His aim was to build up his muscles without wanting to start an open war with his usual enemy. This is the line Supreme Guard Ali Khamenei eventually decided to adopt under pressure from hawks who wanted him to approve strong retaliation for the murders of Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh.
The result was an attack similar to the one in April, which was announced by Israel and the United States and was largely neutralized; This allowed Tehran to at least save face and, on paper, re-establish the principle of deterrence in the region. With President Masoud Pezeshkian’s post on X, he announced that Iran does not want war, but will respond to any threat. “Today’s attack was part of our force, do not go to war with Iran,” he added.
In the next few hours, it will be possible to understand whether what Iran is doing is a gamble, to the extent that it guarantees that Israel will respond with force. The IDF spokesman said the Israeli army was ready to launch intense attacks in the Middle East overnight.
Celebrations of Iran’s allies
As a result of the missile attack on Israel, Iran announced that it “entered a state of war and that any content that would weaken the country, government or army in favor of the enemy is considered treason.” Islamic Republic-backed groups in the region celebrated Tehran’s reaction to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan. Palestinian group Hamas and Yemeni Houthis welcomed Iran’s military operation. Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon’s capital Beirut celebrated Iran’s second attack in the country’s history after the 1979 revolution with fireworks.
Condemnation of the attack was almost unanimous. Germany, Britain and Spain pointed to Iran for the attack, which could lead to large-scale conflicts across the region. However, the USA considers Israel’s reaction as a “defeat” of Iran’s attack. The White House announced that it will consult with Israel on the next steps to be taken. Italy also condemned Iran’s attack and called for greater responsibility to be given to all relevant actors to prevent further escalation.
Terrorist attack in Israel’s capital
Shortly before the barrage of Iranian missiles fell on the Jewish state, terror had reached the heart of Israel: In Jaffa, south of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, two men armed with automatic weapons and knives began attacking passengers in a tram car. They then got off and opened fire on people who were on the platform at the time, stabbing others even outside the station. At the end of the attack, six people died. 9 people were injured in the accident, 4 of them seriously. The two attackers were killed shortly afterwards.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
