Iran Launches Missiles Over Israel: Regional Tensions Escalate
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, and others.
Tehran responded to “the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime,” according to the Iranian envoy to the UN, following the missile attack.
On X, the mission declared that “a subsequent and crushing response will ensue” if Israel “dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence.”
The region’s concerns of a full-scale conflict increased after the White House issued a warning earlier on Tuesday that Iran was ready to attack Israel with ballistic missiles.
The mood on the streets was clearly tense, and residents of Tel Aviv and other cities were advised to stay close to shelters or other protected areas.
In a statement issued in the middle of the morning, the White House stated that it was “actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack” and that it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.”
An official from the White House stated that Iran would face catastrophic consequences if it launched a direct military attack against Israel.
According to an individual briefed on the situation, Israel determined that Iran was likely to target three Israeli air bases as well as an intelligence base situated somewhat north of Tel Aviv.
The individual stated that the Israeli military has implemented backup measures to ensure the safety of staff at the intelligence bases in Glilot, which was evacuated on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the individual, the US alerted Israel about the possibility of an impending attack within the next twelve hours.
According to White House spokesperson Emilie Simons, President Joe Biden met with Vice President Kamala Harris and senior national security officials on Tuesday “to discuss Iranian plans to imminently launch a significant ballistic missile attack against Israel.”
“They evaluated the status of US preparations to assist Israel in defending against attacks and to protect US personnel,” Simons continued.
A regional crisis might intensify if Iran attacks Israel, following a year of increased tensions between Israel and Iran’s proxies, such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Diplomats from the US and the Arab world are already worried about possible outcomes following Iran’s anticipated attack, particularly the extent of Israel’s retaliation. Their main worry is that Israel would use the impending Iranian strike as an excuse to launch an internal strike in Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared last week at the UN that “there is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East.”
Similar to how the US offered its assistance in April when Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles towards Israel, the vast majority of which were successfully intercepted, a US official said, the US was earlier prepared to do whatever it can to help Israel intercept anything Iran directed its way.
According to a person familiar with the situation, the US alerted Israel early on Tuesday morning ET (midday Israel time) that Iran was preparing to launch an attack. The two nations issued the warning a few hours before the White House made public its suspicions that Iran was planning an assault.
Iran, according to the official, is ready to launch a swift attack. Several of Iran’s resources were still in place following the barrage of drones and missiles fired into Israel in April.
Israel has intensified its efforts against Hezbollah, a militant organization that Iran supports, and on Monday, Israel began a ground operation in southern Lebanon. As a result, tensions between Israel and Iran have increased dramatically in recent weeks.
As concerns over an impending Iranian attack mount, Netanyahu urged Israelis to “stand together” and continue obeying frontline orders.
Netanyahu made a number of requests of the Israeli people, claiming that Israel is currently engaged in a “campaign against Iran’s axis of evil.”
“I have two requests of you: first, please carefully follow the frontline command’s instructions as they are life-saving. And secondly, to unite,” a statement from Netanyahu said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that the US “is committed to Israel’s defense” and that it is “tracking events in the Middle East very closely.”
Blinken and his Moroccan colleague made brief remarks during which Blinken stated, “We’re watching developments, as I said, very carefully at this moment.” Blinken said nothing specifically about the possible attack or Iran.
In a security alert on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Israel issued an order for all US federal employees and their families to “shelter in place until further notice” due to “the current security situation.”
The advisory did not specifically address the warnings of an impending Iranian strike, just stating that it was sent for your awareness while you prepare your own security plans.
