Iran launched a significant missile barrage into Israel on Tuesday night, marking another step in the rapidly intensifying conflict between the two nations and their regional allies, heightening fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
According to AP, Iran’s military claimed responsibility for launching at least 180 missiles, stating the attack was a direct response to a series of Israeli operations that targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon.
These Israeli operations were carried out as Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, continued its rocket attacks on Israel, which began with the escalation in Gaza.
Earlier that day, Israel conducted what it described as a “limited ground incursion” into southern Lebanon.
The incursion was part of a series of retaliatory strikes after Hezbollah’s repeated rocket launches from Lebanese territory.
Residents in Israeli cities scrambled for bomb shelters as air raid sirens filled the night sky, and Israeli air defense systems intercepted many of the Iranian missiles.
However, some still managed to land in central and southern Israel, leading to shrapnel injuries for two civilians, according to Israel’s national rescue service.
A Palestinian man was reported dead near Jericho in the West Bank after a missile strike, though the origin of the missile was not immediately clear.
The Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, confirmed that air defense systems played a critical role in minimizing the impact of the Iranian barrage, but warned of continued threats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern response, stating that Iran had made a “big mistake” and would face serious consequences for its actions.
Iranian military officials, led by Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, warned of future escalations, promising retaliatory strikes on Israel’s infrastructure should Israel target Iranian territory again.
As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel grew, southern Lebanese villages were heavily bombarded by Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire, prompting Hezbollah to respond with another wave of rocket fire into northern Israel.
Casualty reports from these exchanges were not immediately available.
Just before the missile attacks, Tel Aviv was struck by a shooting attack that left six civilians dead.
The gunmen were killed by Israeli police, but the violence added to the growing fear of a multi-front war.
Hezbollah and Hamas, both supported by Iran, are long-time regional adversaries of Israel, and their combined actions in recent weeks have led many to speculate about the risk of a broader, regional war.
The escalating situation has garnered international attention. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to address the spiraling conflict.
Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan referred to Iran’s missile strike as a “significant escalation” and credited the U.S. military with helping to intercept many of the incoming missiles.
He noted that while Iran’s attack was “defeated and ineffective,” it reflected a dangerous turn in the conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated his support for Israel and indicated that his administration was considering its next steps in response to Tehran’s aggression.
Iran’s missile barrage came in retaliation for the deaths of key figures within Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups. Among the dead was Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in Israeli airstrikes.
The missile barrage also followed the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was targeted in Tehran during an Israeli operation in July.
Israeli military efforts have primarily focused on Hezbollah’s strongholds in southern Lebanon, seeking to weaken the group’s infrastructure and military capabilities.
Despite denials from Hezbollah, Israeli military officials reported that their troops had carried out numerous covert raids in southern Lebanon for almost a year, targeting tunnels and weapons depots.
These raids, said Hagari, were part of Israel’s broader strategy to thwart Hezbollah’s military buildup and prevent an attack similar to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel.
As Israeli forces continue their operations, they have urged residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate north of the Awali River, far beyond the Litani River, which previously marked the buffer zone between Israeli forces and Hezbollah following the 2006 war.
Israeli officials stated that these evacuations were necessary to protect civilians from the crossfire, as the border region remains a volatile battle zone.
Though there have been consistent reports of Israeli troop movements near the Lebanese border, U.N. peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have confirmed only sporadic incursions and denied witnessing a full-scale invasion.
However, U.S. officials revealed that Israel had conducted several small raids into Lebanon in preparation for what could become a more comprehensive ground operation.
In response to Israel’s actions, Hezbollah has escalated its rocket attacks, striking central Israel and claiming to have targeted intelligence agency headquarters near Tel Aviv.
The group has continued to launch projectiles into northern Israel, although Israeli reports suggest that these attacks have inflicted relatively minor damage.
The conflict has taken a devastating toll on Lebanon’s civilian population, with over 1,000 people reported dead in recent Israeli airstrikes.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, nearly a quarter of the casualties were women and children, with hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.
European nations have begun withdrawing their diplomats and citizens from Lebanon, anticipating further escalation.
Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, vowed that despite the deaths of key commanders, the group remains fully operational and that its leadership structure has been swiftly reorganized.
As both sides brace for further conflict, the Middle East remains on the edge, with many fearing that the ongoing violence will soon engulf the entire region in war.
