Iran unleashed a major airstrike targeting sites across Israel on Tuesday night, while Israel’s air defenses shot down most of the 180 incoming missiles, according to Israeli officials.
The Iranian attack marked the latest escalation in fighting that now stretches into several countries in the region, with warnings that more fighting is likely. Israel found itself fighting on three separate fronts on Tuesday — with Hamas in Gaza to the south, with Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north and with the Iranian missile strike from the east.
Air raid sirens wailed, explosions lit up the nighttime sky and loud booms echoed throughout the country as Israeli defenses fired on the Iranian missiles. Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said most Iranian missiles were intercepted, though a small number crashed into central and southern Israel.
No Israeli deaths were reported in the airstrike, though the attacks caused some limited damage. Palestinian officials said a Palestinian man was killed by falling debris in the West Bank. Iran fired a large barrage of missiles and drones against Israel back in April. Almost all those weapons were also shot down, and no Israelis were killed in that attack either.
After Tuesday’s strike, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Security Cabinet, “Iran made a big mistake this evening, and it will pay for it.” He went on to add, “Whoever attacks us, we will attack them.”
In Washington, President Biden said, “Based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective.” The president added, “Make no mistake. The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said two U.S. destroyers fired a total of 12 interceptors at Iranian missiles as they headed to Israel. He said the U.S. Defense Department was still assessing whether the interceptors hit their targets.
