Iran fired waves of missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what it called a revenge attack for Israel’s killing of several Hezbollah leaders including its top leader Hassan Nasrallah.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the barrage, which targeted Tel Aviv and other central parts of Israel. Iran fired about 200 missiles, a Pentagon spokesman said.
The majority of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. Two U.S. Navy destroyers that fired about a dozen interceptors.
The attack comes as the Middle East appears to be teetering on the brink of a multi-state war and followed an Israeli ground operation into Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is based.
The move by Iran was the latest escalation in a weeks-long skirmish between Hezbollah and Israel, and comes days before the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel. Hamas is an ally of Hezbollah and is also supported by Iran.
The missile attack also comes just as the Jewish high holiday Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Wednesday.
Details about Iran’s missile attack were still emerging. But it caused sirens to sound across Israel and millions entered bomb shelters as Israel’s Defense Forces worked to intercept the missiles.
The White House said President Joe Biden had directed the U.S. military to aid Israel in defending against the attacks and shoot down missiles.
Earlier, a White House official warned Israel that Iran was preparing to launch an “imminent” ballistic missile attack. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said a direct attack on Israel will carry “severe consequences for Iran.”
Israel’s multi-layered air defenses, along with help from U.S. military system, appear to have intercepted most of the missiles fired by Iran, according to a U.S. official.
Iran claimed, without providing evidence, that the majority of its missiles hit their targets. It was not immediately clear if Israel was preparing to retaliate. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement it would launch greater, more powerful attacks if Israel reacts.
Iran has been threatening to attack Israel since August, when Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in a Tehran apartment building.
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