The Israeli military said on Tuesday that Iran fired dozens of missiles into Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the country. Israeli civilians were ordered to remain close to bomb shelters as missiles were fired. There have been no reports of any casualties so far.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has ordered US military to shoot down Iranian missiles. The statement was issued by the White House shortly after Iran fired missiles.
Earlier today, a senior US administration official had revealed that Iran was preparing to “immediately” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel. The official also warned of “severe consequences” in case Iran attacked Israel.
The attack comes amid the sudden escalation in the regional warfare following Israel’s ground raids into Lebanon and the offensive in Beirut that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and another top official Nabil Kaouk.
BREAKING:
Picture of ballistic missiles launched toward Israel from Isfahan, Iran pic.twitter.com/gm2ScI5xL3
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 1, 2024
The Israel Defence Force stated in a post on X that Iran targeted approximately ten million civilians in the missile attack.
Approx. 10 million civilians are the targets of Iranian projectiles. pic.twitter.com/680uDJm3CJ
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024
“A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel. Israelis are instructed to remain alert and precisely follow the Home Front Command’s instructions. In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has distributed life-saving instructions in various areas across the country. The IDF is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the State of Israel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated in an official statement.
Iran took responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at Israel. It made the claim in a statement that was read aloud on state television as explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Associated Press reported.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated that the missile attack was in response to the killing of Hassan Nasrallah as well as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed earlier this year, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
“In response to the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and [IRGC Guards commander] Nilforoshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement.
The report also stated it was not clear whether the series of explosions heard near Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were sounds from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defences, or both.
“Iran’s attack is continuing. You are requested to remain in a protected space until further notice. The explosions you are hearing are from interceptions or fallen projectiles,” the army said in a statement to Israelis, a report by news agency AFP said.
News agency Reuters quoted Israeli media as saying that as many as 100 missiles had been launched.
