Tensions in the Middle East have escalated as Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel on Tuesday. The attack, which Iran claimed was in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, has brought fears of a larger regional conflict.
According to reports from multiple sources, including CNN teams on the ground, the missile attack saw 180 projectiles fired towards Israel. Sirens blared across Israeli cities as the missiles soared through the skies. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) managed to intercept many of the missiles, but some did hit Israeli territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly issued a stern response, declaring, “Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it. The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves.”
This event marks a significant moment in what has already been a highly volatile period between Israel and Iran’s proxy forces in the region. The situation has been simmering since October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly terrorist attack on southern Israel, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians.
The Iranian government claimed responsibility for the missile attack, stating that it was a direct response to the death of Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. Nasrallah’s killing had sent shockwaves across Lebanon and Iran, with Hezbollah and its allies vowing to seek revenge.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made a statement through its semi-official media, saying that the missile barrage was a message to Israel. The IRGC warned that if Israel retaliated, Iran would launch a “subsequent and crushing response.”
In response, Israel remains on high alert, bracing for further escalations. Military bases near Tel Aviv were evacuated, and the IDF activated contingency plans to protect personnel and citizens.
World leaders have expressed deep concern that the conflict between Israel and Iran could lead to a full-scale regional war. For months, there has been a constant exchange of fire between Israel and Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
With the latest attack, diplomatic efforts have intensified. The United States has been working behind the scenes to try and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. In fact, hours before the missile strike, the White House had issued a warning that Iran was preparing to attack Israel.
The Israeli government has made it clear that it will not stand by quietly after the attack. The IDF has already been engaged in ground operations in southern Lebanon as part of its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the IDF, described the missile barrage as a “serious attack” and warned that there would be “serious consequences.”
Netanyahu has vowed that Israel’s response will be swift and decisive. “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu said in a speech last week, signaling that Israel might consider direct action against Iran itself.
