Israel vows to retaliate after Iran fires nearly 200 missiles in ‘extensive’ attack
Iran has launched a barrage of missiles at Israel – in an attack Benjamin Netanyahu labelled a “major mistake” as he said: “It will pay.”
In a move anticipated by officials, nearly 200 missiles were launched on Tuesday evening, according to Israel‘s army radio.
Israel-Lebanon latest: Follow live updates
The attack, in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, marks a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict.
Iran‘s actions have already been condemned by world leaders including Sir Keir Starmer while the US has said it played a role in helping ally Israel defend itself.
A US official said on Tuesday afternoon that an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel was “imminent” and within a few hours, shortly after 5.30pm UK time, sirens sounded across the country as rockets began to arrive overhead.
Window-shaking explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem, though it was not initially clear whether the noise was from missiles landing, being intercepted by Israeli defences, or both.
Israelis had earlier been told to seek safety with orders to shelter sent to mobile phones and broadcast on national television. The Israeli military said all civilians were in bomb shelters as the rockets were fired.
Witnesses told Reuters they saw dozens of missiles flying over central Jordan and the country’s army appealed to its own citizens to stay in their homes for their safety.
Jordan’s state news agency soon announced a temporary closure of its airspace, which lasted until around 7.55pm UK time, and Kuwait Airways said it was changing some of its flight routes due to the “current situation”.
Take offs and landings at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport were suspended for around an hour.
Reporting close to the Israel-Lebanon border, Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes took cover as missiles flew overhead during a live broadcast.
Iran’s state TV has since claimed 90% of the missiles hit their targets while an Israeli spokesman has said officials there are so far not aware of any injuries from the attack.
Elsewhere in Tel Aviv, six people were killed by two suspects who opened fire in Jaffa, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood in the south of the city, Israeli media reported.
Israeli police said the shooting was a suspected terror attack.
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Israel has vowed the attack will have consequences, with its prime minister leading officials who have made statements.
Mr Netanyahu said: “Iran made a major mistake tonight – and it will pay for it.”
“There is also a deliberate and murderous hand behind this attack – it comes from Tehran,” he continued. “We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us – we will attack him.”
His comments came after IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari labelled the attack “extensive” and said: “There will be repercussions. We have plans.”
Iran has already said it will respond to any retaliation.
Its UN Mission said in a social media post that if Israel “should dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue”.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also warned that any retaliation will spark a “more crushing and ruinous” response from Tehran, Iranian state TV reported.
In a post on X, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said Mr Netanyahu “should understand that Iran is not warlike, but it will stand firmly against any threat”.
“This is only a glimpse of our capabilities,” he continued. “Do not engage in conflict with Iran.”
A senior Iranian official said its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was in a secure location.
'It appears to be a far larger Iranian attack than in April'
Alistair Bunkall
@AliBunkallSKY
Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall phoned in to explain what is going on where he is on the side of a road in Tel Aviv.
He witnessed a “huge amount of activity in the air above us” and said it was hard to distinguish between incoming missiles and ones launched by Israel to intercept.
“It appears to be a far larger attack than April,” he said.
Iran appears to have fired ballistic missiles this time, which take 10 to 12 minutes to reach Israel.
Back in April it was drones – much slower and easier to intercept.
“A lot of people” were out in the open air as the rockets were above, Bunkall said.
Some had decided to continue their journeys home, while others tried to “get to the side of the road and take some cover, whether that’s under a bridge or in a lay-by somewhere”.
US and UK react to Iranian attack
The US – which warned about Iran’s imminent attack earlier on Monday – said it helped its ally Israel to defend itself.
US Navy destroyers fired around a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles, the Pentagon said.
The White House press secretary said the president and vice president had convened two meetings with their national security team in the White House situation room and are receiving regular updates.
US officials also said they had not yet received any reports of injuries as a result of the missile strikes but stressed it was too early to rule out casualties.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Starmer – who spoke to Mr Netanyahu and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II – has condemned Iran’s actions “in the strongest possible terms”.
The prime minister later gave a statement from Downing Street saying the UK “stands with Israel” and Iran’s aggression cannot be tolerated – while reiterating his calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
“The prime minister said he will work alongside partners and do everything possible to push for de-escalation and push for a diplomatic solution,” a Downing Street spokesperson added.
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Iran’s attack came after Israel’s military said its paratroopers and commandos were engaged in fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants after launching “limited, localised and targeted raids” against the armed group in Lebanon.
Iran previously launched a drone and missile barrage against Israel in April, but most projectiles did not reach their targets.