Oct. 1 (UPI) — Air raid sirens blared throughout Israel as dozens of Iran missiles rocked Tel Aviv and other locations in the country late Tuesday, in support of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel has vowed to retaliate.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who touted the country’s air defense system and support by the United States, said in a message to the people of Israel.
“The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies,” Netanyahu added. “We will stand by the rule we established: Whoever attacks us, we will attack them.”
Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles, in response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the limited attack that ended relatively quickly. The Israel Defense Forces said it managed to intercept many of the missiles and was not aware of any casualties.
The United States said it plans to coordinate with Israel on a response to Iran’s attack.
“It is clear that this was, once again, a significant escalation by Iran,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday. “When you see Iran launching attacks on another state, ultimately to come to the defense of a terrorist organization, it is an escalation. Israel has the right to defend itself.”
Shortly after the attack began, Netanyahu posted a video message, saying “Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil.”
“I ask of you two things: First, strictly follow the directives of Home Front Command. It saves lives. Second, stand together,” Netanyahu added. “Together, we will stand steadfast in the trying days ahead of us. Together, we will stand. Together, we will fight and together, we will win.”
“Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil.
Yesterday, I said that these were days of great achievements and great challenges: pic.twitter.com/yXKHrJCNAV— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 1, 2024
At a tram station in southern Tel Aviv, a shooting and stabbing attack killed eight people, as the Palestinian Mujahidin Movement claimed responsibility. Israeli police said two suspects went on a “killing spree” right before Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel. The suspects were killed.
Before Tuesday’s missile attack, sources told CNBC, CNN and USA Today that an Iranian-led missile attack on Israel was imminent.
“All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said on X Tuesday night as CNN reported that a wave of Israeli intercept missiles filling the sky in search of high-altitude Iranian ballistic missiles.
“Approximately 10 million citizens are the targets of Iranian projectiles,” the IDF added, as dozens of Israelis sought shelter next to cars under a bridge in Tel Aviv.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took responsibility for the attack, claiming it was in retaliation for Israel’s attack on Hezbollah’s leadership.
Before the attack, the U.S. Embassy in Israel had told all of its employees to shelter in place on Tuesday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and unmanned aircraft system intrusions, often take place without warning,” a message from the embassy said in a statement.
“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.”
Iran launched a missile attack on Israel in April using more than 300 drones and ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel killing two top Iranian commanders in Syria. Tuesday night’s attack appeared to be larger than the April attack.