The attack, which ended shortly after it began on Tuesday evening, was a sharp escalation in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran and could tip the region further into turmoil.The New York Times reports that on Oct. 1, 2024 at 4:32 p.m. ET, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles at Israel, escalating tensions and raising the possibility of an all-out war between the two powerful Middle Eastern nations.

The attack was the culmination of a rapid chain of events that began with Israel’s ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia backed by Iran. As Israel continued its airstrikes on Lebanon, Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets deep into Israel.

According to the Israeli military, Iran fired approximately 180 missiles during the assault, causing millions of Israelis to seek shelter in bomb shelters for over an hour. While many of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air defense system, some landed in central and southern Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Israel, but a Palestinian man was killed by falling shrapnel in the occupied West Bank.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated that based on initial reports, Israel was able to effectively defeat the attack with the help of the United States and other partners. He also called for the international community to condemn the Iranian strike.

President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, confirmed that American naval destroyers had joined Israel in shooting down incoming missiles and that there was careful planning in anticipation of the attack.

The situation in the region remains tense, with Israel’s top commanders meeting to assess the situation and vowing to respond at a time and manner of their choosing. Iran also warned that it would launch more missiles if Israel retaliated.

A senior White House official stated that the United States would assist in defending Israel and cautioned that a direct attack on Israel would have severe consequences for Iran.

In a statement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed that the missile attack was in retaliation for recent assassinations, including the killing of Hamas’s political leader in July and Hezbollah’s leader on Friday.

During the attack, air raid sirens sounded across Israel, and explosions were heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israel’s interceptor rockets intercepted the incoming missiles.

This attack comes as Israel continues to fight against Hamas in Gaza and conducts raids on Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The last time Iran attacked Israel was in April, but most of the missiles and drones were intercepted with the help of the United States, Jordan, and other allies. 

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