The Israeli military announced Tuesday that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, prompting air raid sirens across the country and warnings for residents to stay near bomb shelters. The situation escalated as Israel and the United States reiterated their warnings of “severe consequences” should Iran directly attack Israel, a country already dealing with heightened tensions due to the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
Emergency alerts were sent to Israeli citizens via mobile phones and broadcasted on national television, instructing them to remain in shelters. Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari reassured the public that Israel’s air defense system was fully operational, detecting and intercepting most threats, but cautioned that no defense system is foolproof.
Read: Iran Poised For Possible Ballistic Missile Attack On Israel, U.S. Warns Of “Severe Consequences”
Videos circulated in Iranian media showing what appeared to be missile launches from various locations, though the Iranian government did not immediately comment. The missile attack followed a day of rocket and missile fire from Lebanon, where Israel has begun limited ground operations targeting Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran.
Israeli airstrikes and artillery hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, where residents had been ordered to evacuate. In response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israel. As fighting escalated, concerns over a wider regional conflict grew. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned of severe consequences if Iran proceeded with its ballistic missile attack. U.S. military forces in the region, including ships and aircraft, are ready to assist Israel.
Rear Adm. Hagari reiterated the potential danger posed by the Iranian strike and urged Israelis to follow safety protocols. “The Iranian attack could be widespread. Following Home Front Command guidelines can save lives,” he stated.
This isn’t the first time Iran has targeted Israel; in April, Iran launched a direct missile attack, though many of the projectiles were intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition or failed in flight.
Hezbollah denied Israeli ground forces had entered Lebanon, but the Israeli military released footage showing Israeli troops conducting raids in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapons caches and tunnels. These operations have further weakened Hezbollah, already reeling from targeted Israeli strikes that killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several top commanders in recent weeks.
Read: Houthi Rebels Claim Attacks On Israel And US Navy Amid Escalating Conflict
Israel has expanded its evacuation warnings, urging residents to leave areas north of the Awali River, further into Lebanese territory than previous evacuation zones. This raised speculation about how far Israel might push its ground operations into Lebanon.
In addition to the missile threat, an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday damaged a residential building near Beirut, approximately 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy. No casualties were reported.
With expectations of more rocket attacks from Hezbollah, Israel announced new restrictions, including bans on public gatherings and the closure of beaches in northern and central Israel. Thousands of reserve soldiers have also been called up to serve along the northern border.
The day’s violence extended to Tel Aviv, where a terrorist shooting on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa left nine people wounded, including two in critical condition.
The attackers were killed at the scene, and local police described the incident as involving gunmen who opened fire on people waiting at a light rail station.
Emergency services declared a mass casualty event, and the victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
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