Iran launched a major ballistic missile strike on Israel, with American forces mobilizing to defend the Jewish state from an onslaught by Tehran and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of "challenging times" amid a battle against "Iran's axis of evil."
The Iranian attack included sophisticated ballistic missiles, which can reach Israel in just 12 minutes, similar to Tehran’s direct strike on Israel in April after the Jewish state assassinated two Iranian generals in Syria.
Air raid sirens blared Tuesday all the way from northern towns near Haifa to the southern desert city of Be'er Sheva. Iranian state media said it fired more than 400 missiles, though Israeli estimates placed the figure at closer to 200. Dozens are reported to have penetrated Israel's air defense system, landing in Tel Aviv and other areas in the country's southern region. At least one projectile is reported to have landed in the West Bank area, killing a Palestinian man.
Alerts continue to persist across much of Israel. This is a widespread Iranian attack that Israel is highly unlikely to ignore. pic.twitter.com/Ilz9fupk34
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
Videos also showed missiles raining over Jerusalem.
A significant amount of ballistic missiles strike Israeli territory a short time ago. pic.twitter.com/77w11Fan6A
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
Explosions in the sky over Tel Aviv. Iran steps out from behind the shadow of its proxies. At least one direct hit reported so far in Tel Aviv area.
An uneasy silence on channel 12 as they assess damage. pic.twitter.com/8JZVKuLBNQ
— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) October 1, 2024
RAW FOOTAGE: Watch as Iranian missiles rain over the Old City in Jerusalem, a holy site for Muslims, Christians and Jews.
This is the target of the Iranian regime: everyone. pic.twitter.com/rIqUZWN3zy
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024
As the smoke cleared across Israel and citizens were given the green light to exit bomb shelters, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that Israel will face "crushing attacks" if it responds to Tehran's onslaught. The Jewish state responded defiantly, with Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari saying the Iranian attack "will have consequences."
"We are on high alert both defensively and offensively. We will defend the citizens of the state of Israel," Hagari said. He added that the IDF was "not aware of any casualties" and that Israel's missile defense systems made "a large number of interceptions."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a video statement Tuesday, calling on the Israeli public to "stand together" amid "challenging times."
"We are in the midst of a campaign against Iran's axis of evil," he said. "I said yesterday that these are days of great achievements and great challenges," Netanyahu added, referencing Israel's killing last week of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The United States is said to have privately warned Israel early Tuesday of "Iranian preparations to fire missiles at Israel imminently." A senior White House official said in a statement sent to the Washington Free Beacon that it is "actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack."
"A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran," the official said.
Across Tehran, senior officials and government leaders have been promising a brutal response to the killing late last week of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
The chief commander of Iran’s army warned Israel to "be ready" for a missile barrage, saying that Nasrallah’s "blood will definitely destroy the Zionist regime and its masters."
The Pentagon reportedly increased the number of American warplanes in the region ahead of Iran's strike. These planes were pivotal in shooting down Iranian missiles during April's attack. The Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is also in the region, giving the United States a "substantial naval force" as the USS Harry S. Truman carrier also moves into the region, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Marines have also deployed an Amphibious Ready Group consisting of around 2,200 troops to the Mediterranean, and the Pentagon promises more assets if needed.
Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, said it is "not even a question" that Iran will strike again if Israel moves forward with a response. He noted that Iran's ability to hit Israeli targets "is the result of trial and error from the last time the regime attacked Israel in April."
Jason Brodsky, a regional analyst and policy director at United Against a Nuclear Iran, said Israel "has many options" in its arsenal to respond, including a potential strike on Tehran's contested nuclear sites.
"It can aim at the launchers and the bases from which Iran launched the missiles," he told the Free Beacon. "It can target energy infrastructure. There is an option of decapitations. And most important, there is Iran's nuclear program, which Israeli decision makers may now believe is ripe for military actions given Hezbollah's degraded capabilities."
This is a developing story and will be updated.