VIDEOS: Iran launches significant missile strike against Israel

October 1, 2024

VIDEOS: Iran launches significant missile strike against Israel

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, claiming the attack was a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others, raising concerns of an escalating regional conflict.

CNN teams across Israel reported witnessing numerous missiles streaking through the sky as air raid sirens sounded nationwide.

The Israeli military estimated that Iran fired approximately 180 “projectiles” at the country. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), described the assault as a “serious attack” and warned that there would be significant repercussions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting many of the missiles, although some struck the ground in Israel with no initial injuries reported. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later stated that the Iranian attack was “effectively defeated.”

Although the assault was brief, it has escalated tensions in an already volatile situation. World leaders have long cautioned that the conflict between Israel and Iran’s proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, could ignite a wider regional war. The focus now shifts to how Israel will respond.

Since the deadly October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, Israel has been engaged in intense conflict in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction of the area.

Despite ongoing cross-border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah over the past year, Iran launched the missile barrage shortly after Israel announced a “limited and localized” ground operation in Lebanon.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in retaliation for the killings of Nasrallah and others, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Following the missile launch, the Iranian mission to the United Nations declared that Tehran’s actions were a response to “the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime.” They warned on X that if Israel dared to retaliate or commit further hostile acts, a “subsequent and crushing response will ensue.”

The White House issued a warning earlier on Tuesday that Iran was likely to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel imminently, heightening fears of a full-scale war in the region.

Residents in Tel Aviv and other cities have been advised to remain close to shelters or other protected areas, contributing to a noticeably tense atmosphere in the streets.

In a statement released mid-morning, just hours before Tehran launched its attack, the White House indicated that it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.” The U.S. also stated it was “actively supporting defensive preparations to help Israel against this attack.”

“A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a senior White House official warned.

Prior to the attack, Israeli assessments indicated that Iran was likely targeting three Israeli air bases and an intelligence facility just north of Tel Aviv. According to the semi-official Iranian news outlet Mehr News, the IRGC confirmed it aimed at three Israeli military bases around Tel Aviv.

The intelligence base in Glilot was evacuated on Tuesday afternoon, and the Israeli military implemented contingency plans to ensure the safety of personnel at those locations.

An Israeli source informed CNN shortly after the White House warning that intense diplomatic efforts were underway behind the scenes.

President Joe Biden convened a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and top national security officials on Tuesday to discuss Iran’s imminent missile threat to Israel, according to White House spokesperson Emilie Simons. She added that they reviewed U.S. preparations to assist Israel in defending against attacks and protecting U.S. personnel.

After a year of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran’s proxies in the region—such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen—an Iranian attack on Israel could push the region closer to full-scale conflict.

U.S. and Arab diplomats are already expressing concern about the potential aftermath of Iran’s expected attack, particularly regarding the scale of Israel’s response. A significant worry is that Israel might use the Iranian strike as justification for retaliating inside Iran.

“There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated during his recent speech at the United Nations.

The U.S. is prepared to assist Israel in intercepting any threats from Iran, similar to its support in April when Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles toward Israel, the majority of which were successfully intercepted, according to a U.S. official.

Hagari stated that the IDF intercepted “many” of the missiles, although he did not provide specific numbers. “There are a few impacts in the center and some more in the south. At this stage, we are assessing the situation. We are not aware of any injuries,” he noted.

The U.S. had anticipated that the Iranian attack on Israel could resemble the scale of a previous strike in April, according to a U.S. official speaking to CNN. Early Tuesday morning ET (midday Israel time), the U.S. warned Israel that an attack was imminent, several hours before the White House publicly announced that it had indications Iran was preparing for an assault.

The official added that Iran appeared ready to move quickly in its offensive, noting that many of its assets had remained in place since the April drone and missile onslaught.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated significantly in recent weeks, particularly as Israel has intensified its operations against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, including a ground operation in southern Lebanon on Monday.

Prime Minister Netanyahu urged Israelis to “stand together” and adhere to frontline commands amid growing fears of an imminent Iranian attack. He described Israel’s current situation as a “campaign against Iran’s axis of evil” and outlined specific requests for the public: “What I ask of you is two things: first, strictly obey the directives of the frontline command, as it saves lives; and second, to stand united.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the United States is “tracking events in the Middle East very closely” and remains “committed to Israel’s defense.” In brief remarks alongside his Moroccan counterpart, Blinken stated, “We’re watching developments very carefully at this moment,” though he did not specifically mention Iran or the potential attack.

Due to the “current security situation,” the U.S. Embassy in Israel instructed all U.S. government personnel and their families to “shelter in place until further notice,” as stated in a security alert. The alert advised, “This is provided for your information as you make your own security plans,” without directly referencing the warnings about an imminent Iranian attack.

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