Updated at 1:53 pm EST on October 1, 2024
Iran launched over 100 missiles at Israel on Tuesday in an attack that came in response to recent Israeli escalations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that the attack was a response to the Israeli killing of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, an IRGC commander who was killed alongside the Hezbollah chief.
“In response to the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and (IRGC commander) Nilforoshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement.
A statement from Iran’s mission to the UN suggests Tehran is done with its attack after launching two missile barrages, although it warned of a “crushing response” if Israel retaliates.
“Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime—which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran—has been duly carried out,” the mission wrote on X.
“Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue. Regional states and the Zionists’ supporters are advised to part ways with the regime,” the mission added.
The Israeli military said there would be “consequences” for the attack. “We are on heightened alert on defense and offensive, we will protect the citizens of Israel. This [missile] fire will have consequences. We have plans, and we will act in the time and place that we choose,” said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
Hagari also said there were no more threats coming from Iran, suggesting the attack was over. He said some of the missiles were intercepted but that there were impacts in southern and central Israel, and the number of casualties is being assessed.
The White House said President Biden has directed the US military to intervene to defend Israel from Iran’s attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel.
The attack came after the White House said that it had information that Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel and vowed the US would come to Israel’s defense.
According to CNN, the White House said it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel” and added that the US was “actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack.”
The Pentagon announced on Monday that it was sending a “few thousand” additional troops to the Middle East to prepare to come to Israel’s defense if needed. “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a White House official said Tuesday.
The warning from the US comes amid Israel’s escalations in Lebanon, where it has killed over 1,000 people since last Monday.
According to Axios, the US warned Israel around noon Israel time (5 am EST) that an Iranian attack could come in the next few hours. Later in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about the alleged Israeli threat.
