Iran (Washington Insider Magazine) – Iran launched a missile attack on Israel late Tuesday, claiming it was in retaliation for the assassinations of senior Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials. The strikes sent Israelis rushing to bomb shelters as air raid sirens blared across the country. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with Iran’s state media asserting that 80% of its missiles hit their targets, while Israel claimed to have intercepted a “large number” of them.
The IRGC said the attack was a direct response to the killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly ordered the strikes, warning that any Israeli retaliation would trigger a “more crushing and ruinous” response. Tehran stated that it specifically targeted three Israeli military bases.
Israel reported minimal casualties, with two people sustaining light injuries in Tel Aviv from shrapnel. However, a Palestinian worker in Jericho was killed when debris from a missile struck him.
The United States, which assisted Israel in intercepting the missiles, condemned the attack as “totally unacceptable.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel and its allies had successfully countered the threat and reaffirmed US support. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups warned that US bases in the region would become targets if Washington joined any military response.
The missile attack comes amid an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran-aligned groups, with Israeli ground incursions into Lebanon further inflaming tensions. As Jordan temporarily suspended air traffic and the UN called for a ceasefire, concerns of a wider regional conflict continue to grow.
