In what is a shocking heightening of tensions within the region, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday night that it had come under an onslaught of missiles fired from Iran into various parts of Israel and these came after a minor invasion of Israeli soldiers into Lebanon in the morning targeting Hezbollah strongholds. The Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missile bombardment was a response to recent attacks by Israel, killing senior leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and a top Iranian commander.
The first civilian alert was at about 19:30 local time. The IDF Home Front Command issued a warning to citizens, urging citizens to move into shelters immediately. A wave of missile sirens then swept over Israel; it seems people headed into safe rooms and bomb shelters.
Missile interceptions and hits
Israel’s air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, shot down many of the incoming missiles. Video evidence of the attack could be viewed on social media as silhouettes of sky-lit clouds where projectiles were destroyed in mid-air, while explosions radiated from several cities. The defensive mechanisms managed to intercept most but at least some of the missiles reached their targets as damage and a large crater near Tel Aviv, was reported in central and southern Israel.
During the attack, rocket debris killed one man who came under Palestinian civil defense authority in Jericho in the West Bank. To date, there are no reports of serious injuries on the Israeli side, although assessments of damage are still underway.
Fear and Widespread Reaction
The intensity of missile strikes has left many Israelis very shaken. Civilians from all over the country told their personal experiences, from Tel Aviv to Ra’anana in central Israel and down to southern Israel. One Tel Aviv journalist summed up their week, “Usually we stay on our floor but this time we realized we had to go down.” Lawyer Efrat Eldan Schechter from Ra’anana reflected the collective angst: “It is very scary indeed. but we are strong and confident that our IDF will protect us. Iran just made a huge mistake.”
About an hour after this, the Home Front Command sounded a warning at about 20:30, which was perceived as a threat but so low that it would allow civilians to come out of their shelters from the impression that danger seemed to fade.
Israeli Response
The IDF confirmed some 180 launches, most of which were intercepted on their way. The military, however, has maintained that Iran’s actions will not go without any response. The force’s spokesman Daniel Hagari said currently there were no more launches from Iran but warned that the response was sure to come.
Tensions in the region are now at a breaking point as Israel is now preparing for possibly further escalations both with Hezbollah from Lebanon and more directly by Iran.
Active Events
This missile attack is one of the most direct confrontations in recent history between Israel and Iran. In the meantime, at this point, diplomacy to prevent escalation is ongoing, and international actors are quite closely monitoring the situation.
