In a latest escalation of attacks between Israel and Iran, at least 180 missiles were launched by Iran into Israel, resulting in residents seeking shelter in bomb shelters. Israel vowed retaliation for Iran’s attack, which caused few injuries and some damage. Prior to this attack, Israel had targeted the leadership of Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to increased pressure on the Iran-backed militant group. Israel has expressed its commitment to continue striking Hezbollah until it is safe for citizens displaced from homes near the Lebanon border to return.
Israel’s air defenses intercepted many of the incoming Iranian missiles, but some landed in central and southern Israel, causing minor injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised retaliation against Iran, calling it a “big mistake.” The U.S. National Security Adviser viewed Iran’s missile attack as a significant escalation, but ultimately defeated and ineffective due to assistance from the U.S. military. President Joe Biden expressed full support for Israel and is considering an appropriate response to Tehran. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting to address the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Iran claimed the missile attack on Israel was in retaliation for recent attacks that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iranian military. Despite the tensions, Israel has begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, leading to airstrikes and artillery fire in the region. Hezbollah responded with rockets into Israel, although casualties were not immediately reported. An evacuation warning was issued in southern Lebanon, raising questions about the depth of Israel’s planned incursion into Lebanon, with some reports suggesting Israeli forces had crossed the border.
The Israeli military has carried out several small raids inside Lebanon in recent weeks, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and tunnels. While Israel denied plans for a full-scale invasion, there were reports of covert ground raids into southern Lebanon. The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, backed by Iran, threatens to escalate into a wider war involving various countries in the Middle East. The recent airstrikes have claimed many lives in Lebanon, prompting European countries to evacuate their citizens from the region. As the fighting intensifies, concerns about a broader conflict involving Iran and the United States continue to grow.
