Tehran fires a salvo of ballistic missiles in response to Israeli aggression in Lebanon.

Missile strikes close to a mall in Tel Aviv

BEIRUT/WASHINGTON: Iran retaliated against Israel on Tuesday, firing a volley of missiles in response to Tel Aviv's allegations that it had conducted ground incursions into south Lebanon. This sparked fears of a potentially catastrophic escalation in the Middle East and sent Western capitals into a frenzy.

Video showed missiles streaking across the sky, some of which were intercepted by Israeli defences and others of which were seen impacting the ground as sirens were heard sounding throughout key Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem.

Although there were no immediate reports of injuries, Al Jazeera stated that their communities in areas like the occupied West Bank seemed to be targeted by the rockets.

There were reports of shrapnel raining from the sky in Bethlehem and Jenin and Israelis were told to spend a few hours in bomb shelters.

The Israeli military reported, "IDF systems have identified approximately 180 missiles fired towards Israeli territory from Iran."

While Hamas applauded the "heroic rocket launch" Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari warned that the attack would have repercussions.

In retaliation to a fatal Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Iran shot roughly twice as many ballistic missiles on Tuesday than it did in its prior attack on Israel earlier this year according to the Pentagon.

Airlines all over the world cancelled flights over the region in response to the missile attack which was preceded by a US warning to Israel. Pakistan's flag carrier also declared it was stopping its usage of Iranian airspace after the escalation.

"Crushing" reaction

The missile attack according to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) was a reaction to the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah chairman Hassan Nasrallah last week.

The missile volley primarily targeted "three military bases" in the Tel Aviv area it was later reported.

"We targeted the heart of the occupied territories (Israel) in response to the martyrdom of [Hamas leader] Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and Nilforoshan," the IRGC stated in a statement that was cited by the Fars news agency.

If Israel responded to the missile attack the IRGC promised to launch "crushing attacks" against the country.

The Guard said, "The Zionist regime will be facing crushing attacks if it replies to Iranian operations."

The attack on Israel is a “legal, rational and legitimate response to the terrorist acts,” according to a post made on X by Iran's envoy to the UN in New York.

In the event that the Zionist regime reacts or commits further atrocities, there will be a severe and swift response. It further stated that "regional states are urged to break with both the advocates of Zionism and the dictatorship."

However if Israel's supporters in the area directly interfere against Tehran, Iran's armed forces warned on Tuesday that they would strike their "bases and interests."

In order to stop threats against regional peace and security, its foreign ministry also urged the UN Security Council to adopt "meaningful action."

President Masoud Pezeshkian's strategic advisor in Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif has denounced Western "hypocrisy," calling it "not just outrageous but extremely dangerous."

In an X post, Zarif said that Western countries "have helped facilitate the Israeli genocide in Gaza as well as acquiesced in Israeli aggressions against Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and other countries in the region." He went on to state that Iran has the right to defend itself against Israel's ongoing attacks.

US supports Israel

In Washington, the US national security adviser called Iran’s move as a ‘significant escalation’ but also said it “appears to have been rejected and ineffective”.

At the same time, President Joe Biden said the US was prepared to help Israel protect itself from Iranian missile threats.

After meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House national security staff earlier in the day, Biden stated on X that "we discussed how the United States is prepared assist Israel defend against these attacks and to safeguard American personnel in the region."

President Biden stated that the ramifications for Tehran were still unclear and that there was a continuing dialogue on Israel's response in the event of an Iranian ballistic missile attack.

He declared that the US was "fully supportive" of Israel while characterising Tehran's attack as "defeated and ineffective" in remarks to reporters at the White House.

As part of the defence effort, two American destroyers fired roughly a dozen interceptors nevertheless, "initial reports show that Israel was able to intercept the majority of incoming missiles so there was minimal damage on the ground" a Pentagon official stated.

Invasion of Lebanon by Israel

Following Israeli ground soldiers' attacks and Israeli jets' aerial bombardment of Lebanon earlier in the day, Iran launched missiles against that country.

Commando and paratroop troops allegedly began operations in Lebanon according to Tel Aviv. The Israeli military stated that the attacks were directed towards Hezbollah strongholds situated along the border.

While cautioning Israel against conducting a "large-scale ground invasion" a UN spokesperson stated on Tuesday that peacekeeping personnel have observed "sporadic incursions" by Israeli soldiers not a full-scale invasion.

Israeli officials have ordered people living close to the border in southern Lebanon to leave their houses. Residents of the Christian community of Ain Ebl, one of at least 20 communities that Israel ordered residents to evacuate, told Reuters that at least 600 people were taking sanctuary in a monastery after receiving a warning from the Israeli military.

Hundreds have died as a result of Israel's quick escalation which has plunged Lebanon into war. Weeping over coffins bearing black-shrouded bodies of individuals killed in Israeli strikes, mourners gathered near the city of Sidon, south of Beirut.

After Iran launched its first round of ballistic missiles, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the "broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation."

This needs to end. A ceasefire is desperately needed, Guterres declared in a statement.

Tel Aviv is the target of Hezbollah

The Israeli military has not yet entered Lebanese soil but a Hezbollah spokeswoman informed Reuters on Tuesday that they would be prepared to combat them should they do so.

Many Lebanese claim that they were ready to oppose Israeli forces, saying that "this time, Lebanon as a whole, not just Hezbollah, will fight." Sidon citizen Abu Alaa stated, "All of Lebanon is determined to battle Israel for the murders it committed in Gaza and Lebanon."

Hezbollah said on Tuesday that it has launched "a salvo of Fadi-4 rockets at the Sde Dov air base in Tel Aviv" in revenge for strikes on civilians in Lebanon.

This is the fourth version of a series that Hezbollah has started using in recent weeks with progressively larger payloads and longer ranges.

The group alleged that it fired missiles against a military intelligence unit outside of Tel Aviv and at the headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency which is held accountable for the killings of Hezbollah leaders and commanders.

Air travel and evacuations

After the assaults, Israel and Iran both swiftly suspended air travel.

Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and Tehran International Airport both suspended all incoming and outgoing flights. Additionally, passenger planes above Iran's airspace have been rerouted according to the country's Civil Aviation Organisation.

Leading European carriers Swiss, KLM, and Lufthansa said on Tuesday that they would be prolonging their ban on flights to the Middle East.

Additionally, Kuwait Airways declared that the current situation was the reason for several flight route changes.

Following Tuesday's escalation, Western countries organised the evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon, with Cyprus the EU member state nearest to the Middle East emerging as a possible hub.

Not a single government has initiated a massive military withdrawal to date but a few are renting out planes to help their citizens.

Demands restraint

On Tuesday, international leaders encouraged Israel and Iran to pull back from the edge. Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the UN, denounced the "broadening conflict in the Middle East."

The foreign minister insisted on "restraint," while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for a stop to the "spiral of violence" plaguing the Middle East.

On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier stated that the situation was "extremely serious" and expressed alarm about a "escalation."

According to his office, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced Iran's attack on Tuesday "in the strongest terms."

Russia, however called the US strategy in the Middle East a "total failure." "A violent drama that is just becoming more intense. The White House’s incoherent words reflect its full incapacity in resolving crises,” foreign ministry official Maria Zakharova said in a post on Telegram.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, previously posted a picture of missiles being fired along with a Quranic phrase that promised "divine victory."