Israel vowed to make Iran “pay” for firing a barrage of missiles at its territory, with Tehran warning on Wednesday it would launch an even bigger attack if it is targeted.
Iran launched its second direct attack on Israel in history on Tuesday, firing what it said were 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, sending Israeli civilians into shelters.
Israel, which put the number of missiles fired at its territory at 180, bombarded Lebanese strongholds of Iran ally Hezbollah with heavy strikes early Wednesday on south Beirut.
Israel shifted its focus last month from the war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks, to securing its northern border with Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.
After issuing numerous threats against Israel, Iran launched its second attack since April, sparking panic in Israel and around the region.
Israel intercepted most of Iran’s missiles, while Israeli medics reported two people injured by shrapnel.
In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian was killed in the city of Jericho “when pieces of a rocket fell from the sky and hit him”, the city’s governor, Hussein Hamayel, told AFP.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“Whoever attacks us, we attack them.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was at the command and control center monitoring the interception of Iranian missiles, also vowed vengeance.
“Iran has not learned a simple lesson—those who attack the state of Israel pay a heavy price,” he said in a statement.
‘Severe consequences’
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack was in response to Israel’s killing last week of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, as well as the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a Tehran bombing in July widely blamed on Israel.
The attack also sought to avenge Israel’s killing with Nasrallah of leading Iranian commander Abbas Nilforoushan of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm.
Israel said this week it began ground operations in Lebanon, while Hezbollah on Wednesday said it clashed with Israeli troops who tried to infiltrate into Lebanon.
The spike in violence in Lebanon since mid-September has killed more than 1,000 people and forced hundreds of thousands more to flee their homes.
President Joe Biden said the United States was “fully supportive” of Israel after the missile attack.
Asked by reporters what the response towards Iran would be, Biden replied, “That’s in active discussion right now.”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin slammed an “outrageous act of aggression” by Iran, while Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters there would be “severe consequences”.
Iranian state media reported 200 missiles had been fired at Israel, including hypersonic weapons for the first time, which the Revolutionary Guards said had targeted “three military bases” around Tel Aviv and others elsewhere.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media platform X that Tehran’s “action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation”.
Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Mohammad Bagheri also threatened to fire “with bigger intensity” if Israel makes good on its pledge to retaliate.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country had exercised its “legitimate rights” and dealt “a decisive response… to the Zionist regime’s aggression”.
Following months of warnings of more regional violence, experts now project that the conflict can only escalate.
“This will not end well,” said political analyst Jordan Barkin.
“Netanyahu has a long history of fighting back strongly and quickly when provoked. Restraint is not Mr. Netanyahu’s strong suit.”
James Demmin-De Lise, an author and analyst who writes a blog for The Times of Israel, agreed.
“I think we’ll see Israel launch decisive attacks against Iran. Likely with the hope of toppling the Islamic regime,” he said.
Ù‹With AFP
