Iran fires ballistic missiles at Israel amid escalating Middle East tensions

Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley after Israelis piled into bomb shelters.

Reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts. Reuters journalists saw missiles intercepted in the airspace of neighbouring Jordan.

Israeli media reports said as many as 100 to 400 missiles had been launched.

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Dozens of explosions boomed across Jerusalem on Tuesday night as air raid sirens rang out, AFP journalists reported.

"A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel," the military said in a statement. It said sirens were sounded across Israel, including in Jerusalem.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launched tens of missiles toward Israel and warned that if Israel retaliated Tehran's response would be "more crushing and ruinous", Iranian state TV reported.

Hypersonic 'Fattah' missiles used

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they used hypersonic 'Fattah' missiles 'for the first time' in attack on Israel, Iranian state TV reported.

Footage shows the moment an Iranian missile hit Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/U4n1UNWatS

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) October 1, 2024

Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden has convened national security meeting to discuss Iranian missile attack against Israel.

“We discussed how the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against these attacks, and protect American personnel in the region,” Biden said in a statement on X.

This morning, @VP and I convened our national security team to discuss Iranian plans to launch an imminent missile attack against Israel.

We discussed how the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against these attacks, and protect American personnel in the region.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 1, 2024

Israel military says Iran attack will have consequences

Iran's missile attack on Tuesday was serious and will have consequences, Israel's military spokesman said, declining to specify how and when Israel would respond.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said he was not aware of any casualties from the missile volley. He said there were a few hits in the centre of the country and in the south.

Israel military vows 'powerful strikes' tonight throughout the region

Israeli media cited Israel's military as saying on Tuesday that the air force will continue conducting "powerful strikes" tonight throughout the Middle East, hours after Iran launched a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel.

Biden directed the US military to aid Israel's defence: White House

President Joe Biden has directed the US military to aid Israel’s defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles targeting Israel, the White House National Security Council said.

Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris are monitoring the attack from the White House situation room and receiving regular updates, NSC spokesperson Sean Savett said in a post on X.

Israel has shut down air travel in and out of the country, and Iraq, which lies directly to the east of Israel’s easterly neighbour Jordan, has shut down its air space, Reuters reports.

Just prior to these latest developments, Israeli army radio said that all take-off and landing at Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv has stopped after Iran launched missiles towards Israel.

‘Retaliation for Nasrallah's Killing’

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for launching a barrage of missiles at Israel, stating it was in retaliation for the recent killings of their key allies, Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

According to Israeli army radio, nearly 200 missiles were launched from Iran, though it remains unclear how many reached their targets. Eyewitness reports mainly describe missiles seen flying overhead.

The IRGC stated the attack was in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard deputy commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon last week.

Moreover, Iran's foreign ministry said it will not hesitate to take further defensive measures to defend its territorial integrity.

In a statement, Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran's "defensive operation" is in line with the right to self-defence, and it only targeted military and security facilities in Israel .

It called on the UN Security Council to undertake "meaningful action" to prevent threats against regional peace and security.

Second wave of missiles above Jerusalem

A second wave of missiles has been reported flying above Jerusalem, Guardian reported.

Barely 10 minutes after a first flurry of bombs whizzing overhead, a second wave of missiles passed over the city, apparently from a different direction, with the bright flashes of interceptions lighting up the sky as the sound of loud booms rang out across Jerusalem.

Iran's UN mission describes attack on Israel as 'legal, rational, and legitimate response'

"Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue. Regional states and the Zionists' supporters are advised to part ways with the regime," the mission wrote.

Iranian order to launch missiles at Israel was made by Supreme Leader Khamenei, senior official tells Reuters

Iran fully ready for any retaliation after missiles launch at Israel, senior Iranian official says

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei remains in secure location after missiles fired at Israel, senior Iranian official tells Reuters.

Russia informed

Tehran had informed Russia ahead of missile attacks on Israel, senior Iranian official told Reuters.

US bases threatened

US bases in Iraq and the region will be targets if the United States joins any response to Iranian strikes on Israel or if Israel uses Iraqi airspace against Tehran, Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups said on Tuesday.

Germany condemns Iranian missile attack

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday said she condemned the Iranian missile attack on Israel in the "strongest possible terms", saying Iran must stop the attack immediately. "We have urgently warned Iran about this dangerous escalation. Iran must stop the attack immediately. It is driving the region further to the brink of the abyss," Baerbock said in a post on social media platform X.

US alerted

US was alerted by Iran through diplomatic channels 'shortly before the attacks', said a senior Iranian official.

Britain's Starmer speaks with Israeli PM, Jordan's king

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan's King Abdullah, Sky News said on Tuesday. Starmer's office did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Israeli military orders closure of new military area in northern Israel

Israeli military ordered the closure of a new military area in the region of Dovov, Tivbon and Malkia in northern Israel, it said on Tuesday. Entering this area is strictly prohibited, the Israeli army added in a statement.

Earlier, Israel had warned of a potential widespread missile attack from Iran following ground raids by Israeli forces into Lebanon and aerial bombardments targeting Hezbollah positions. This marks Israel's first ground campaign in Lebanon in 18 years, setting the stage for direct conflict with Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy in the Middle East.

“This is the most significant escalation since last year's Gaza conflict,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel's military spokesman. He added that Iran's missile strikes are expected to be on a large scale. “We urge everyone to heed the warnings and take shelter immediately.”

The Israeli airstrikes over recent weeks have targeted Hezbollah's leadership, reportedly killing many top commanders. More than a thousand Lebanese civilians have been killed, with over a million displaced from their homes.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, has vowed retaliation against Israel, raising concerns that the conflict could spill over into neighbouring countries. Despite efforts by the United States to contain the violence, fears of a regional war are mounting as tensions rise.

PIA suspends use of Iranian airspace

Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended all flights from using Iranian airspace due to the ongoing missile attacks by Iran on Israel.

PIA issued directives to all pilots and flight operations, instructing them to avoid Iranian airspace until further notice.

“The flight plans for all flights are being revised to avoid Iranian airspace,” said a PIA spokesperson. “We will not use Iranian airspace until the situation becomes clearer.”

The spokesperson explained that PIA typically uses two corridors through Iranian airspace.

“The northern corridor is used by flights to Canada and Turkey, while the southern corridor is utilised for flights to the UAE, Bahrain, Doha, and Saudi Arabia,” the spokesperson added.

Hamas praises Iranian missile strikes

Hamas said it praises Iranian missile strikes avenging deaths of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan.

Israeli military says it killed commander of Hezbollah-linked group in Beirut

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it killed the commander of the Imam Hussein division in Beirut, a Hezbollah-linked group based in Syria, Al-Faqar Hanawi, in parallel with killing Muhammad Jaafar Qasir, a commander in charge of weapons transfers from Iran and its affiliates to Lebanese armed group Hezbollah earlier in the day.

Attack ‘defeated’: US

"Based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.

"This is a fluid situation. We will consult with the Israelis on next steps in terms of the response and, how to deal with what Iran has just done."

"This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event, and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which, no one was killed in this attack in Israel, so far as we know at this time."

"We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure, first and foremost, American interests and then to promote stability."