War of words and weapons: Israel and Iran trade blows

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would face consequences, while Iran threatened "vast destruction" if Israel retaliated, raising concerns about a broader conflict.

Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in response to Israeli military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran claimed to have fired over 180 missiles at Israel, with 90% reportedly hitting their targets. No injuries were reported in Israel, but one person died in the West Bank.

The assault was framed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as retaliation for recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Gaza, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Iran's foreign ministry stated that its strikes were defensive and targeted Israeli military facilities.

The US and the European Union condemned Iran's attack, and US President Joe Biden expressed full support for Israel. The UN Security Council scheduled a meeting to address the escalation. Israeli military officials stated that they would respond at their discretion.

US Vice President Kamala Harris said she fully supported President Biden’s order to shoot down Iran's missiles.

"I'm clear-eyed Iran is a destabilising, dangerous force in the Middle East," Harris said in remarks on Tuesday. "I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist militias."

Iran warned that any further intervention by Israel's allies would result in targeting their regional bases and interests. 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.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed the commander of the Imam Hussein division, a Hezbollah-linked group. Israel also launched ground raids into Lebanon, intensifying a year-long conflict that has killed nearly 1,900 people in Lebanon and displaced a million people.

In economic repercussions, S&P Global downgraded Israel's long-term ratings from 'A+' to 'A' due to the conflict's risks to the economy and public finances. The escalating conflict has also affected air travel, with airlines diverting flights to avoid the region. Eurocontrol issued warnings, and Jordan and Iraq temporarily closed their airspace, causing further disruptions to aviation in an already tense environment.