Tensions in the Middle East have reached a new high after a massive Iranian missile attack on Israel. On Tuesday, October 1, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had “made a grave mistake” and would “pay the price.” This reaction comes after the Islamic Republic launched around 180 missiles against Israeli territory, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s anti-missile shield, according to the Israeli military.
This attack was claimed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a response to the recent assassinations of several senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures. Among the targets of these Israeli strikes are Ismaïl Haniyeh, leader of Hamas killed in July in Tehran, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, and Abbas Nilforoushan, Iranian general, both killed during an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Netanyahu strongly reiterated the Israeli position, saying that “the Iranian regime does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and hold our enemies accountable.” The Prime Minister added: “Whoever attacks us, we attack. » Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also declared on the social network X: “Whoever attacks the State of Israel pays a heavy price. »
The United States alongside Israel, operations continue in Lebanon
Amid escalation, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari warned that the Iranian attack “will have consequences” and that Israel’s actions would be carried out at the chosen time and place . The United States supported its Israeli ally by participating in the interception of Iranian missiles and announced that it wanted to “coordinate” a joint response with Israel.
The consequences of the attack were quickly felt on the ground. Interceptor missiles were fired over Jerusalem, lighting up the sky with streaks of light and causing warning sirens to sound across the country. Air traffic was temporarily halted at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, and Israeli airspace was closed. Two minor injuries were reported in Israel, and a Palestinian was killed in Jericho in the occupied West Bank, hit by missile fragments.
Alongside this attack, Israel launched ground operations in southern Lebanon in response. The clashes caused significant damage to a Palestinian camp in Lebanon, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
An offensive on a scale not seen since April
According to the Pentagon, Tuesday’s attack was “twice as large” as the previous Iranian offensive last April, which also targeted Israel with explosive drones and missiles. This time again, most of the missiles were intercepted, limiting the damage on the ground. The support of American ships, which fired around ten interceptor missiles, was essential to avoid greater losses.
Iran justified its attack as a response to the targeted assassinations of its allies, reaffirming its support for the Hamas and Hezbollah movements. As hostilities continue, Netanyahu’s remarks leave little room for compromise: “Israel will always stand ready to defend its people and punish those who threaten its security. »
The Israeli prime minister also addressed the Iranian people in a message in English, saying Israel stood with them and denouncing the actions of the Iranian regime, which he said was plunging the region into war and instability. “When Iran is finally free, everything will be different,” Netanyahu said, hoping for a future of peace and prosperity between the two historic nations, the Jewish people and the Persian people.
