Iran launches waves of ballistic missiles at Israel
In a dramatic escalation, Iran has fired a volley of ballistic missiles at Israel, arguing the attack is a direct repercussion of the recent slayings of high-ranking leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
As air raid sirens blared through the night, Israelis hurried to bomb shelters, their path illuminated by the fiery trails of missiles piercing the dark sky.
On Tuesday, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards asserted that they had launched tens of missiles in Israel’s direction, warning that any retaliatory action by Israel would be met with a ‘more crushing and destructive’ response, as reported by Iranian state television.
‘Following a period of restraint, Iran has aimed dozens of missiles at the heart of the occupied territories after the martyrdom of (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh, the intensification of Zionist regime’s attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, and the martyrdom of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Guards Commander Abbas Nilforoushan,’ declared an official statement.
A senior Iranian official informed Reuters that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had commanded the missile strike and has stayed in a secure location since Israeli airstrikes on Beirut resulted in Nasrallah’s death last week. The official concluded by stating that Tehran is ‘fully prepared’ to confront any Israeli retaliation.
Israel has promised to retaliate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning Tehran that it “made a big mistake” and “will pay for it”.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has pledged unwavering support for Israel while also warning Iran of “serious consequences” for its attack against the top US ally.
Ex-PM Naftali Bennett calls for attack on Iran, says Israel has chance to ‘change face of Middle East’
Naftali Bennett has said that after the attack by Iran, “Israel has now its greatest opportunity in 50 years, to change the face of the Middle East”.
“The leadership of Iran, which used to be good at chess, made a terrible mistake this evening. We must act *now* to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, its central energy facilities, and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime,” the former prime minister said in a social media post.
“There are times when history knocks at our door, and we must open it,” he added.
“This opportunity must not be missed.