We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide.”
Before Tuesday’s large-scale missile strike, Israel had conveyed a clear message to Iran through back channels, warning that any assault on Israeli territory, no matter the magnitude or whether there were casualties, would result in an response. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Israel explicitly threatened retaliatory strikes on Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities if Tehran initiated an attack:
Iran launched a barrage of about 200 missiles at Israel that were mostly shot down or missed their targets, escalating a Middle East conflict that now depends on whether and how Israel chooses to retaliate.
“At this time we don’t detect additional aerial threats from Iran,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Israel’s military signaled it would retaliate, saying it is on high alert offensively as well as defensively. “This attack will have consequences,” Hagari said. “We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide.”
This warning is particularly significant in light of today’s events. The attack was framed as a retaliation for Israel’s escalated military actions against Hezbollah and its recent invasion of Southern Lebanon.
Israelis received messages on their phones from the country’s home front command informing them it was safe to leave the bomb shelters. Israeli airspace reopened following the attack, said a spokesman for the Israeli airport authority.
At least one person was killed during the attack—a Palestinian from the West Bank town of Jericho—after being struck by shrapnel from an Israeli interceptor, an Israeli official said.
Israel’s anti-ballistic missile defense systems, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3, were quickly activated. Interceptors were deployed across Central Israel, successfully neutralizing many of the incoming missiles. Despite the high interception rate, some missiles struck Israeli territory, causing damage and panic.
Adding to the chaos, a mass shooting occurred in Jaffa, a suburb of Tel Aviv. At least six people were reported dead, and Israeli authorities have classified the incident as an Islamic terrorist attack. Videos circulating on social media show civilians lying motionless next to a light rail station as gunshots can be heard. Security forces responded swiftly, killing two gunmen suspected of carrying out the attack. One of the gunmen involved in the Jaffa attack was recorded on video after being neutralized by security forces.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the missile strike. The IRGC, through state-run Fars news agency, stated the attack was in response to the recent deaths of key leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah and its own ranks. Specifically, it cited the losses of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC Deputy Commander of Operations Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan.
The missile strike follows a series of Israeli military operations over the weekend. Israel successfully targeted and killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and his second-in-command, Hashim Safi al-Din. Simultaneously, Israel launched attacks on critical infrastructure in western Yemen, believed to be utilized by Iran-backed Houthi militants. These strikes occurred approximately 2,200 kilometers away, emphasizing Israel’s capacity for long-range operations. Iran’s nuclear facilities are just 1,600 kilometers from Israeli borders.
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