Barran Press
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced on Tuesday that it targeted key military sites in the occupied Palestinian territories with dozens of missiles. Israeli media reported that approximately 200 missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel.
In a statement released by the official Tasnim news agency, the Revolutionary Guard warned that any Israeli military response would be met with overwhelming attacks. The operation is said to be a response to recent threats against prominent figures, including Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard.
The Israeli military confirmed the missile launches from Iran, stating that "all Israeli civilians are currently in shelters as missiles are fired from Iran." According to AFP, some missiles were intercepted, and explosions were heard in the skies over Jerusalem. Witnesses reported strong blasts in the Jordan Valley, while the American network Al-Hurra cited Israeli emergency services reporting nine people seriously injured.
Amid speculation of an imminent Iranian operation, the Israeli military anticipated a "large-scale" attack, as reported by Al-Hurra. NBC News noted that this Iranian assault could involve a greater firepower than that seen in April, with efforts likely aimed at launching multiple missiles simultaneously to overwhelm Israeli air defenses.
U.S. officials remain uncertain whether Washington's allies in the region will defend Israel against Iranian attacks or allow U.S. aircraft to operate from their territories to assist in intercepting incoming missiles.
Earlier, Western sources told Axios that Iran was expected to launch ballistic missiles capable of reaching their targets within 12 minutes, rather than using drones or cruise missiles, which require more time to strike.
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that the United States stands ready to assist Israel in defending against Iranian missile attacks and to protect American forces in the region.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Biden stated that he convened a national security team meeting to discuss Iran's plans for an imminent missile attack against Israel. He emphasized the U.S. readiness to help Israel defend against these attacks and to safeguard American personnel in the area.
Two U.S. officials revealed today that there were indications Iran would launch a ballistic missile assault on Israel, and a senior White House official stated that the U.S. had significantly bolstered its preparations to defend Israel against a potential new Iranian missile attack.
The official warned that a direct military assault by Iran on Israel would have severe consequences for Tehran.