Iran has announced that its missile assault on Israel has concluded unless provoked further, while both Israel and the US vowed to respond to Tehran’s escalation as concerns about a broader conflict heightened.
The US stated it would collaborate with its long-standing ally Israel to ensure that Iran faces “severe consequences” for the attack that occurred yesterday.
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene to address the situation in the Middle East today, and the European Union has called for an immediate ceasefire.
“Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed in a post on X.
An apartment block in Beirut after being hit by an Israeli airstrike
This morning, Israel resumed its bombardment of southern Beirut’s suburbs, a Hezbollah bastion, launching at least three strikes against what it claimed were targets belonging to the group.
Large smoke plumes were observed rising from various parts of the suburbs.
New evacuation orders were issued by Israel for the area, which has largely been vacated following days of intensive strikes.
In its largest military assault against Israel to date, Iran reportedly fired over 180 ballistic missiles yesterday, according to Israeli reports.
Sirens were activated nationwide, and explosions rocked Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley as citizens were instructed to take shelter in bomb shelters.
No injuries were reported in Israel; however, authorities in the occupied West Bank reported one fatality.
Iran claimed its attack was a response to Israeli actions against militant leaders and its aggression in Lebanon
Iran characterized the operation as defensive, targeting Israeli military installations exclusively.
The Iranian state news agency reported that three Israeli military bases were struck.
Iran justified its attack as a retaliation for Israeli actions against militant leaders and aggression directed at the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, as well as in Gaza.
Israel deployed air defenses against Iran’s missile barrage, with most missiles being intercepted “by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States,” according to Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a video posted on X.
“Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation,” he remarked.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged a robust counter-response.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it,” Mr. Netanyahu stated at the beginning of an emergency political-security cabinet meeting last night, as per a released statement.
Any response from Israel to the missile attack would result in “vast destruction” of Israeli infrastructure, warned Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces in a statement shared by state media, also threatening to target regional assets of any Israeli allies that intervene.
With Israel’s increasing military operations in Lebanon over the last two weeks, including the initiation of a ground operation on Monday and its ongoing conflict in Gaza for over a year, fears have escalated that Iran and the US could be drawn into a regional war.
A school in the central city of Gedera suffered extensive damage from an Iranian missile
For the first time, Iran employed hypersonic Fattah missiles, with 90% of the missiles successfully hitting their targets in Israel, according to the Revolutionary Guards.
Mr. Hagari noted that central and southern Israel experienced limited strikes.
A video released by the military displayed a school in Gedera, a central city, severely damaged by an Iranian missile.
The Pentagon reported that US Navy warships launched around a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles heading toward Israel.
The UK stated that its forces contributed to “efforts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East,” without providing additional details.
US President Joe Biden expressed unwavering support for Israel, labeling Iran’s attack as “ineffective.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, upheld Mr. Biden’s viewpoint, asserting that the US would not hesitate to defend its interests against Iran.
“We will act. Iran will soon feel the consequences of their actions. The response will be painful,” warned Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon to reporters.
The US does not call for restraint
The US similarly promised “severe consequences” for Iran, with spokesman Jake Sullivan stating at a Washington briefing that the US would “work with Israel to ensure that.”
While Mr. Sullivan did not detail these consequences, he refrained from urging Israel to show restraint, unlike the previous April’s drone and missile attacks carried out by Iran.
The Pentagon indicated that the airstrikes from Iran were roughly double the scale of the April assault.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he referred to as “escalation after escalation.”
“This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” he emphasized.
The EU strongly condemned Iran’s attack against Israel.
The perilous cycle of aggression and retaliation threatens to spiral out of control. An immediate ceasefire across the region is essential.
The EU remains fully committed to contributing to the prevention of a regional war.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 1, 2024
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also urged for an immediate regional ceasefire.
“The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation is at risk of spiraling out of control,” he posted on X.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held discussions with the leaders of Germany and France, agreeing on the necessity for restraint from all parties, as reported by Downing Street.
According to Lebanese government statistics, nearly 1,900 individuals have perished and over 9,000 have been injured in Lebanon during nearly a year of cross-border hostilities, with most casualties occurring in the last two weeks.
