Iran fires 200 missiles on Israel, threatens 'crushing attacks' if it retaliates

In what can be seen as momentum building toward an all-out regional war, Iran launched a large-scale attack, firing at least 200 missiles at Israel while warning it that “barrage will be repeated with bigger intensity and all infrastructure of the regime will be targeted” if Israel retaliated in any manner.

Meanwhile, Israel has said that Iran has made a big mistake and will heavily pay for it. Millions of people rushed to shelters before explosions lit up the night skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Oct 1.

Iran said the attack on Israel was a response to the killings of the leaders of its allies Hezbollah and Hamas. The missile attack came hours after Israeli forces began a ground invasion in southern Lebanon to remove what the military said were "Hezbollah terror targets” in border villages that posed a threat to residents of northern Israel.

Air raid sirens sounded all across Israel on Oct 1, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned missiles had been launched from Iran.

According to Iranian state television, Iran fired 200 missiles towards Israel, which included hypersonic weapons. Iran's chief of staff on Oct 2 vowed to hit infrastructure across Israel if its territory is attacked.

“The barrage will be repeated with bigger intensity and all infrastructure of the regime will be targeted", Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on state TV. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on Oct 1 strongly condemned the missile attack and said Iran had made a "big mistake" and "will pay for it".

Loud explosions were heard in Jerusalem as missiles flew overhead and were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems, media reports said. Videos shared on social media showed streams of light as the missiles flew over Israel, and clouds of smoke as they were intercepted or detonated on impact.

A soldier was critically injured during the Iranian missile attack in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, the IDF said. The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment and her family has been notified, the IDF said in a statement, adding, “This is the only injury and no death has been reported in Oct 1 missile attacks,”.

An hour after the missile attack, the IDF announced that people were allowed to leave their protected spaces because it did “not identify any additional aerial threats from Iran”. IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a statement said “There were a small number of hits in the center of Israel, and other hits in Southern Israel”.

Within hours of the massive barrage on Oct 1, Israel's forces resumed air strikes against what it claimed Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Lebanese capital. There was no word on casualties or injuries caused due to fresh Israeli strikes.
Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden on Oct 1 said the Iranian missile attack appeared to have been “defeated and ineffective”.

"At my direction, the US military actively supported the defense of Israel. We are still assessing the impact but, based on what we know, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective and this is a testament to Israeli military capability,” Biden said.
“It is also a testament to intensive planning (between) the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against a brazen attack," he told reporters at the White House.

"Make no mistake, the US is fully supportive of Israel. And I just spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the situation room, meeting with my national security team. The national security team, as I said, is in constant contact with Israeli officials and counterparts...," he added.

The US Department of Defense in a statement confirmed its forces had helped shoot down missiles in support of its Middle East ally.

IDF on Oct 1 said the majority of missiles were "intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States".
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement strongly condemned what he described as “broadening conflict in the Middle East,” adding, “This must stop. We need a ceasefire.”

Notably, Israel has received support from allies including Britain, France, Japan, and Australia.

The UK Defense Secretary John Healey in a statement said the armed forces "had played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East".

Israeli forces are on the offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah after almost a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the war with Hamas in Gaza, saying it wants to ensure the safe return of residents of border areas displaced by Hezbollah rocket, drone, and missile attacks.

The Israel military in a statement had earlier announced that any ballistic missile strike from Iran was expected to be widespread and told the public to shelter in safe rooms in the event of an attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Oct 1 in a statement slammed Iran for new attacks on Israel, adding that in a sign of its commitment to Israel's security, it has mobilized its military resources in the Middle East. Macron reiterated France's demand that Hezbollah cease its terror actions against Israel and its population.

World leaders have urged Iran and Israel to step back from the brink after Tehran fired a barrage of rockets at its arch-rival.

It was the second time Iran has directly attacked Israel after a missile and drone attack in April in retaliation for a deadly Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Oct 2 said that missile attacks by Iran on Israel were "unacceptable".

"Iran's attack is unacceptable. We will condemn this strongly. But at the same time, we would like to cooperate (with the United States) to defuse the situation and prevent it from escalating into a full-on war," Ishiba told reporters.

Meanwhile, in the wake of recent developments, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) scheduled a meeting about the Middle East on Oct 2, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire.

"Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X on Oct 2.