Iran launches missiles at Israel, fears of war spreading across the Middle East

While the US expressed full support for its long-time ally Israel, Iran's armed forces said direct intervention by Israel's supporters against Tehran would provoke a "powerful attack" from Iran on its "bases and interests" in the region.

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Video of missile attack by Iran and Israel (source: CNN)

Oil prices jumped 5% on fears of a wider war between the two arch-enemies, and the United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting on the Middle East on Wednesday.

"Iran made a big mistake tonight - and they will pay the price," Netanyahu said at the start of a political- security meeting, according to a statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the attack was in retaliation for Israel's killing of its and Hezbollah leaders, as well as its invasion of Lebanon.

Fears that Iran and the United States will be drawn into a regional war have increased after Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon in the past two weeks, including the start of a ground operation on Monday, and the year-long conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in Tuesday's attack. Alarms rang out across Israel and explosions were heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River Valley. Israelis huddled in bomb shelters and state TV reporters lay on the ground during live broadcasts.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts a rocket, seen from Ashkelon, Israel on October 1. Photo: Reuters

Iranian forces have used Fattah hypersonic missiles for the first time and 90% of them hit targets in Israel, according to the Revolutionary Guards.

Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video on X that: "Israel's air defense system was activated and most of the missiles were intercepted by "Israel and the US-led defense coalition."

He said central Israel had received a “small number” of attacks and there were others in southern Israel. The Israeli military released video of a school in the city of Gadera that was heavily damaged by an Iranian missile.

The Pentagon said US Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptor missiles at Iranian missiles aimed at Israel. President Joe Biden expressed full US support for Israel and described the Iranian attack as "ineffective". He said there had been positive discussions about how Israel would respond.

"We will act. Iran will soon feel the consequences of its actions. The response will be painful," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters.

The White House also promised "serious consequences" for Iran, with spokesman Jake Sullivan telling a press briefing in Washington that the US would "work with Israel to make that happen".

People take cover during air raid sirens in central Israel on October 1, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Any Israeli response to Tuesday's missile attack would result in "massive destruction" of Israeli infrastructure, the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces said in a statement carried by state media, pledging to target regional assets of any of Israel's allies that participate.

Iran's foreign ministry said its operations were defensive in nature and targeted only Israeli military and security facilities. Earlier, Iran's state news agency said Tehran had targeted three Israeli military bases. Iran called on the United Nations Security Council to take action.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he called "escalation after escalation" and said: "This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate ceasefire in the region. "The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks... getting out of control," he posted on X.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to pound Hezbollah in Lebanon, after landing in the south of the country. Lebanon's health ministry said 55 people were killed and 156 wounded in Israeli strikes on Tuesday.

The Israeli military's first ground operation into Lebanon in 18 years in the conflict with Hezbollah is feared to be a serious escalation of regional hostilities.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/video-cho-thay-iran-o-at-phong-ten-lua-vao-israel-moi-lo-chien-su-lan-rong-khap-trung-dong-post314831.html