What we know about Iran’s missile attack on Israel 2 hours ago Matt Murphy & Patrick Jackson BBC News Reporting from London Iran has launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, with at least some striking Israeli territory.
What was the scale of Iran’s attack?
Why did Iran attack Israel?
A senior Iranian official told Reuters news agency the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had personally given the order for Tuesday’s missile attack.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed US support for Israel after the missile attack, describing it as “defeated and ineffective”.
What is known about the missile assault on Israel by Iran.
two hours prior.
Jackson Patrick and Matt Murphy.
The BBC News.
reporting from the city of London.
Iran has fired hundreds of missiles into Israel, at least some of which have touched down on Israeli land. After firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in April, this is Iran’s second attack of the year.
Although it’s still unclear how much damage was done, Israeli military officials stated that the attacks seemed to be over and that Iran posed no longer of a threat.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned of “consequences” after the attack.
So far, this is what we know.
How big of an attack did Iran launch?
According to the Israeli military, Iran fired about 180 missiles in the direction of Israel. With about 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles fired towards Israel in April, that would make it a slightly bigger attack than the previous one.
Just before 19:45 local time (16:45 GMT), some missiles were seen flying over the Tel Aviv region, according to footage carried by Israeli TV.
Although a BBC correspondent in Jerusalem reported that schools and restaurants were also affected, an Israeli security official stated that the majority of the missiles were brought down by Israeli air defense systems.
While claiming that hypersonic missiles had been fired for the first time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) insisted that 90% of projectiles had struck their targets. Three Israeli military bases were reportedly targeted, according to IRGC sources.
Watch live: Iran fires a flurry of missiles at Israel.
The Palestinian civil defence authority in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho said a man there died during the Iranian missile barrage.
The victim was killed by falling rocket debris, according to AFP news agency, which spoke with Hussein Hamayel, the city governor.
Israeli medics said that two people had minor shrapnel wounds, but Israeli officials have not reported any serious injuries as a result of Tuesday’s airstrikes.
Why did Iran launch an assault against Israel?
Israel killed one of its top commanders and the leaders of militias that Iran supports in the area, according to the IRGC, which claimed that Israel was the reason behind the attacks.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, and Abbas Nilforoshan, the commander of the IRGC, were killed on September 27 in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
It also made reference to Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran in July. Although it hasn’t acknowledged it, Israel is largely thought to be to blame for Haniyeh’s passing.
It was confirmed by a senior Iranian official to the Reuters news agency that the order for Tuesday’s missile attack came directly from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the national leader.
Iran wants Israel eliminated and does not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. It has been supporting anti-Israel paramilitary groups for years.
Israel has conducted covert operations against Tehran for years because it considers Iran to be an existential threat.
Was Iron Dome able to stop the missiles?
Israel possesses an advanced air defense system, the most well-known of which is the Iron Dome. It is intended to thwart the type of short-range rockets fired by Hezbollah and Hamas.
Much of the work on Tuesday was likely done by other components of the nation’s “layered” defense systems, even though it was used to counter some aspects of Iran’s previous attack in April.
The US and Israel jointly developed David’s Sling system is used to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles in addition to medium- to long-range rockets. Israel possesses the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors for long-range ballistic missiles, which are launched beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
What response did Israel’s allies give?
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed US support for Israel after the missile attack, describing it as “defeated and ineffective”.
He had given the command for his forces in the area to intercept Iranian missiles and “assist Israel’s defense.”.
According to a Pentagon official, US Navy destroyers intercepted roughly twelve Iranian missiles that were aimed towards Israel with their interceptors.
Along with confirming “multiple” US intercepts, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin denounced “this outrageous act of aggression by Iran.”.
Additionally, footage depicting missile interceptions over Amman, the capital of Jordan, has been confirmed by the BBC. During Iran’s most recent attack in April, the nation also shot down several missiles.
The BBC has learned that, as in April, UK fighter jets aided Israel on Tuesday.
Without providing further information, Defence Secretary John Healey stated on Tuesday night that British forces had “played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation.”.
According to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the UK supported Israel and acknowledged its “right to self-defence.”.
Along with calling on all sides to prevent further escalation, France and Japan joined the chorus of people denouncing Iran’s attacks.
