By The Independent (World News) | Created at 2024-10-02 05:20:20 | Updated at 2024-10-03 06:23:11
1 day ago
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Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel late on Tuesday in a dramatic escalation of a conflict that threatens to spiral into a war across the Middle East.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate and said the unprecedented strikes would cause “vast destruction”.
The salvo of missiles was considerably bigger than April’s barrage when Iran fired 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles towards Israel.
While some missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defence, some hit military bases, restaurants and schools, according to reports.
Israel and the US called the missile strikes “ineffective”, with most intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed 90 per cent of the missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, without providing evidence.
Just minutes before the attack, six people were killed and nine were wounded in a mass shooting and stabbing attack on civilians in the Jaffa neighbourhood of Tel Aviv.
US and UK leaders condemned the escalation from Iran, while Tehran warned against a direct intervention by Israel’s allies.
Iran warns US against getting involved in conflict with Israel
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran has warned the US against getting involved with Israel after its barrage of unprecedented strikes in Tel Aviv.
US president Joe Biden has reaffirmed America’s support for Israel after the missile strikes, calling it “defeated and ineffective”.
“The Secretary (Austin) reaffirmed that the United States remains well postured to defend U.S. personnel, allies, and partners in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” the Pentagon said in a statement after US defence secretary Lloyd Austin Austin’s call with Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.
“The minister and I expressed mutual appreciation for the coordinated defence of Israel against nearly 200 ballistic missiles launched by Iran and committed to remain in close contact,” Mr Austin said separately in a post on X.
Shweta Sharma2 October 2024 06:15
Hezbollah says it repelled Israeli forces infiltrating Lebanese town of Adaisseh
Hezbollah said it confronted Israeli forces infiltrating the Lebanese town of Adaisseh this morning, forcing them to retreat.
Israel has launched a ground invasion of Lebanon, what the Israeli military described as a “limited, localised and targeted” operation to target Hezbollah.
Shweta Sharma2 October 2024 05:49
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin calls Iranian attack ‘outrageous act of aggression'
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 04:59
Israel invades Lebanon and Iran retaliates in major escalation of regional conflict
Israel has vowed revenge after Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles across the country in a major escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
A salvo of around 200 ballistic missiles were fired by Tehran less than 24 hours after the Israeli military launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Millions of people rushed into shelters while outside hundreds of flashes could be seen over the cities of Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Jerusalem as the Iron Dome system intercepted most of the rockets.
READ MORE:
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 04:26
Israel’s Middle East conflicts opens US vice presidential debate
Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz, the US vice presidential candidates, were asked about the escalating conflict in the Middle East during the early moments of Tuesday night’s debate.
The candidates were specifically asked if they would support Israel in a pre-emptive strike against Iran, though neither answered the question directly.
Walz, the Democratic candidate, said the “expansion of Israel and its proxies is an absolute fundamental necessity for the United States to have the steady leadership there.”
Based on the context of his sentence, it appears Walz mistakenly said “Isreal” when he meant “Iran.”
Vance also dodged the question, suggesting that Iran was on the brink of obtaining a nuclear weapon and insinuated that somehow Vice President Kamala Harris could have prevented that from happening.
“Who has been the vice-president for the last three and a half years?” Vance said. “The answer is your running mate, not mine.”
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 04:00
ICYMI: Starmer condemns Iran’s missile attack and vows to stand with Israel
Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain stands with Israel and supports the “reasonable demand for the security of its people” after an attack on the country by Iran.
In a statement from Downing Street on Tuesday evening, the prime minister said Tehran has “menaced the Middle East for far too long” and called on the country to “stop these attacks”.
“We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression,” he said.
READ MORE:
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 03:30
Iranian missile debris reportedly falls in Jordan, injuring three
A Jordanian official said that parts of an Iranian missile fell in its territory on Tuesday after Tehran lauched a strike at Israel.
Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani told state-run media outlet Al-Mamlaka TV that the missile debris injured three people.
Jordan, located between Iran and Israel, is a US ally and has a peace treaty with Israel. Jordanian Air Force units assisted in the interception of Iran’s missiles, according to a Jordanian official. Al-Momani said the nation “won’t be a place for anyone’s conflict” and that its citizens would also be the first priority of the Jordanian government.
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 02:58
Iran’s ambassador to the UN says missile strike was self-defense
Iran’s UN ambassador in New York has claimed Tehran’s missile strike against Israel on Tuesday was an act of self-defense.
Amir Saied Iravani, Iran’s UN ambassador, provided letters to the UN Security Council claiming the attack was a justified retaliation for Israel’s assassination of senior leaders in Hamas and Hezbollah.
He also issued a warning that action against Iran would be returned with “decisive” action, according to a report by the BBC.
Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had made a “big mistake” that it would “pay for.”
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 02:00
Iran’s top military officer says Tuesday missile attack targeted Israeli military bases and Mossad’s headquarters
Mohammad Bagheri, the top military officer in Iran, appeared on state television early Wednesday local time and said Tehran’s missile strike targeted three Israeli military bases and Mossad’s headquarters.
Mossad is Israel’s intelligence agency. The bases targeted in the missile strike were Nevatim, Hatzerim, and Tel Nof, according to the New York Times.
Bagheri said that Iran intentionally avoided targeting any civilian structures or infrastructure.
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 01:40
I was traveling with Kamala Harris as the Iran-Israel news broke. This is what happened next
The Independent’s Eric Garcia recounts the moment he — working in the White House press pool — learned of Iran’s attack on Israel and what unfolded shortly after.
Read his account of the day below:
Graig Graziosi2 October 2024 01:20
