Israel said Iran launched 180 missiles on Tuesday (local time) – most of which were intercepted by Israel’s iron dome – amid growing fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
It’s the second time Iran has fired missiles directly at Israel after its first attack in April – shot down with the help of the US and allies.
Footage shows fiery missiles streaking across the dark sky over major Israeli cities as sirens blare in the background.
The missiles were intercepted before they reach the ground by Israel’s defences, with loud explosions echoing across the night.
Just before Iran’s revenge on Tuesday, a separate shooting and stabbing unfolded at a railway platform in Tel Aviv where gunmen killed six people.
Police said two “terrorists” started a killing spree on the Tel Aviv light rail and continued on foot before being killed by civilians and inspectors using personal pistols.
There has been no claim of responsibility but Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said they were Palestinians from the West Bank city of Hebron.
Emergency services respond to the shooting. Photo: Getty
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said its missile assault was in retaliation for recent Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon and Gaza.
Its forces used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90 per cent of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said.
US Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed toward Israel, the Pentagon said.
No injuries were reported in Israel, but one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said.
Israeli forces investigate the impact of missiles fired from Iran. Photo: Getty
Israeli officials promised consequences for the onslaught.
“We will choose when to collect the price, and prove our precise and surprising attack capabilities, in accordance with the guidance of the political leadership,” Israeli Major General Herzi Halevi said.
Washington backed up its long-time ally.
“We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences, for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” spokesman Jake Sullivan said at a White House briefing.
Israel’s military later sounded the all-clear and said Israelis were free to leave their shelters.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters the order to launch missiles at Israel had been made by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei remained in a secure location, the official said.
Reuters journalists saw missiles intercepted in the airspace of neighbouring Jordan.
Iran has vowed to retaliate following Israeli strikes that killed the top leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, including that group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, a towering figure in Iran’s network of fighters across the region.
Israel said its troops had launched ground raids into Lebanon, though it described the forays as limited.
In Washington, President Joe Biden said the US was prepared to help Israel defend itself from Iranian missile attacks.
“We discussed how the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against these attacks, and protect American personnel in the region,” Biden said on X about an earlier meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House national security team.
After Iran fired its salvo of missiles at Israel, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he called “escalation after escalation”, saying: “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
More than 1000 Lebanese have been killed and a million have fled their homes in weeks of intense Israeli air strikes.
Police to block protests
In Australia, the community is being urged to treat each other with compassion and help maintain social cohesion as tensions rise due to conflict abroad.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has decided to go to court block planned long weekend protests in Sydney as Palestinian and Jewish communities prepare to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas last year.
NSW Police said on Tuesday night they could not be satisfied that rallies planned for Sunday and Monday could go ahead safely, following negotiations with organisers.
“Accordingly, the commissioner has decided to apply to the NSW Supreme Court to prohibit the two assemblies,” a statement said.
“NSW Police recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the first priority … is the safety of the participants and the wider community.”
Faith leaders have called for calm, with the war spreading beyond Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, to include Yemen and Lebanon.
The NSW Faith Affairs Council, which comprises of leaders representing faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism, met on Tuesday.
In a joint statement, it asked people to recognise common humanity and to embrace each other as “brothers and sisters”.
“We acknowledge the pain many in our community are feeling due to events in the Middle East,” it reads.
“We implore those who are grieving to find solace in the compassion and understanding of others, and to refrain from any words or acts which promote hate and resentment or incite violence.
“Our state has shown great resilience throughout these times of conflict but our social cohesion is something we cannot take for granted.
“As community and faith leaders we are committed to working within our various congregations and communities to promote peace, harmony and understanding in NSW and to stand together as fellow Australians.”
Australians in Lebanon
The Australian government has for months warned citizens to leave Lebanon as the security situation continues to deteriorate.
Some commercial airlines, including Emirates, Qatar, Lufthansa and Ryanair, have since suspended flights to Israel and Lebanon to avoid affected airspace.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told Australians to leave by any available option, warning any evacuation plans could not cater to many citizens in Lebanon.
A spokesperson for Wong said there must be an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.
“Diplomacy must be prioritised. International law applies to everyone,” she said.
“Lebanese civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hezbollah.”
– with AAP
