Summary:
- Iran says its action is concluded “unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation.”
- Prime Minister Netanyahu says Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it.
- Common estimates show the attack on Israel involved at least 180 ballistic missiles. The Pentagon says about 200, or about twice the size of the prior April attack.
- The waves of launches constituted the largest missile strike on Israel by Iran in history.
- IRGC is claiming that 90% of missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel.
- There were confirmed strikes on the ground, but no official casualties reported.
- Israel’s emergency authorities have lifted all restrictions, and people in Tel Aviv have emerged from bomb shelters and returned to the streets.
- White House says Iranian attack on Israel apparently “defeated and ineffective”.
- Sullivan says there will be consequences for the attack, and US is consulting Israel on next steps or a potential response
- Axios’ Barak Ravid has told CNN that he expects major Israeli retaliation strikes on Iran to come within the next several hours.
- Iranian state TV says hypersonic Fatah missiles were used in the attack.
- Iran’s President on X stated he does not seek war but will face any threat from Israel firmly.
- Iran has said it gave no prior warning to US, but it did consult with Russia.
- The IDF is vowing to ‘strike powerfully’ at targets in the Middle East.
- IDF spox: “Iran carried out a serious act tonight and is pushing the Middle East to an escalation. We will act at the place and time of our choosing, in accordance with the guidance of the political echelon.”
- IDF spox: “Tonight’s event will have consequences.”
- Iran-backed Iraqi militias say if the US takes part in “any hostile action” then US bases will come under attack.
- UN chief condemns ‘broadening Mideast conflict’ without mentioning Iran.
- Blinken: Iran’s missile attack on Israel ‘unacceptable,’ entire world should condemn.
- US says it is ready to defend Israel, with Biden ordering US military assets to confront any further inbound projectiles.
- At least two guided-missile destroyers in Eastern Mediterranean fired interceptors at inbound Iranian missiles.
- Pentagon says about a dozen interceptor missiles were fired.
- Pentagon refuses to say whether US will join in on future kinetic strikes against Iran.
Below: footage confirming one of several direct hits on the Tel Aviv area:
The White House says it has convened an emergency meeting with VP Harris and national security teams. Warning alarms from Israel’s home front command are currently sounding in Jerusalem and elsewhere. Israel getting pounded:
Israeli Army Radio says Iran has launched over 100 ballistic missiles at Israel. Axios: “The Israeli security cabinet is convened at the government bunker near Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.” The IDF has confirmed that there were some ground strikes. FOX: Israel getting hit with the largest ballistic missile attack in history.
Iran has announce this is the ‘retaliation’ for the killing of Nasrallah and Hamas’ Haniyeh. Lots of intercepts but clearly many projectiles got through and impacted targets on the ground:
Israeli Army Radio says Iran has launched over 100 ballistic missiles at Israel. Axios: “The Israeli security cabinet is convened at the government bunker near Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.” The IDF has confirmed that there were some ground strikes. FOX: Israel getting hit with the largest ballistic missile attack in history.
Iran has announce this is the ‘retaliation’ for the killing of Nasrallah and Hamas’ Haniyeh. Lots of intercepts but clearly many projectiles got through and impacted targets on the ground:
There have been constant official leaks and rumors speculating over what’s said to be an imminent Iranian response to the Friday killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut last Friday.
Senior White House and defense officials say a major ballistic missile attack on Israel could come in the next 12 hours, and that military and government sites are expected to be targeted. The White House is citing intelligence which shows Iran is preparing something big.
An unnamed US official has also said to Reuters that “A supposedly imminent missile attack on Israel by Iran could be as big or bigger than the one it carried out in April if it goes ahead.” Israel’s military has predicted that any new missile attack from Iran is expected to be “widespread”.
“The official said the assessment was based on initial indications and therefore was not certain,” the same report noted. The US is “actively” preparing to support Israel as it did with last April’s missile and drone attack from Iran. That had included US fighter jets shooting down inbound drones. Israeli and US defense chiefs – Gallant and Austin – have spoken on Tuesday. They said they discussed a joint preparation to repel the Iranian attack.
It must be remembered that all of this is coming from US and Israeli sources, while Iranian media and sources have not offered any level of confirmation of a supposed imminent attack on Israel.
It seems the White House is prepared to defend Israeli militarily, though there has been no official authorization in Congress (much less a debate).
The Pentagon on Monday confirmed that it is sending a “few thousand additional troops” to the Middle East to be on standby if needed to defend Israel from a broader attack. This is widely being seen as preparation for war against Iran, if needed.
This is to include the new deployments of squadrons of F-15, F-16, F-22, and A-10 fighter jets along with assisting personnel. It was only the day prior that President Biden was asked if he would be sending more troops to the Middle East. He replied: “No.”
Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari says the IDF has yet to identify any aerial threat from Iran. “Any Iranian attack on Israel would have repercussions,” the statement said. The IDF spokesman further said, “A short while ago our partners in the USA informed us that they detect Iran’s preparations to fire missiles at Israel in the near future.”
Secretary Blinken in the US has said his office is “tracking events in the Middle East very carefully and is committed to defending Israel.”
Commenting on the situation, Fernando Ferreira, director of geopolitical risk service at the Rapidan Energy Group, said:
“Tehran is embarrassed and hardliners have argued that the failure to respond to Israel’s assassination of Hamas chief Haniyeh in Tehran only emboldened Jerusalem. At the same time, they understand that Israel will respond with overwhelming force to any attack, and that there’s nothing they can do to protect sensitive economic, political, or military targets. Iran may try to thread the needle again with an air punch like it did in April, hoping for a limited Israeli response. That seems like wishful thinking, as Jerusalem is undeterred and likely to take three-eyes-for-an-eye.”
More on speculation over the Islamic Republic’s strike planning via Axios: Western source familiar with the details: Iran is expected to attack Israel with high-speed missiles and not with drones or cruise missiles that allow a long preparation time for defense and interception.
And three Israeli officials quoted anonymously by the NYT have described they anticipate that Tehran will target three Israeli air bases, and “an intelligence headquarters north of Tel Aviv.” Some of these locations have reportedly already been evacuated.
developing…
