Iran initiates ballistic missile strike on Israel
The White House announced that President Joe Biden has instructed the U.S. military to support Israel's defense against Iran and intercept missiles aimed at Israel.
TroibNews 
On Tuesday, Iran executed a ballistic missile strike aimed at Israel, according to the Israeli military, as tensions rise between the two longstanding adversaries in the Middle East.
The Israel Defense Forces reported via Telegram that “missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel” and urged Israeli citizens to respond to air raid sirens by taking shelter. “The IDF is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the State of Israel,” the statement noted.
This missile barrage from Iran marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, amid concerns from the U.S. and other nations that ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip could lead to a broader conflict, potentially involving the West in another major confrontation in the Middle East.
The attack occurred a day after Israel initiated a “limited” military operation in Lebanon against the Iran-supported Hezbollah militant group. This action follows a series of Israeli airstrikes and targeted killings of high-ranking officials from both Hezbollah and Hamas, another Iranian ally. An airstrike carried out by Israel on Friday in Beirut resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Additionally, in August, Israeli intelligence reportedly killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran's new president, Mahmoud Peszkesian.
In a statement on X, Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York declared that “Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime — which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran — has been duly carried out.” They further warned that “should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue.”
This is not Iran's first incursion against Israel since the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last October. In April, following an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that resulted in the death of a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader, Tehran and its allies launched a series of missiles and drones towards Israel. This attack was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, aided by defensive strikes from Jordanian, Saudi, and U.S. forces.
Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, expressed on X that President Joe Biden “directed the US military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks & shoot down missiles targeting Israel.” He added that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were closely monitoring the situation from the White House situation room and receiving regular updates regarding the strike. Earlier in the day, the White House had issued warnings that such an attack was anticipated.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Israel Defense Forces reported via Telegram that “missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel” and urged Israeli citizens to respond to air raid sirens by taking shelter. “The IDF is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the State of Israel,” the statement noted.
This missile barrage from Iran marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, amid concerns from the U.S. and other nations that ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip could lead to a broader conflict, potentially involving the West in another major confrontation in the Middle East.
The attack occurred a day after Israel initiated a “limited” military operation in Lebanon against the Iran-supported Hezbollah militant group. This action follows a series of Israeli airstrikes and targeted killings of high-ranking officials from both Hezbollah and Hamas, another Iranian ally. An airstrike carried out by Israel on Friday in Beirut resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Additionally, in August, Israeli intelligence reportedly killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran's new president, Mahmoud Peszkesian.
In a statement on X, Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York declared that “Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime — which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran — has been duly carried out.” They further warned that “should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue.”
This is not Iran's first incursion against Israel since the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last October. In April, following an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that resulted in the death of a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader, Tehran and its allies launched a series of missiles and drones towards Israel. This attack was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, aided by defensive strikes from Jordanian, Saudi, and U.S. forces.
Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, expressed on X that President Joe Biden “directed the US military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks & shoot down missiles targeting Israel.” He added that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were closely monitoring the situation from the White House situation room and receiving regular updates regarding the strike. Earlier in the day, the White House had issued warnings that such an attack was anticipated.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
