Iranian Missile Attack Sparks Tensions with Israel, Lebanon Conflict \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel, causing minor damage but no injuries as most missiles were intercepted. This attack follows heightened tensions after Israel launched a ground operation into Lebanon against Hezbollah. Both sides remain on alert, with escalating regional conflict feared.
Iran Missile Attack on Israel Quick Looks
- Iran launched around 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening.
- Most missiles were intercepted; minor damage occurred, with no injuries.
- Attack followed Israeli ground troops crossing into Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.
- Hezbollah reported no presence of Israeli forces but remains ready for combat.
- Israel issued wider evacuation warnings in Lebanon amid fears of escalation.
- Iranian missiles were in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
- Israeli forces have covertly conducted small operations in Lebanon for a year.
- Cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli artillery continues.
Deep Look
On Tuesday evening, Iran launched almost 200 missiles at Israel, resulting in scattered damage, fires from falling shrapnel, and widespread sirens but no reported injuries, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli defense system intercepted the majority of these missiles, though a few managed to land, causing some structural damage and sparking fires in affected areas. An Israeli security official confirmed that the coordinated response with the United States helped prevent more extensive destruction.
Following the missile barrage, Israeli officials were clear: Iran would face consequences for the attack. The assault comes amid an already volatile situation, as Israeli ground troops crossed into Lebanon overnight in a bid to dismantle Hezbollah’s presence and infrastructure. The military described this as a limited operation, aimed at curbing the influence of the militant group in a narrow zone near the Israeli border.
Hezbollah, however, refuted reports of Israeli troops on Lebanese soil, stating that their forces were prepared but had yet to encounter any Israeli military presence. Despite the limited scope of the current Israeli incursion, the issuing of evacuation warnings across broader sections of southern Lebanon has led to fears of an impending large-scale ground invasion. Israel has yet to detail the full extent of its operations in the area but has made it clear that it is prepared to escalate as necessary.
In the last several days, a surge of Israeli airstrikes has led to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah along with several of his top commanders. The campaign has displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents, mainly in the south, as Israel presses forward with its stated goal of eliminating threats posed by Hezbollah and other militant groups operating close to its northern border. According to Israeli officials, this new phase of ground operations is essential to secure the region and facilitate the safe return of tens of thousands of displaced Israelis whose communities have been under near-constant rocket fire since October 8.
Why Did Iran Launch Missiles Toward Israel?
Israel’s military confirmed that 180 missiles were launched from Iran around 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The missile attack triggered sirens across Israel, prompting citizens to take cover in protected areas. With support from the United States, the Israeli Air Force successfully intercepted many of the incoming missiles, though several did impact, damaging buildings and causing fires.
Iran justified its missile offensive as a response to the deaths of high-ranking leaders, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, who were killed during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week. Iran also cited the death of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior leader of Hamas, who was assassinated in Tehran in July, allegedly by Israeli agents. Iranian officials called this missile barrage a “first wave,” suggesting that further attacks could follow without providing additional details.
This is not the first time Iran has launched such an assault; in April, it fired over 300 drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles at Israel. Most of these projectiles were intercepted before they reached Israel’s borders, although one girl was injured by falling shrapnel. In light of the recent events, Israel has vowed a forceful response, pushing the region closer to a broader confrontation between the two long-time adversaries.
Did Israeli Troops Enter Lebanon?
The Israeli military reported that its troops had entered Lebanon late Monday. However, it remains unclear whether these forces are maintaining a presence or conducting a series of hit-and-run operations. In a surprising announcement, Israel disclosed on Tuesday that its ground troops have actually been conducting covert operations inside Lebanon for the past year, executing dozens of small-scale missions aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s foothold near the Israeli border.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, described the current raid as an extension of these covert activities. The Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is stationed in southern Lebanon, have not confirmed any recent border crossing by Israeli forces. However, UNIFIL did state that they had been notified about potential operations.
How Far Into Lebanon Are Israeli Ground Troops?
An Israeli military official, speaking under conditions of anonymity, indicated that Israeli troops are operating “within walking distance” of the Lebanese border, specifically targeting smaller villages situated a few hundred meters away from Israeli territory. The official stated that Hezbollah militants still occupy these areas, using them as strategic points for launching attacks on Israel and storing weapons, despite weeks of heavy Israeli bombardment.
Have There Been Clashes Between Hezbollah and Israeli Troops?
As of now, there have been no reported clashes between Israeli ground troops and Hezbollah fighters. Both sides, however, continue to engage in cross-border fire. Hezbollah claimed to have targeted groups of Israeli soldiers stationed in several locations along the Israeli border, using artillery shells and rockets. Israeli military authorities reported no injuries among their soldiers.
Simultaneously, Israeli artillery units pounded southern Lebanon with heavy fire, and sounds of ongoing airstrikes reverberated throughout Beirut. Hezbollah also launched a rare volley of rockets towards central Israel on Tuesday, injuring one individual, according to Israeli paramedics.
How Extensive Is the Planned Operation?
Israel has not specified how long its current ground incursion into Lebanon will last, nor has it offered details on the scope of troop deployment. The Israeli military official made it clear that a full-scale march to Beirut, similar to the 1982 invasion, is “not on the table.” At that time, Israel had also presented its invasion as a limited operation, aimed at pushing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) back from the border, but it ultimately led to a protracted occupation of Lebanon.
For now, the current mission does not resemble the scale of Israel’s ground incursions into Gaza, where the military has deployed large numbers of troops, artillery, and tanks into heavily populated urban areas. However, the military official suggested that this could change depending on political decisions made by the Israeli government. Recently, substantial forces, including numerous tanks, have been seen massing along the Lebanese border, preparing for a potential escalation.
The Israeli troops that entered Lebanon are from the 98th Division, which has been involved in some of the most intense fighting within Gaza. The division includes elite units specializing in behind-enemy-lines operations, which could point to the nature of its activities within Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the evacuation orders issued by Israel are growing increasingly expansive, pushing hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents to flee from southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson advised residents of villages located north of a U.N.-declared buffer zone to leave. Under a U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 Lebanon War, this zone was intended to be jointly patrolled by the U.N. peacekeeping force and the Lebanese military, a situation now in jeopardy due to rising tensions and ongoing military activities.
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