Iran launches missiles at Israel and fears of regional conflict grow

Jerusalem.- Iran announced Tuesday that it launched dozens of missiles toward Israel as the months-long conflict between Israel and Tehran-backed groups in the Middle East — Hezbollah and Hamas — escalates, threatening to trigger a broader regional conflict.

For its part, Israel ordered its residents to stay near bomb shelters while activating sirens across the nation.

A series of explosions were heard and shook Tel Aviv and areas near Jerusalem, although it was not immediately clear whether the noise came from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defense systems, or both.

Israel and the United States have warned that there would be strong consequences if Iran attacked Israeli territory. Tehran supports the political-paramilitary group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the country’s air defense system was fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats. “However, the defense is not airtight,” he commented.

Orders to shelter in place were sent to Israelis’ phones and announced on national television.

Iran claimed responsibility for launching dozens of ballistic missiles against Israel. The claim was made in a statement read aloud on state television as explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

In the statement, Iran mentioned Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, both of whom were killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. He also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas chief who was killed in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July. He warned that his attacks represented a “first wave,” without giving further details.