Regional threat in the Middle East

JERUSALEM (AP).— Iran launched at least 180 missiles toward Israel yesterday, the latest escalation in a series of attacks in a years-long conflict between Israel and Iran and their Arab allies that threatens to engulf Middle East in a regional war.

The orange glow of the missiles pierced the night sky of Israel as air raid sirens rang out and residents rushed to bomb shelters.

Israel vowed retaliation for the barrage of Iranian missiles, which it said caused only a few injuries.

Prior to Iran’s attack, Israel delivered a series of devastating blows to the leadership of the political-paramilitary group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

He later increased pressure on the Iran-backed group — which has fired rockets toward Israel since the war in the Gaza Strip began — by undertaking what he said was a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

Israel indicated that it will maintain its offensive on Hezbollah until citizens displaced from their homes near the border with Lebanon can safely return to their homes.

Hezbollah vowed to continue firing rockets into Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, another group supported by Iran.

Anti-aircraft systems

Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagarireported that the country’s anti-aircraft systems intercepted many of the Iranian missiles, although some fell in the center and south of the territory.

Israel’s national rescue service said two people suffered minor shrapnel injuries.

In West BankPalestinian officials said that a Palestinian was killed by a missile that landed near the town of Jericho, although it was not clear where that attack originated.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised last night that he will retaliate against Iran, which, he noted, “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it.”

Israel and Iran have waged a proxy war for years, but have rarely engaged in direct conflict.

Israel considers Iran its worst enemy—referencing Iran’s repeated calls for the complete destruction of Israel, its support for Arab militia groups, and its nuclear program.

Iran rejects Israeli accusations about its development of a nuclear weapon.

terrorist attack

Moments before Iran launched its missiles, a shooting occurred in Tel Aviv left six people dead, police reported, adding that the two suspects who started shooting in the Jaffa neighborhood were also killed.

In the United States, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Iran’s missile attack represents a “major escalation,” although he added that it was “defeated and ineffective,” in part due to help from the United States. US military forces to shoot down some of the projectiles aimed at Israeli territory.

The president of the United States, Joe Bidensaid his government “fully supports” Israel and is part of an “active discussion” with collaborators to determine what would be the appropriate way to respond to Tehran.

The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for today to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

Iran launched another direct attack on Israel in April, but only some of its projectiles hit their targets.

Many of them were shot down by a US-led coalition, while others apparently suffered defects during launch or crashed in flight.

Tehran said it launched the missiles yesterday in retaliation for attacks that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and Iranian military forces.

He referred to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut.

He also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas leader who was killed in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July.

Meanwhile, Israel announced the day before yesterday that it has already begun carrying out limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire hit towns in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah responded with a barrage of rockets toward Israel.

At this time it is unknown if there are any victims.

While Hezbollah denied that Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced that it had also carried out dozens of covert raids in southern Lebanon for almost a year.