An Iranian missile was heading for Israel but landed in the West Bank. Photo: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press
On Tuesday evening, Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles towards Israel, marking a sudden and unexpected escalation following days of internal debate among Iranian leaders. The strike was in retaliation for the killings of key figures from Iranian-backed militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The New York Times, CNN, and Financial Times confirmed the attack, citing sources close to the situation.
According to three U.S. officials cited by The New York Times, Iran’s leadership made the decision after days of heated discussions, with military commanders ultimately convincing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the missile barrage was necessary to project strength and avoid being perceived as weak in the region.
Israel’s Response and U.S. Support
Despite the scale of the attack, the majority of Iran’s missiles were intercepted by Israel’s advanced air defense systems, with significant support from the United States. U.S. Navy destroyers, including the USS Bulkeley and USS Cole, launched 12 interceptors to help neutralize the threat. Israeli military reports confirmed that their defense systems—Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome—successfully shielded civilian areas from significant damage.
While there were some impacts on the ground, the early reports indicate no casualties on Israeli soil. The attack utilized Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles and the newer Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles, presenting a sophisticated challenge to Israel’s air defenses.
Rising Tensions and Regional Implications
This latest missile strike follows a series of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran-backed groups in the region. Iran’s leadership, which had previously opted for restraint, decided this time to retaliate, believing that their earlier inaction had been misinterpreted as weakness. The attack underscores the deepening conflict between Israel and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, raising concerns about a broader regional war.
As this incident unfolds, it highlights the long-standing instability in the Middle East, with no clear end in sight to the decades-long conflict between Israel and its adversaries.
