on Tuesday, while Tehran said any retaliation would be met with “vast destruction”, raising fears of a wider war.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said the assault was in retaliation for Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against the Iran-backed armed movement Hezbollah and in Gaza. Israeli air defences were activated and most missiles were intercepted “by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States,” Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video on X, adding: “Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation.”
US President Joe Biden expressed full US support for Israel and described Iran’s attack as “ineffective.” He said there was an active discussion about how Israel would respond, and he would confer with Netanyahu. Iran’s foreign ministry said its operation was defensive and only directed at Israeli military and security facilities. Earlier, Iran’s state news agency said Tehran targeted three Israeli military bases. Iran urged U.N. Security Council action.