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What we know
- Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel this evening, lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Iron Dome defenses intercepted some of the projectiles and warning sirens blared.
- The Israeli military said it was not aware of any casualties.
- Earlier, the Palestinian Mujahidin Movement claimed responsibility for a shooting attack that killed eight people in southern Tel Aviv.
- Israel this week invaded Lebanon, moving forces into the south. The ground operation is aimed at pushing Hezbollah forces farther away from the border after weeks of conflict with the Iran-backed militant group.
- Intense Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced as many as 1 million in recent weeks, Lebanese officials say.
The Biden White House is desperately trying to avert a wider war in the Mideast
The Biden administration’s monthslong effort to avert a full-blown war between Israel and Iran is now being put to the most difficult test yet after Tehran today launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel.
The administration has worked around the clock for the past year trying to avoid a direct clash between its ally Israel and Iran. But now, administration officials face a potential worst-case scenario, as the latest attack by Iran will inevitably trigger a retaliation by the Israeli military. Such a chain reaction could pull in the U.S. as it helps to defend Israel and other countries in the region.
The last time Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel — six months ago, in a retaliatory attack after Israel bombed a diplomatic compound in Syria — only a handful of the 300 projectiles struck Israel, and Washington managed to persuade Israel to hold back from a major retaliation.
This time, regardless of whether the Iranian attack is effective, Israel will be eager to strike back, former U.S. and Israeli officials said.
“It will be difficult for Israel to respond in such a minor way as it did after the April 13 event,” the former Israeli official said.
Iraqi armed groups threaten U.S. bases if U.S. joins any response against Iran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. bases in Iraq and the region will be targets if the U.S. joins any response to Iranian strikes on Israel or if Israel uses Iraqi airspace against Tehran, Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups said today.
Video shot from an apartment in nearby Herzliya shows an Iranian missile exploding in Tel Aviv after Israel’s Iron Dome defense system failed to intercept it.
British forces 'played their part' in Middle East, U.K. defense secretary says
U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement on X that British forces played a role in preventing escalation in the Middle East today.
Healey condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and said the U.K. stands "fully" behind Israel's right to defend itself.
"I want to thank all British personnel involved in the operation for the courage and professionalism," he said.
3 men fatally shot by Israeli forces while trying to return home to northern Gaza
Palestinian medical officials say Israeli forces have killed at least three people trying to return to their homes in the northern half of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces stationed at the east-west Netzarim route that divides the Palestinian enclave opened fire on the men today, according to the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the central town of Deir al-Bahah.
An Associated Press journalist saw ambulances taking people to the hospital and counted the bodies.
The officials said the men were among a group of people trying to return to their homes.
The Israeli military has sealed off northern Gaza and is preventing displaced people from returning to their homes.
In the hours since Iran's strikes, Israel's prime minister has telegraphed that his country will retaliate.
Biden says the U.S. is 'fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel' after Iran attack
President Joe Biden once again reaffirmed his support for Israel, saying the U.S. was "fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel" in remarks to reporters today.
Biden said he spent the morning and part of the afternoon inside the White House Situation Room as he monitored Iran's attacks on Israel. He said his team has been in "constant contact" with Israeli officials.
It’s a testament to the intensive planning his administration has done to be able to defend against the attack, Biden said.
"At my direction, the United States military actively supported the defense of Israel," Biden said. "And we’re still assessing the impact, but based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective."
Harris calls Iran a threat to American interests, condemns missile attack
Vice President Kamala Harris condemned Iran's attack on Israel today, saying she was "clear-eyed" about how the Islamic Republic was a "destabilizing" force in the Middle East.
Harris also reiterated her support for Israel, saying the U.S. will not hesitate to take action to defend it against Iran and hold Tehran accountable.
"And let us be clear, Iran is not only a threat to Israel. Iran is also a threat to American personnel in the region, American interests and innocent civilians across the region who suffer at the hands of Iran-based and -backed terrorist proxies," she said.
55 people killed, 156 injured in Lebanon, health ministry says
Fifty-five people were killed in strikes across Lebanon within the last day, and 156 more were injured, according to Lebanon's Public Health Ministry.
The ministry reported that the deaths were the result of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel and Mount Lebanon.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that 22 people were killed in Nabatieh alone.
'Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay,' Netanyahu says
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will retaliate for Iran's attack.
"Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it," Netanyahu said tonight. "The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies."
Netanyahu said Iran's attack failed, thwarted by Israel's air defense system with support from the U.S.
He extended his warning to Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria, as well as Iran.
"We will stand by the rule we established: Whoever attacks us, we will attack them," he said.
