Iran bombards Israel with more than 250 ballistic missiles

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday evening that Iran had launched dozens of ballistic missiles, shortly after an American warning to Israel that Iran was preparing to launch a missile attack.

Sirens sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry said sirens were blaring throughout Israel, sending millions into shelters.

The official Israeli radio quoted the army as saying, "More than 250 ballistic missiles targeted areas in Israel, including military bases."

For its part, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had begun striking important military targets with dozens of missiles in the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that any Israeli military response to this operation would be met with more destructive and stronger attacks.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said, "The operation we carried out was based on a decision by the Supreme National Security Council and with the support of the army."

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the missile fire came on the orders of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has remained in a safe place since Israeli air strikes on Beirut that killed Nasrallah last week, adding that Tehran was “fully prepared” for an Israeli response.

The Israel Airports Authority announced the closure of airspace and the diversion of flights to alternative airports abroad, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

🚨🚨🚨"Scenes of Iranian missiles in the skies of Israel
Iranian media says the number of missiles launched was 250. pic.twitter.com/uI9fS9viMl

- Dr.mehmet canbekli (@Mehmetcanbekli1) October 1, 2024

A short while ago, the Israeli army said that the Iranian missile attack was over and that people could leave the shelters.

The occupation army said in a statement: "After assessing the situation, it was decided now to allow leaving protected areas in all areas throughout the country."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the “widening of the conflict in the Middle East with one escalation after another” after Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, adding: “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”

While the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (official) described what was happening as an "unprecedented ballistic missile attack on Israel," the newspaper "Israel Hayom" claimed that no injuries were reported.

In light of the Iranian bombing, Jordan and Iraq announced the "temporary" closure of their airspace to all aircraft movement, in order to preserve the safety of navigation and passing aircraft.

The Jordanian army called, in a statement, on citizens to stay in their homes to preserve their safety and the safety of their families.

The Iranian Fars News Agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, quoted an informed source as saying that more than 80 percent of the Guards' missiles in the first wave had hit their targets, adding that "the second wave of the missile attack is on the way."

#Watch | Overwhelming joy among the people of Gaza after seeing Iranian missiles targeting Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/OkxN7DjAqH

— Shehab News Agency (@ShehabAgency) October 1, 2024