New Delhi:

Iran fired a barrage of 181 ballistic missiles into Israel on Tuesday evening, triggering nationwide air raid sirens and forcing nearly 10 million Israelis into bomb shelters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a large portion of the missiles were intercepted by the country’s advanced missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome and Arrow systems. However, several projectiles managed to penetrate the defensive shield, causing minor damage and minor injuries.

Immediate response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and said Iran had made a “big mistake.” He warned Tehran that it would “pay for this.”

The missile salvo is Iran’s second direct attack on Israel this year, following a similar offensive in April that was quickly suppressed by Israeli and allied defenses. Iranian officials said Tuesday’s attacks were in retaliation for the recent killings of senior Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Israeli military operations.

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Guy Nir, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in India, exclusively told NDTV that Tehran will receive a befitting response. “If he (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) plans to start an all-out war with Israel, it would be a mistake for them (Iran),” Mr Nir told NDTV. “Israel’s response will be something strategic and targeted, rather than an all-out war. I don’t think either side wants that.”

Iran’s ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, warned that his country will “attack Israel again” if it does not de-escalate tensions in the region. “If the Hitler of our time (Netanyahu) stops his brutality and hostility, his country will not have to face the consequences,” Elahi told NDTV.

USA warns of serious consequences

In response to the attack, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the missile attack represented a “significant escalation” and would have “grave consequences.” During a press conference at the White House, Sullivan promised that the US would stand with Israel and support any retaliation.

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US President Joe Biden echoed those sentiments, expressing full support for Israel and indicating that military talks were underway to determine an appropriate response. Biden assured that the US military would support Israel’s defense and intercept further Iranian missile attacks. Asked about the extent of U.S. involvement, Biden said discussions about a joint response were “active” and “ongoing.”

The attack and the consequences

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the rocket attack on three Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared the attack to be over unless Israel escalated further. The IRGC warned that any Israeli retaliation would result in “devastating attacks.”

Although most rockets were intercepted, there were isolated reports of damage and injuries. In Tel Aviv, two civilians were slightly injured by shrapnel, while in the West Bank city of Jericho, a Palestinian civilian was killed by debris from one of the rockets, AFP news agency reported. The Israeli military quickly announced that the immediate threat was over, and civilians were allowed to leave the bomb shelters after an hour.

Regional and global impacts

The rocket attack in Tehran comes amid growing fears of a broader regional conflict. In a related escalation, Israeli forces carried out ground attacks in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities reported that at least 55 people were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes, adding to rising casualties since the conflict intensified in early October.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said over 1,800 people had been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced across the region since the conflict began. The possibility of further escalation between Israel and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Gaza has raised alarm in the international community.

International reactions

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, called for an immediate ceasefire and warned of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. “This has to stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” Guterres said in a statement.

As tensions continued to rise, Jordan, Iraq and Israel closed their airspace and flights at Tehran International Airport, Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport and other regional hubs were suspended. Neighboring countries including Iraq and Jordan are bracing for further fallout, and Iran-backed Iraqi militias are threatening to attack U.S. bases in the region if Washington becomes involved in the conflict.