What did Iran fire?

In the attack, Tehran used ballistic missiles whose trajectories lie outside or near the boundaries of the Earth’s atmosphere. Similar weapons were used against Israel earlier this year.

This time it was said that hypersonic missiles had also been deployed, which have an estimated top speed of 10,000 miles per hour.

Why did Iran attack?

Although details of the timing and nature of the attack were not known in advance, it was not a surprise.

World powers have been predicting for months a “regional escalation” of Israel’s war on Gaza, in which 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. This followed an attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed. Israel is now fighting genocide allegations in the world’s highest court.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have now expanded their war to Lebanon, which they are bombing heavily.

Lebanon is home to Iran’s main regional ally, Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets into northern Israel in response to the bloodshed in Gaza.

Last week, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkie radios belonging to Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon, killing dozens of people and injuring thousands of others, including civilians. On Friday, Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In July, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital, an attack attributed to Israel.

Israeli attacks have devastated the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut as well as villages in the south of the country. At least a million people in Lebanon – a fifth of the population – are now displaced.

The US has warned of escalation, but at the same time supported Israel’s attacks both diplomatically – by making its case to international institutions such as the United Nations – and materially, sending the country the bombs and weapons that it used to kill thousands.

What damage did the Iranian missiles cause?

The impact of the damage is still being assessed.

No injuries were reported in Israel, but one person was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said. There are several images of craters in central and southern Israel.

Iran said the attack targeted military facilities, but at least one missile hit an Israeli school.

US President Joe Biden described the Iranian attack as “ineffective”.

What will happen now?

Iran has said its attacks have ended, although it has more missiles ready to be fired if Israel responds.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran had made a “big mistake” and promised that “it will pay for it.”