Projectiles above the Israeli city of Ashdod during the Iranian attack. Photo: Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty
Iran launched a two-wave attack with around 180 ballistic missiles towards Israel, marking its largest-scale attack ever against the country. The attack, largely repelled by Israel and the U.S., resulted in no deaths inside Israel, but one Palestinian civilian was reportedly killed in the West Bank. Despite the interceptions, some missiles hit Israeli territory, and their damage is currently being assessed.
President Biden and national security adviser Jake Sullivan both described Iran’s attack as “defeated and ineffective” and affirmed U.S. support for Israel. Iran claimed the attack was in retaliation for recent Israeli assassinations. The conflict has raised fears of a broader war involving Iran and its allied militias, Hamas and Hezbollah, with tensions escalating in the region.
The use of ballistic missiles in this attack posed a more significant challenge for Israel’s defenses compared to past incidents. The situation remains volatile as Israel prepares to respond to the aggression with strong action.